DENVER (KDVR) — A Denver metro-area couple instructed FOX31 {that a} restoration firm referred by their insurance coverage firm left them with greater than $300,000 in injury to their dwelling.
Rick and Stephanie Evans stated the corporate was repairing flood injury however left the property with electrical injury, chipped flooring and baseboards, a damaged staircase banister and subpar home windows.
“They have been so substandard, so unhealthy, that actually our heating invoice was over $600 a month,” Rick Evans stated.
Evans confirmed the Drawback Solvers a broken sink the place he stated employees poured grout down the drain, inflicting extra flooding.
The couple stated regardless of a injury estimate of greater than $300,000 by an impartial contractor, their restoration firm is barely providing $72,000 to settle, and their insurance coverage service is now not concerned for the reason that enterprise solely supplied the referral.
“They washed their palms of it, and now we’re caught,” Evans stated.
Owners, know your rights with contractors
Colorado has anti-steering legal guidelines that forbid insurance coverage firms from pressuring shoppers to make use of contractors they refer. Owners ought to know their rights and punctiliously examine contractor referral insurance policies.
“If there may be injury brought on by your insurance coverage contractor that was referred by your insurance coverage firm, they’ve a relationship the place they need to assure that work. And likewise the insurance coverage firm ought to be capable of put stress on them to do this restore work,” stated Carole Walker, govt director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance coverage Affiliation.
Utilizing a contractor referred by means of your insurance coverage service can present quicker service, however clients ought to all the time examine the contractor’s report, critiques and certifications and get a number of references earlier than deciding to make use of the enterprise.
Evans warned that being below stress throughout an emergency could make it tough to decide.
“(They are saying) you utilize them, we will have them out within the morning. Effectively you’ve gotten 2 inches of water sitting in your ground. Who do you suppose you’re going to make use of? You’ll be able to’t wait three week. In fact you’re going to make use of their most well-liked vendor,” he stated.
