Some are legitimate, but the attorneys general of Illinois, Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania warn consumers about storm-repair scams. Georgia warns about offers to pay a deductible and full payment up front. Arizona warns against signing right away under pressure, while Illinois warns consumers not to be rushed into a deal. Pennsylvania warns about large sums before a contract is signed. Before anyone gets on your roof, call your insurance company, get written bids, and check the license and the contract.
What is a storm chaser roofer?
Georgia’s Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division says these operators are often called “storm chasers,” and that storm victims are more vulnerable to repair fraud because they are eager to get their lives back to normal. The Illinois Attorney General says storm chasers use the opportunity to pressure people into quick and often expensive decisions about cleanup and construction work.
Not every roofer who works after a storm fits that picture. If your house was hit by hail, start with our hail damage step-by-step guide, which lays out the order of steps from the insurance call to the repair.
How do you spot a storm chaser roofer?
These are warning signs identified by the cited agencies.
| Warning sign | Who names it |
|---|---|
| Door-to-door or unsolicited approaches | Illinois Attorney General; Arizona Attorney General; Georgia Attorney General; Pennsylvania Attorney General |
| “Free” inspections (Illinois) | Illinois Attorney General |
| Full payment up front, or large sums before you sign | Georgia Attorney General; Arizona Attorney General; Pennsylvania Attorney General |
| Cash only | Georgia Attorney General; Illinois Attorney General advises consumers never to pay in cash. |
| Pressure to sign right away | Arizona Attorney General; Illinois Attorney General |
| An offer to pay or waive your insurance deductible | Georgia Attorney General; Texas Department of Insurance |
| Refusal to give a written contract | Georgia Attorney General |
| A contractor who damages your property during an inspection to raise the repair cost | Missouri Department of Insurance |
| A license name that does not match the business card or truck | Illinois Attorney General |
What should you do first after hail or wind damage?
Call your insurance company before you commit to any repairs. Missouri’s Department of Insurance says to contact your insurer as soon as possible, using your company’s toll-free claims number, and Georgia’s Attorney General says to talk to your insurer before committing to repairs or letting a roofer inspect. For the full first-day sequence, read our first 24 hours after a storm checklist.
- Call your insurer or agent to report the damage, and keep a record of everyone you talk to there. The Texas Department of Insurance advises both steps in its storm recovery tips.
- Make temporary repairs to stop more damage. Missouri’s department says a hole in the roof should be covered by a tarp or other materials to keep out rain.
- Hold off on permanent repairs until the insurer has inspected. Missouri’s department warns that if you make them first, your company may not reimburse you.
- Once your claim is processed, get estimates from contractors you know or who were recommended by someone you trust.
What should you photograph and keep?
Keep photos, video, repair records and receipts to document the damage and temporary repairs. The Texas Department of Insurance advises you to take pictures and video of the damage, and not to throw anything away until your insurance adjuster tells you to.
- Photos and video of the damage.
- A list of every repair you make, with receipts for materials and temporary repairs.
- Proof that you paid your deductible. Texas law allows insurers to ask for a receipt or canceled check.
- Your record of calls and emails with your insurance company.
- Be home when the adjuster visits, and point out all the damage you see.
What does your insurance policy and your state’s rules say?
Your insurer will usually send an adjuster to review your claim at no additional cost to you, according to the Illinois Attorney General.
The Colorado Division of Insurance says the insurer is only required to repair or replace the actual damage caused by the covered event, and there are no laws requiring a company to match siding on undamaged sides of a house, according to its hail storm insurance FAQ. The same page notes that an insurer may consider non-renewing a policy after multiple losses, including hail.
Texas says most policies will cover some living expenses if you cannot stay in your home because of a covered loss, and advises keeping those receipts. Ask your insurer about an advance payment if you need help quickly.
Policies and state rules vary, so use Colorado’s answers as one example and read your own policy.
What should a legitimate roofer do?
The Arizona Attorney General says a legitimate contractor will provide a written contract outlining the scope of work, cost and timeline. Georgia’s Attorney General adds that a legitimate roofing company should be able to provide local references and testimonials, a business license, general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and written manufacturer and labor warranties.
Illinois requires a written contract for any repair or remodeling work costing more than $1,000, and the contract must be signed by both you and the contractor. Illinois contractors must also carry minimum insurance for property damage, bodily injury and improper home repair, and provide a pamphlet titled “Home Repair: Know Your Rights.”
What should a roofer never do?
Georgia’s Attorney General says roofers are not allowed to file claims on a customer’s behalf unless the roofer is, or employs, a licensed public adjuster.
Texas law makes it illegal for a contractor or roofer to offer to waive your deductible or promise a rebate for it. Missouri’s department also warns that some companies cause damage during an inspection, so do not let a contractor inspect your property while you are not watching.
How do you check a roofer before you pay?
| Check | What to ask for | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| License | Illinois roofers are licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Arizona requires most contractors to be licensed. | Illinois roofing license search; Arizona Registrar of Contractors at roc.az.gov |
| Georgia licensing | Georgia’s Attorney General lists roofers among specialty trades that the state does not license. General contractors, electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors are licensed. | Georgia Secretary of State at sos.ga.gov |
| Pennsylvania registration | Contractors doing more than $5,000 of home improvement work in Pennsylvania must be registered. | Pennsylvania Attorney General’s contractor database at hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov |
| Local permits | Ask whether the job needs a permit, and ask for the required state and local permits and licenses. | Your city or county building department |
| Insurance | General liability and workers’ compensation coverage, as Georgia’s guidance lists, and the minimum coverage Illinois requires. | Ask the contractor for proof and call the carrier |
| References | Three references from customers with similar projects, as Georgia’s Attorney General advises. | Call the references yourself |
| Complaints | Whether the contractor has complaints on file. | Better Business Bureau at bbb.org, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Bureau |
What does a storm roof repair cost, and how should you pay?
Get each bid in writing. Georgia’s Attorney General advises getting written bids from at least three contractors. Georgia’s Attorney General advises getting written bids from at least three contractors, being skeptical if a bid is too low, and remembering that cheaper is not necessarily better.
| Payment step | Source |
|---|---|
| Consider paying no more than one-third of the total cost as a down payment. | Georgia Attorney General |
| Tie later payments to completed stages of work, with the final payment due only when the job is complete | Georgia Attorney General |
| Never make the full payment until all work is completed to your satisfaction | Illinois Attorney General |
| Never pay in cash | Illinois Attorney General |
| Ask your bank or credit union about a Certificate of Completion, which pays the contractor for each stage after the bank approves the work | Pennsylvania Attorney General |
Can you cancel the contract?
Cancellation rights depend on your state and contract. Illinois has the deadlines described below. Illinois gives you three business days to cancel a contract you signed based on the contractor’s visit to your home.
Georgia’s storm contract law took effect July 1, 2025. For a contract with a homeowner within one year of a natural disaster to repair, replace or mitigate disaster-caused damage, the law prohibits failing to substantially commence work within one year. It also requires compliance with cancellation rights when the insurer gives written notice that all or part of the related claim or contract is not covered. The contractor must attach a “NOTICE OF CANCELLATION” form to the contract.
Where do you report a problem?
| Situation | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Your insurer is not handling your claim properly | Missouri Department of Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390, or insurance.mo.gov. |
| You suspect a roofer committed insurance fraud | Georgia Department of Insurance at oci.georgia.gov/report-suspected-fraud, or 404-656-2070 or 1-800-656-2298 |
| A contractor took your money and did not do the work, or did substandard work | Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 404-651-8600 or 1-800-869-1123. Arizona Attorney General at (602) 542-5763 in Phoenix, or the Registrar of Contractors complaint form at roc.az.gov/file-complaint. |
| A suspicious contractor or adjuster soliciting door to door in Illinois. | Illinois Consumer Fraud Hotline at 1-800-386-5438 in Chicago, 1-800-243-0618 in Springfield, or 1-800-243-0607 in Carbondale. Illinois Department of Insurance at (866) 445-5364 to verify a public adjuster. |
| Potential predatory practices related to flood damage in Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555, or scams@attorneygeneral.gov |
Before you order: a short checklist
- Confirm the name on the license matches the name on the truck and business card.
- Get written bids from at least three contractors, and a written contract that lists the scope, cost, timeline and start and completion dates.
- Confirm with your insurer what it will cover before the work begins.
- Check with your local government whether the job needs a permit.
- If your contract is covered by Georgia’s natural-disaster law, confirm that the required NOTICE OF CANCELLATION is attached.
By HomeRemodelingAndRepairs.net Home Research & Editorial Team