Jacksonville, Fla. — In June, the Ask Anthony team reported on a Navy veteran who claimed he was exploited by a company called Florida Roof Specialists. We have now discovered that the business is under investigation by the State Attorney General’s Office, with 61 complaints filed against it.
“He said, ‘We will take care of everything.’ I asked, ‘How much is it going to cost?’ He responded, ‘We negotiate with the insurance company.’ I asked, ‘What do we have to do?’ He said, ‘Absolutely nothing,'” Arthur Robertson explained.
In October, Robertson signed an agreement with Florida Roof Specialists to replace the roof on his home.
The Navy veteran initially received a quote of about $23,000, which the insurance company agreed to and issued a check for. However, Robertson was stunned when he received the final invoice.
“They want $46,000,” Robertson said.
The final bill was double the initial estimate for the roof replacement on his roughly 1,800-square-foot home.
“They would show up sometimes, and we wouldn’t know they were out there,” Robertson added.
Anthony Austin contacted several local roofing experts for a second opinion. These experts believe Robertson was overcharged and pointed out several issues with the quality of work, including rotten decking, inconsistent ridge vents, and a broken skylight.
After our initial story aired, the company came out to address the problems.
“I don’t think they 100 percent did the work they say they did,” Antonio Lindsey said.
Lindsey saw Robertson’s story and emailed the Ask Anthony team, stating he had a similar experience.
Lindsey signed a contract with Florida Roof Specialists about a year ago. A salesman told him that he would only have to pay a $2,000 deductible, and they would work with the insurance company for the final payment.
Lindsey’s insurance company agreed to pay a little over $23,000 for the new roof. However, the final invoice was almost $36,000. When Lindsey didn’t pay the remaining amount, a lien was placed on his home.
“I’m a veteran. I fought for this country, and this is the thanks I get. I would never do anybody like that,” Lindsey said.
Florida Roof Specialists currently holds a “B” rating with the Better Business Bureau. According to BBB files, the company has a pattern of complaints involving placing liens on customers’ homes and claiming they still owe money for their roofs.
Anthony contacted the vice president and general manager of Florida Roof Specialists about Lindsey’s issue. She stated that his final bill had been resolved, and the lien had been removed from his home. Lindsey said no one informed him of this.
However, a lien remains on Robertson’s home due to a dispute over the payment of his deductible.
