04/22/2024
If you have been affected by the recent hail storm and have filed, or plan on filing a claim, here are a few tips:
1) Documentation - taking pictures of the damage, the size of the hail, etc. helps speed up the process. Go over every piece of property; cars, barns, and any other structures on your property to make sure nothing is missed. Notify your insurance agent and/or insurance company as soon as possible.
2) Beware of scams - If you’re working with contractors you don’t know, find out where they’re from. Many fraudsters will
travel from state to state.
- Before you sign any contracts or pay any money, ask for references.
- Never pay the full amount before the work is complete.
- Ask your local Better Business Bureau and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office about complaints.
- Check online for information about the contractor.
- Most importantly, report any suspected fraud to your insurance agent and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office (1-855-95-FRAUD or scag.gov/insurance-fraud).
3) Use reputable contractors
- Reputable contractors usually don’t ask for a large payment upfront.
- Contractors may be licensed or registered. The difference is important. A licensed contractor has passed exams and met other requirements to show that he or she is competent. A registered contractor has provided contact information to a government authority.
- You can learn more about licensing and registration of contractors by calling the South Carolina Contractor’s Licensing
Board (803-896-4686) or using the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s online license lookup service (llr.sc.gov).
3) Beware of Assignments of Benefits (AOB) forms
- An AOB is an agreement that transfers your rights under your insurance policy and your claim to a third party, most often your contractor. Typically, there's a promise from the contractor to handle all matters with the insurance company for you, which may sound great. But you also may be giving up some, most, or even all of your rights, including having a lawsuit filed without your approval or knowledge. We are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice, but in general, we do not recommend signing an AOB. Anecdotally, we have heard several horror stories of folks who were taken advantage of, especially senior citizens, after being pressured into signing an AOB or a similar form. Talk to your claims adjuster or ask an attorney to review and give you advice.
4) Be Patient
- The insurance claims process can be a time-consuming and frustrating one, especially when there are a large number of claims in one area. There is a nationwide shortage of both claims professionals who handle the claims, and skilled laborers who perform the repairs. Priority is typically given to those who have water coming into their homes, and those who have to be removed from their homes until repairs can be made.
Whether or not you are a client of ours, you are welcome to give us a call if you have any insurance related questions.
For more information, we recommend visiting the SC Department of Insurance Post-Disaster Claims guide.
https://doi.sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12147/Post-Disaster-Claims-Guide?
