SPRING, Texas – Amy Voltz, a homeowner in Spring, has been in an ongoing battle with State Farm over getting her roof repaired after Hurricane Beryl hit last year.
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Despite paying premiums for nearly 40 years, Voltz is facing delays and frustration trying to get the insurance company to cover the cost of replacing her damaged roof.
She filed a claim with State Farm right away, and an adjuster came out to inspect the damage. However, the initial estimate was way lower than what other contractors suggested. State Farm said it would cost about $2,000 to repair the roof, but when Voltz got a second opinion, a contractor told her the roof needed to be completely replaced, at a cost of $40,000. A third contractor agreed, saying the job would cost $35,000, which is far higher than State Farm’s estimate.
Voltz said State Farm wants them to patch the roof instead of a full replacement, as contractors suggest.
“We have a $9,000 deductible, and we’re okay with that. We’re going to pay that,” Voltz said. “But we shouldn’t have to pay for the other $20,000 to $30,000. We’ve been paying our dues, you know, our policy forever.”
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Despite her best efforts, Voltz feels like State Farm is dragging its feet. “They just don’t want to pay it,” she said. She suspects the company knows many people are too busy or don’t have the energy to keep fighting. “I think they know that people are busy, and people work and don’t have time. And I’m blessed to be retired, so I have all the time in the world to make sure they’re going to pay it.”
After months of frustration, Voltz reached out to Click2Houston’s Help Desk for some assistance. Her issues go beyond just the roof replacement. The water damage to her attic puts her at risk for mold, and her smoke/carbon monoxide detector was destroyed in the storm, leaving her without critical safety equipment. Plus, part of her fence was knocked down, forcing one of her neighbors to fix the section they shared.
Still, Voltz is pushing on. “I just don’t understand why a company that spends literally millions of dollars each week on advertising and NFL Halftime Reports can’t just do the job they’ve already been paid to do,” she said.
In response to Voltz’s case, State Farm provided the following statement:
“We have shared these concerns with the appropriate area for review. Due to our company privacy policy, we can’t speak to the specifics of any individual customer claim. With any claim, State Farm seeks to provide our customer all benefits to which they are entitled within the terms of the insurance policy. This is an active claim, and we are continuing to work through the process with our customer.”
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For now, Voltz is holding out hope that her story will help others in similar situations. “I’ve been very patient, but I am done,” she said.
The stress of this drawn-out process is taking a toll on Voltz’s health. After retiring due to health problems, including a stroke, Voltz is worried that the ongoing fight with State Farm is making things worse.
Voltz said she reached out to the Texas Department of Insurance who said they would respond to her ordeal within 25 days. The Attorney General’s Office told Voltz to reach back out if it isn’t resolved with State Farm.
