Is it illegal for a roofer to pay your deductible?
Short answer. Yes, in Georgia it is illegal for a roofing contractor to pay, waive or rebate your insurance deductible, including through a fake discount, a gift card, or a fee for a yard sign or referral. The deductible is your share of the loss under the policy, and hiding it means the insurer is billed for more than the job really costs. Homeowners who go along with it can face claim problems too.
Why the law treats it as a problem
Your insurer calculates the payment as the cost of the work minus your deductible. If the roofer quietly absorbs the deductible, either the bill sent to the insurer is inflated by that amount or corners get cut on the roof to make up the difference. Either way the claim no longer reflects the real job.
How the offer usually shows up
- "We'll take care of your deductible" or "no out of pocket" at the door.
- A discount on the contract that happens to equal the deductible.
- Payment for a yard sign, a review or "advertising" after the job.
- A gift card or check back to you once the insurer pays.
- An invoice to the insurer listing items that were never installed.
What it can cost you
Insurers can deny or reopen claims tied to misstated costs, and a misstatement on a claim can expose the homeowner as well as the contractor. A roofer willing to bend this rule also has less margin left for the parts of the roof you cannot see, such as underlayment, flashing and ventilation.
Legal ways to soften the hit
- Choose a lower deductible at renewal if the premium difference makes sense.
- Ask the roofer about financing for your share.
- Choose upgrades carefully, since they add to your cost.
See deductible rules in Georgia and storm chaser scams for related red flags.