Here’s How to File an Insurance Claim for Tornado Damage

HOUSTON — Texans affected by powerful tornadoes Tuesday have begun the process of rebuilding their lives and homes.

Whether you have significant property damage or relatively minor repairs, you should not wait to contact your insurance company and get down to business.

The Texas Insurance Department offers advice to homeowners and renters.

READ: HOW TO AVOID SCAMMERS

• Call your insurance agent to report the damage. For company phone numbers, use the TDI Company Finder or call 800-252-3439.
• Take photos and videos of the damage. Don’t throw anything away until your insurance agent tells you to.
• Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Remove standing water. Close broken windows and holes to keep it from raining. Put the tarp on the roof.
• Keep a list of repairs and keep receipts. Do not make major repairs until the insurance agent sees the damage.

• Keep a record of everyone you have spoken to with your company.
• Be prepared to answer questions about damage.
• Ask for prepayment if you need help quickly.
• Ask about living expenses. Most policies will cover part of your costs if you are unable to live in your home due to damage that is covered by your insurance. Keep receipts for these expenses.
• If you need shelter, food or water in an emergency, contact the Red Cross at 800-733-2767.

• Make sure your appraiser and company have your current phone number.
• Make sure your address is visible from the street. You may need to hang a sign with your address in the yard.
• Try to be present when you visit the installer and point out any damage.
• Get multiple quotes from contractors and compare them to the appraiser’s report before settling a claim.
• Keep proof that you paid the deductible for the claim.
• State law prohibits contractors or roofers from offering to opt out of a franchise or promising a discount on your franchise. It also allows insurance companies to ask for proof, such as a receipt or canceled check, that you paid the deductible.

Disasters often bring out the best and worst in people, and scammers are quick to take advantage of storm victims at their most vulnerable moments.

“If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Pasadena Police Chief Josh Brugger warned.

Getting at least three bids will help you decide which offers might be too high or too good to be true. Your insurance specialist can give you an idea of ​​how much a repair should cost. Applications must be on company letterhead with a phone number and address. Keep copies of all agreements and warranty terms.

Read each document carefully before signing. The scammers will try to get you to sign a contract, calling it an evaluation or a release, just to go to the roof. And don’t sign a contract with empty seats. Suspicious contractors will later fill in the gaps with higher costs or work other than what you wanted.

“At the heart of our community are predators who prey on the most vulnerable, the oldest people to do nothing but steal their money,” said Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia.

Don’t sign contracts that say, “The landlord agrees to the specified repairs for the amount of insurance proceeds.” If you do this, the contractor will get every penny of your insurance payout. Make sure the contract specifies the materials they will be using. Watch out for defective or low-quality materials during operation.

Be careful if a contractor asks for a large or full down payment. After a natural disaster, it is against the law for out-of-town contractors to ask for a down payment before work begins.

“Make sure you have the right documentation, the right ID, make sure you do some research with the Better Business Bureau, but don’t pay for any damage upfront,” Garcia advised.

It is against the law for a contractor to offer to waive an insurance deductible or to include a deductible in the application. If this happens, find a new contractor. You can also report this to the Attorney General of Texas at 800-621-0508.

Source: Texas Insurance Department.