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Storm Damage Roof Repair: Insurance, Payment and Scams

After a storm, the FTC warns of contractors who pressure you to sign, ask for your insurance check, or want cash up front. Check your coverage with your insurer yourself, pay by credit card or check, and make the final payment only after the work is done.

Red flags after a storm

  • They say no license is needed
  • They offer a discount only if you sign right away
  • They ask you to sign over your insurance check
  • They want everything paid up front
  • They want a wire transfer, gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or cash
  • They ask you to sign a blank contract
  • They offer to get you FEMA aid for a fee
[1]

Handling insurance

Check what your policy covers with your insurer yourself instead of taking the contractor's word for it. Never hand your insurance check to a contractor. Your bank or credit union may offer a certificate of completion, which lets it pay the contractor in stages as you approve each one. [1]

Contract and payment

  • Get a written contract with the contractor's license number, start and finish dates, and a payment schedule
  • Put every spoken promise in writing and leave no blank spaces
  • Negotiate a reasonable down payment, since some states cap it
  • Pay by credit card or check
  • Keep every invoice and receipt

If you signed at home or away from the seller's permanent place of business, you have three business days to cancel. [1]

What to ask a roofer

  • Can I see your license and proof of insurance?
  • Are you local, and where is your permanent office?
  • Will you document the damage with photos for my insurer?
  • What warranty do you give on the work and the materials?

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Questions

Should I give my roofer my insurance check?

No. The FTC says never to sign over your insurance check to a contractor.

How should I pay for storm repairs?

The FTC recommends a credit card or check, and avoiding wire transfers, gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency and cash.

How do I know what my insurance covers?

Ask your insurer directly rather than relying on what the contractor tells you.

Sources

  1. How To Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies and Natural Disasters, Federal Trade Commission

This guide is general information, not professional advice. It summarizes the sources above, which were last checked on October 22, 2026. Talk to a licensed contractor about your own situation.

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