Roofing Scams and Storm Chasers: What NC and SC Homeowners Should Know
Most roofing scams start the same way: a stranger at your door right after a storm, offering a free inspection and promising insurance will pay for everything.
The North Carolina Department of Insurance warns about this every storm season.[1] Here is how the playbook works, which parts are against the law in North Carolina and South Carolina, and where to report it.
The Storm-Chaser Playbook
| What they do | Why it is a problem |
|---|---|
| Knock on doors right after a storm | The NCDOI tells homeowners to be wary of roofers going door to door after a disaster.[1] |
| Offer a “free roof inspection” and go up alone | You cannot see what they do up there. NCDOI warns about unsolicited offers to climb on your roof.[1] |
| Mail or say “insurance can pay for a new roof” on a roof with no damage | An undamaged roof is not an insurance claim. Filing one anyway can be fraud.[2] |
| Promise to “cover your deductible” | If the cost is hidden in the bill the insurer sees, that bill is a false statement.[2] |
| Ask you to sign right away, or sign papers to “handle the insurance” | Anyone paid to negotiate your claim for you must be a licensed public adjuster, unless they are your attorney.[4] |
| Want a big payment up front | A crew that leaves town with your deposit is hard to find. |
| Cannot show a local address or license | NCDOI advises getting the contractor’s license, driver’s license, and plate numbers.[1] |
“We’ll Cover Your Deductible”
Your deductible is the part of the loss you agreed to pay. A roofer can only “cover” it in two ways: lose money on the job, or make it up somewhere else.
The usual “somewhere else” is the insurance company. The roofer bills the insurer more than the real price, so the extra pays your deductible. That inflated invoice or estimate is a false statement in support of a claim.
- North Carolina: Knowingly presenting a false or misleading statement to support a claim is a crime. So is helping someone prepare one. The law lists estimates and invoices as statements.[2]
- South Carolina: Knowingly presenting a false claim to an insurer, or helping someone do it, is a crime. It is a felony if the claim is $10,000 or more.[7]
The homeowner is not automatically safe. These laws cover anyone who knowingly takes part, which can include the person whose name is on the claim.[2][7]
South Carolina lawmakers have tried to ban deductible offers outright. House Bill 4817 would bar licensed contractors from promising to pay or rebate a deductible. It passed the South Carolina House in April 2026 and was still in the Senate when we checked in October 2026. It is not law.[8]
Who Is Allowed to Negotiate Your Claim?
Many storm chasers want you to sign a paper that lets them “deal with the insurance.” The law is stricter than they let on.
- North Carolina: A person paid to negotiate or settle a property claim on your behalf is a public adjuster and needs a state license. Attorneys are exempt. Acting as an unlicensed public adjuster is a crime.[4] The NCDOI also says not to let a contractor work directly with your insurer unless your agent approves.[1]
- South Carolina: Public adjusters must be licensed. It is a felony for one person to act as both the contractor and the public adjuster on the same claim.[6]
A roofer can still inspect your roof and give you a written estimate. You can share it with your insurer. That is different from a roofer negotiating the claim for you. See what adjusters look for for how the inspection works.
Your Right to Cancel (North Carolina)
- Door-to-door sales: if a seller signed you up at your home for $25 or more, you can usually cancel until midnight of the third business day.[3]
- After a claim denial: a residential roofing contract can be canceled within five business days after your insurance claim is denied. The roofer cannot start work or take payment in that window. Breaking this rule is a Class 1 misdemeanor.[3]
The five-day rule has limits. Emergency work you approved in writing to stop more damage can be billed right away. The rule also does not cover work done by a licensed general contractor.[3] Saturdays count as business days under this law.[3]
How to Protect Yourself
- Call your insurance agent or company before you sign anything or pay anyone.[1]
- Get more than one written estimate, from roofers you found yourself.[1]
- Never sign a contract with blank spaces.[1]
- Do not pay in full, or sign a “completion” form, until the work is done.[1]
- Check licenses. In North Carolina, jobs of $40,000 or more need a licensed general contractor.[5]
- Write down the salesperson’s name, driver’s license number, and license plate.[1]
- Read the estimate line by line. Our roofing estimate guide shows what belongs there.
Where to Report a Roofing Scam
Criminal Investigations Division: 919-807-6840
Toll-free in North Carolina: 888-680-7684
Consumer questions: 855-408-1212 (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Website: www.ncdoi.gov[1]
Insurance fraud hotline: 1-888-95-FRAUD (1-888-953-7283)
Email: FraudDivision@doi.sc.gov
Main line: 803-737-6160[9][10]
Already signed and worried? Start with how roof insurance works and the claim process, then call your insurer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal for a roofer to pay my deductible in North Carolina?
North Carolina has no roofing-specific deductible law. But if the deductible is covered by putting a higher price on the bill your insurer sees, that bill is a false statement in support of a claim, which is a crime under G.S. 58-2-161.
What is a storm chaser roofer?
A roofing crew that travels to areas hit by storms and sells door to door, often offering free inspections and promising that insurance will pay. The NC Department of Insurance warns homeowners to be wary of door-to-door roofers after a disaster.
Can a roofer negotiate my insurance claim?
In North Carolina, a person paid to negotiate or settle your property claim must be a licensed public adjuster, unless they are your attorney. In South Carolina, it is a felony to act as both the contractor and the public adjuster on the same claim.
How do I report roofing fraud in North Carolina?
Call the NC Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840, or toll-free in North Carolina at 888-680-7684.
How do I report roofing fraud in South Carolina?
Call the SC Department of Insurance fraud hotline at 1-888-95-FRAUD (1-888-953-7283) or email FraudDivision@doi.sc.gov.
Guides in This Series
Laws and policies change, and your policy wording controls your claim. We checked every statute cited here on October 8, 2026. For advice on your own claim, talk to your insurance agent, your state Department of Insurance, or a licensed attorney.
Sources
- N.C. Department of Insurance, “Don’t become a victim twice; keep roofing scammers at bay”, February 4, 2026. Checked October 8, 2026.
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-2-161 (false statement to procure or deny benefit of an insurance policy). Checked October 8, 2026.
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-401.13 (right to cancel off-premises sales; subsection (b1) on residential roofing contracts after a claim denial, added by Session Law 2024-11). Checked October 8, 2026.
- N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 58, Article 33A (public adjusters), including §§ 58-33A-5, -10, -60, -65, -80 and -93. Checked October 8, 2026.
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 87-1 (general contractor license threshold). Checked October 8, 2026.
- S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 48 (public adjusters), including §§ 38-48-10, -20, -110 and -130. Checked October 8, 2026.
- S.C. Code § 38-55-170 (presenting false claims for payment). Checked October 8, 2026.
- S.C. House Bill 4817 (2025–2026 session), bill history. Passed the House April 2, 2026; in the Senate when checked October 8, 2026. Not law.
- S.C. Department of Insurance, Insurance Fraud Division. Checked October 8, 2026.
- S.C. Department of Insurance home page (main line and complaint form). Checked October 8, 2026.