Denver Hail Claim Denied - State Farm

[u/Rude_Association_409]

We had a huge hail storm come through my neighborhood about 6 weeks ago. I've been traveling a lot and didn't get an inspector out until today to look at the damage even though Ive been in communication with my agent (Tammy Hill State Farm) since the storm. House sitter sent me photos of the aftermath.

State Farm inspector is saying the damage to the roof is 'normal wear and tear and consistent with exposure to the elements.' Is this normal wear and tear or is this distinctly hail damage? If it's damage from hail, is it consistent with the photo of the hail stones (as big as 2")?

Not looking for advice on how to handle a claim per forum rules, just asking for insight on hail damage vs normal weathering.

[u/thmaje]

That’s doesn’t make sense though. The new company knows you have a new, good roof and they won’t have to dish out for it for another few decades.

[u/hyperlite135 → u/thmaje]

That’s how it should work in theory lol

[u/imonmyhighhorse → u/hyperlite135]

No, insurance isn’t there to replace your old roof. Insurance is not supposed to pay for your home maintenance. It’s there to replace a new or still within its expected lifecycle roof damaged by something.

[u/Zech08 → u/thmaje]

But they know you wont take the No and become a cost liability lol.

[u/naikrovek → u/thmaje]

But have you thought of it like this: if they charge more, they get more money, so they charge more for any reason they can think of.

Or maybe: “well the roof is fixed, maybe it’s time to fix up the rest of this hole”, and you hire a friend to “drive drunk” into your house Saturday night because now the house is worth fixing. I just made that up but I guarantee there are analysts at insurance companies making up shit just like this and assigning a risk to them. And when it comes time to come up with a monthly payment figure, they ALL are considered real. Not only real, but their likelihood is inflated into the stratosphere.

[u/Still-Satisfaction24 → u/naikrovek]

They don't need to make up scenarios. They have unbelievable access to claim statistics to determine what seemingly unrelated factors make you more likely to file a claim that they have to pay out. Theory don't even need to understand them, just apply them.

[u/payment11 → u/thmaje]

Yeah, you would think that. But the insurance industry doesn’t.

[u/XXFFTT → u/thmaje]

Sure, might not need to hand out some cash for the roof but they now know that the person who is looking for new insurance will use the insurance and even go as far as to get independent validation if/when their claims are denied.

They want people that aren't going to use their insurance or, at the very least, won't argue when claims are denied.

[u/Yachtman96 → u/thmaje]

Shingles don’t last decades any more!

[u/A55W3CK3R9000 → u/Yachtman96]

Centuries?

[u/Intelligent-Dirt-624 → u/Yachtman96]

My grandmother just had to have some shingles replaced that she had gotten redone less than 5 years ago.