Corrupt roof repair operations in the commonwealth would be penalized for offering dishonest incentives under a measure passed out of a Kentucky House committee Wednesday. Engineer Lyle Donan says there are scoping crews posing as sales representatives who intentionally create roof damage. “You can, in fact, watch them up on the roof doing what they do," Donan said. "And to a lay person they’re circling damages on the roof, they’re measuring the roof. They’re doing what one thinks they’re actually doing. But, in fact, as they’re touching the roof they’re so good at it, they’re actually inflicting damage in the process.”
Bill Sponsor Steve Riggs says the measure allows the state attorney general’s office to pursue penalties for ‘shady deals’ such as offering to pay half a claim, a $500 signing bonus, or paying a deductible.
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Committee member Darryl Owens worries that the measure could have an unintended negative impact. “These persons who do this are gonna be gone. Even if you get a judgment, you’re not going to be able to collect,” Owens explained. “You give the person who’s offended the feeling that they have a remedy when they reality is they really don’t have a remedy.”
Riggs says his measure would help to prevent at least some shoddy roof repair work. Riggs says fraudulent roof repair tops the list of complaints made to the Better Business Bureau. The veteran lawmaker previously sponsored legislation to develop state licensing for roofers. He says he would still like to see that measure approved. ?
