An Atlas Chalet roof patched with a alternative shingle. The producer discontinued the uniquely-sized shingle practically a decade in the past.
ATLANTA – Georgia owners pissed off with their insurance coverage firm would get some aid beneath a invoice within the Basic Meeting.
Home Invoice 1310 goals to right issues first raised by the FOX 5 I-Group. Owners and their insurance coverage carriers argued over claims involving a sure model of roofing shingles.
Invoice may power insurance coverage to pay to switch sections of broken roofs
Owners in Georgia who’re pissed off with their insurance coverage firm may quickly will get some satisfaction from a invoice making its manner by the Basic Meeting.
Atlas Chalet shingles.
“There’s a downside that impacts a whole lot and 1000’s of individuals, however those self same persons are individuals who sometimes don’t have a voice,” complained public adjuster and contractor Matt Hunter.
As we first reported in 2015, the Atlas Chalet producer discontinued the uniquely-sized shingle years earlier.
At any time when an Atlas Chalet buyer suffered partial roof harm, some insurance coverage corporations would solely pay to switch particular person shingles, despite the fact that all replacements are bigger than Atlas Chalet.
That left owners caught both paying for a brand new roof on their very own or residing with a patch job that no contractor would guarantee.
Stephenie Cattonar stated her insurance coverage firm dragged out her declare for a brand new roof. To get the blue tarp off her home, she lastly paid upfront and fought for 18 months to be reimbursed.
“I believe my neighbors additionally wouldn’t have appreciated the truth that I might have had a Cabbage Patch Youngsters-style roof on my dwelling,” laughed Stephenie Cattonar of Backyard Hills.
She stated her insurance coverage firm resisted changing her whole roof when solely a small part was broken in a storm. A blue tarp coated her roof for months earlier than the promoting govt stated she was pressured to pay for her a brand new roof herself.
Cattonar ultimately received the insurance coverage firm to cowl many of the value, however the dispute took a yr and a half.
“Horrible,” she stated. “Unlucky. Unacceptable.”
When the FOX 5 I-Group first discovered of the controversy in 2015, we introduced an Atlas Chalet shingle to the workplace of then-Insurance coverage Commissioner Ralph Hudgens.
He was clear on what insurance coverage corporations ought to do.
“I believe if they will’t match these shingles as a result of they’re not being manufactured, then I believe the insurance coverage firm in all probability must go forward and fulfill the buyer and do the entire roof,” Hudgens informed us then.
However his workplace later defined the commissioner’s feedback held no weight of regulation. Many carriers stored denying Atlas Chalet roof alternative claims.
This yr, a gaggle of roofers, adjusters, and shopper legal professionals got here up with Home Invoice 1310. Amongst different issues, they are saying it could make it simpler for owners to settle claims disputes by arbitration.
Even higher for owners, it could require insurance coverage corporations exchange your complete space — like an Atlas Chalet roof — if the brand new materials doesn’t match the unique.
“You possibly can’t repair an Atlas Chalet shingle roof,” identified Tim Varga, president of the Georgia Affiliation of Public Insurance coverage Adjusters. “You possibly can’t use a discontinued product with a brand new product and think about it repaired proper.”
Supporters of HB1310 hope to persuade Insurance coverage Committee Chairman Eddie Lumsden to carry a listening to on the laws.
Pissed off {that a} listening to on their invoice has not been scheduled, supporters gathered on the Capitol final week.
That included the invoice’s sponsor who says he’s fielded at the least 100 complaints from constituents.
“We’re not saying everybody within the insurance coverage enterprise is a foul actor,” defined Georgia Consultant Emory Dunahoo. “When one thing occurs we need to ensure we don’t repair a roof like a band-aid.”
Among the group marched to the workplace of the person who admits blocking the invoice.
Insurance coverage Committee chairman Eddie Lumsden and his spouse personal an insurance coverage company in Rome.
“I believe the insurance coverage corporations have a product,” stated Lumsden. “It’s a contractual settlement. I’ve had the conversations with the insurance coverage commissioner’s workplace, and so they’re telling me that they don’t have a considerable downside with the claims.”
An Insurance coverage Commissioner spokesman informed the FOX 5 I-Group Lumsden is right, few Atlas Chalet complaints are displaying up of their on-line criticism portal. Insurance coverage Commissioner John King additionally opposes HB1310, nervous that it could truly result in greater insurance coverage charges.
“It doesn’t give us any extra energy than we have already got,” stated spokesman Weston Burleson.
However shopper lawyer Remington Huggins stated he will get a gentle stream of purchasers who’re pressured to sue their insurance coverage firm to get them to honor claims.
“Tennessee, Florida, these legal guidelines are applied in these states,” he stated. “And all we ask is that the owners throughout the state of Georgia have the identical illustration.”
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