As storm season approaches the metroplex, being informed is our greatest defense against the storm chasers and door knockers that swarm every chance they get. We at Northwest Roofing are here for our customers every day of the year, not just when a storm hits. Whether you have an issue with wind damage, a leak, or just confirmation that your roof is still holding strong, Don Rutherford, the owner and operator of Northwest Roofing will personally be there to give you honest and reliable information.
The UPPA violations occur when someone other than a licensed claims adjuster works with a consumer to settle a property insurance claim.
The Texas Department of Insurance has been actively issuing fines in excess of $5,000 to contractors across the state for “UPPA“, The Unauthorized Practice of Pubic Adjusting. They are also diligently working with the Attorney General’s office on enforcement of HB2102 (deductible law) which went into effect September 1, 2019.
“The unlicensed practice of public adjusting is a vehicle of consumer fraud that preys on some of the most vulnerable elements of our society. The disaster-stricken, the elderly, the unsophisticated, and those for whom English is a second language. Individuals’ losses range from a couple of thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. And frequently, victims are left without a remedy, because UPPA offenders just disappear or are not worth suing.”
The Unauthorized Practice of Pubic Adjusting occurs when someone other than a licensed claims adjuster works with a consumer to settle a property insurance claim. These unlicensed or unauthorized claims adjusters will pretend to have the authority to handle a property claim, but they do not.
What does this mean to you as a homeowner? Texas law states that “A roofing contractor may not act as a public adjuster or advertise to adjust claims for any property for which the contractor is providing or may provide roofing services, regardless of whether the contractor holds a license under this chapter.”
Storm Chasers are people who claim to be experienced roofing contractors who usually come from other states searching for quick turn-over roofing jobs. When a tragic event happens to homeowners like the recent multiple tornados that recently hit homes in several cities in Texas recently, people who represent themselves as roofing contractors, mainly called storm chasers swarm and hit the unsuspicious homeowners with promises of roof repair. 
Many homeowners are complaining about the many roofers who come knocking at their door. These type of “door knocker” roofers are not your local and reliable contractor but they are there to steal your insurance money by obtaining the homeowner’s insurance information and then file a claim. Roofers are not Insurance Adjusters!