Who do you pay your insurance deductible to?
When it is usually due
Payment schedules vary by contractor. Common arrangements include a deposit at signing or material delivery, with the balance at completion. On insurance roof jobs, the first insurance check often covers the deposit, and your deductible is due with the balance. Read the schedule in your contract before signing and make sure it is in writing.
How to pay safely
- Pay the company named on the contract, not an individual salesperson.
- Use a traceable method such as a check, card or bank transfer, and keep receipts.
- Do not pay the full job cost up front, especially to an out of town company after a storm.
- Ask for a final invoice showing the total, all insurance payments, and your deductible as paid.
What if you cannot pay it all at once?
Many roofers offer financing for the deductible and any upgrades. That is legal. What is not legal in Georgia is a contractor waiving, absorbing or rebating the deductible, or inflating the estimate to hide it. See can a roofer pay your deductible.
What if you do not repair?
If you keep the money and do not repair, you simply receive the payment minus the deductible, and any recoverable depreciation stays with the insurer. If you have a mortgage, the lender may require the repairs. See mortgage company insurance checks.