JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville veteran believes he is being taken advantage of by a local roofing company.
In October, Arthur Robertson signed an agreement with a company called Florida Roof Specialists to replace the roof on his 1,800-square-foot home. He said a salesman told him he wouldn't have to worry about the price, because they would work directly with his insurance company to collect payment.
He contacted the Ask Anthony team for help because he was shocked when he saw the final bill.
"This is a complete nightmare," Robertson said.
Robertson is thankful for the roof over his head, but right now, it's what's keeping him up at night.
"I've lost a lot of hours of sleep. A lot of hours," Robertson added.
The Navy veteran signed a contract with Florida Roof Specialists about eight months ago. There wasn't a price on the document. According to Robertson, the salesman told him and his wife they wouldn't have to worry about the cost.
"He said we will take care of everything. I said how much is it going to cost? He said we negotiate with the insurance company. I said what do we have to do? He said absolutely nothing," Robertson explained.
Robertson said he first received a price of about $23,000 for the roof repairs. The insurance company agreed to the amount and wrote a check. Robertson was shocked when he received the final invoice in the mail for $46,000. Robertson says the company is now demanding he pay the rest of the bill, which is about $23,000.
He hasn't paid. The company put a lien on his home.
"I feel like I'm a victim," Robertson said.
Anthony Austin called Florida Roof Specialists to get answers. A woman named Donna, who identified herself as the vice president and general manager, spoke with Anthony and said she would review Robertson's file.
The Ask Anthony team contacted local roofing experts for a second opinion. According to those experts, they believe Robertson was overcharged. They also noticed a number of issues with the quality of work such as rotten decking, ridge vents that were not consistent and a broken skylight.
Anthony sent Donna that information. He did not receive a response before this story was published.
According to the Better Business Bureau, the company has a "B" rating and has a pattern of complaints involving putting liens on customers' homes and alleging they still owe money for their roofs.
"I'm a proud veteran. Ever since I was 18, I fought for my country. We shouldn't have to live like this," Robertson said.
Three things to remember before hiring a roofing company:
- Don't sign any contract that does not include a full scope of work with potential add-on costs outlined and pricing up front.
- Get multiple estimates and be careful about choosing the cheapest one. Sometimes a cheap price equals cheap materials and can end up costing you more in the future.
- Always do your homework. Check reviews and see how long a company has been in business and if there have been any major complaints against the company or owners. Sometimes companies will change names to avoid bad reviews.