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Real KC Roofing Scam: How One Homeowner Nearly Lost $11,000
A detailed breakdown of an actual Kansas City roofing scam and how you can avoid becoming the next victim.
⚠️Featured Case Study - Kansas City Metro
This is a real case from a homeowner in the Kansas City area who discovered they were being scammed after watching consumer protection videos. We're sharing their story to help other KC homeowners avoid the same trap.
How It Started: The Initial Contact
After a hail storm hit the Kansas City metro, a homeowner in Johnson County was contacted by a roofing company claiming to be "insurance claim specialists." The company had a local office and seemed legitimate at first glance.
The homeowner signed what they thought was a contract. The roofer collected $11,000 in two separate checks — and then disappeared.
No materials were delivered. No installation date was scheduled. No work was performed. The homeowner had nothing but a worthless piece of paper and an empty bank account.
🚩 Red Flag #1: The "Contingency Agreement" Scam
What the homeowner signed wasn't actually a contract — it was a "contingency agreement." This document is designed to look official and make homeowners feel legally bound to use that roofer.
What Was Missing:
- No Scope of Work: The document didn't specify what materials would be installed or what labor would be performed
- No Price: No total cost, no itemized breakdown, no per-square pricing
- No Timeline: No start date, completion date, or project schedule
- No Materials List: No quantities, measurements, or specifications
Kansas & Missouri Contract Requirements:
While each state has different laws, legitimate roofing contracts in the KC metro area should include:
- Detailed scope of work with measurements
- Total price and payment schedule
- Start and completion dates
- Specific materials to be used (brand, color, style)
- Contractor's license number (required in Johnson County and many KC suburbs)
- Certificate of insurance information
🚩 Red Flag #2: Upfront Payment Without Materials
The roofer collected $11,000 upfront before delivering any materials to the property. This is the biggest red flag in roofing contracts.
Why This Is Dangerous:
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul
Many roofing companies use deposits from new customers to pay for materials or labor on previous jobs. If they have 20 jobs in their pipeline, they're juggling 20 different homeowners' money. When this house of cards collapses, you're the one left without a roof.
No Accountability
Once the roofer has your money, you've lost all leverage. They can delay your job indefinitely while using your funds to buy materials for other projects or cover business expenses like truck payments and supplier debts.
The Disappearing Act
Some contractors operate for months or years, collecting deposits from dozens of homeowners, then simply close up shop and disappear. Even with a "local office" in Kansas City, this can still happen.
The Right Way to Handle Payments:
- Materials on Site First: Don't pay until shingles, underlayment, and other materials are delivered to your property
- Verify the Delivery: Check that materials match what's on the contract (brand, color, quantity)
- Supplier Receipts: Ask to see delivery receipts from local suppliers like ABC Supply (8500 James A Reed Rd, KCMO) or SRS Distribution (1301 Merriam Ln, KCK)
- Progress Payments: Legitimate contractors break payments into stages: deposit when materials arrive, progress payment when tear-off is complete, final payment when job is done
🚩 Red Flag #3: The Pre-Authorized Decking Scam
Before starting the job, the roofer pressured the homeowner to sign a "change order" authorizing the replacement of 170 sheets of roof decking — without ever removing the shingles to verify the decking was bad.
The Setup:
The house was in Overland Park with a roof originally installed in 1998 — nearly 30 years old. There was a second layer of shingles underneath from the 1980s. The roofer claimed that based on the age and "what they could see from lifting up shingles," the entire roof deck would need to be replaced.
The Trap:
The homeowner was told to sign the change order before the job started. This meant that on the first day of the job, 170 sheets of OSB plywood would be sitting in the driveway — and no one's going to take 170 sheets of plywood back to the supplier.
Once that plywood is delivered and you've authorized it, you're on the hook for the cost — whether the decking actually needed to be replaced or not.
The Math:
| Item | Quantity | Price per Unit | Total |
|---|
| OSB Roof Decking | 170 sheets | $85/sheet | $14,450 |
| Skylight Removal (3 units) | 3 skylights | $1,900 total | $1,900 |
| Potential Extra Charges | $16,350+ |
Why This Is a Scam:
- You Can't Verify the Need: It's impossible to know if decking needs replacement until the shingles are removed. Walking on a roof with two layers of shingles can feel soft even if the decking underneath is fine.
- Insurance May Not Cover It: Most insurance policies don't cover decking replacement unless it's directly damaged by the storm. Rotted decking from age isn't covered. If you pre-authorize this work and insurance denies it, you're stuck with a $14,000+ bill.
- Scope Creep Profit: Roofers make significant profit margins on decking replacement. By getting you to pre-authorize, they ensure they can install it regardless of actual need.
How to Handle Decking Properly:
- Don't Pre-Authorize: Tell the roofer you understand decking replacement might be needed, but you won't authorize it until they tear off the shingles and show you photographic evidence
- Demand Documentation: Require photos of damaged decking with measurements and locations before approving any replacement
- Spot Replacement Only: Legitimate contractors replace only the damaged sections — not the entire roof deck unless truly necessary
- Get Insurance Approval First: Don't authorize decking replacement until you know whether insurance will cover it
🚩 Red Flag #4: "We Can Get Insurance to Pay For It"
When the homeowner questioned the decking replacement, the roofing company responded: "We can get insurance to pay for it regardless."
This Is a Lie — and Possibly Illegal
In both Kansas and Missouri, roofers are not allowed to negotiate insurance claims unless they are licensed as public adjusters. When a roofer tells you "we can get insurance to pay for that," they are either:
- Practicing public adjusting without a license (illegal in both states)
- Planning to commit insurance fraud by inflating the claim
- Simply lying to you to get you to sign documents
Kansas & Missouri Law:
What Roofers CAN Do:
- Meet with the insurance adjuster to discuss the scope of work
- Point out storm damage the adjuster may have missed
- Explain what repairs are needed based on building codes
- Provide estimates for the homeowner to submit to insurance
What Roofers CANNOT Do:
- Negotiate the price of the claim with the insurance company
- Represent themselves as "insurance claim specialists" without a public adjuster license
- Guarantee what insurance will or won't cover
- Sign your insurance claim documents
- Accept payment directly from your insurance company (unless you assign benefits, which is risky)
If a roofer in Kansas City tells you they're an "insurance claim specialist" or that they can "get insurance to pay for anything," ask to see their public adjuster license. If they can't produce one, they're breaking the law.
🚩 Red Flag #5: The Worthless "Color Sheet"
A few days after signing the contingency agreement, the roofer sent the homeowner a "color sheet" to sign. This document listed:
- The shingle brand and color
- "Pipe flashings - remove and replace" (circled)
- "Box vents - remove and replace" (circled)
- A clause stating they would "follow the insurance scope of work"
What Was Missing:
- No measurements or quantities
- No square footage of the roof
- No number of pipe flashings, vents, or other components
- No total price
- No project timeline
This "color sheet" gave the appearance of a contract while providing zero accountability. The homeowner had no way to verify whether the work was complete or whether they were being overcharged for extras.
What a Real Contract Should Include:
- Total Square Footage: Exact measurements of each roof plane
- Shingle Quantity: Number of bundles or squares being installed
- Underlayment Details: Type, brand, and square footage
- Component Count: Exact number of vents, pipe flashings, drip edge, ridge caps, etc.
- Ice & Water Shield: Linear feet to be installed (especially important in KC for code compliance)
- Itemized Pricing: Cost per square, cost per component, labor costs, disposal fees
🚩 Red Flag #6: Timeline Pressure Tactics
The homeowner's insurance company had given them six months from the claim approval date to complete the roof replacement. That deadline was approaching in December — right as Kansas City weather turns cold and unpredictable.
The Pressure Tactic:
The roofing company used this deadline to pressure the homeowner into signing documents and authorizing work without proper verification. The implied threat: "If you don't sign now, you'll lose your insurance coverage and have to pay for everything yourself."
The Reality:
While insurance companies do set deadlines, a legitimate contractor can typically complete a roof replacement in Johnson County or the Kansas City metro area in 1-3 days during good weather. Even with permit delays (which take 3-5 business days in most KC jurisdictions), there was plenty of time.
The roofer created artificial urgency to prevent the homeowner from thinking clearly or seeking a second opinion.
How to Handle Insurance Deadlines:
- Know Your Actual Deadline: Read your insurance policy or call your adjuster directly to confirm
- Request Extensions: Most insurance companies will grant reasonable extensions if you're actively working on the project
- Don't Rush Due Diligence: Even with a deadline approaching, take time to verify contractor licenses, read contracts thoroughly, and get multiple estimates
- Weather Delays Are Normal: Insurance companies understand that roofing work in Kansas City can be delayed by weather — they won't penalize you for this
How This Homeowner Discovered the Scam
Fortunately, this homeowner started watching consumer protection videos online and realized something was wrong. They noticed several red flags:
- The roofing company had $11,000 of their money but no materials had been delivered and no work date was scheduled
- They had signed a "contingency agreement" instead of a real contract
- The company was pressuring them to authorize expensive work without proof it was needed
- The roofer claimed to be "insurance claim specialists" but couldn't provide a public adjuster license
What the Homeowner Did:
- Contacted the Roofer: Asked for proof that the deposit was being held in a trust account (as required by law in some states)
- Refused to Sign: Would not authorize the decking replacement until they had photographic evidence it was needed
- Demanded Accountability: Asked for a real contract with scope, price, and timeline
- Sought a Second Opinion: Called a reputable local roofer to review the situation
How to Verify a Kansas City Roofer
Before signing anything or giving any money to a roofing contractor in the Kansas City metro, complete this verification checklist:
1️⃣Check Business Registration
Missouri: Search the MO Secretary of State website to verify the business is registered
Kansas: Check the KS Secretary of State business registry
Look for: Legal business name, registered agent, good standing status
2️⃣Verify Contractor License
Johnson County: All contractors must have a Class A or B license — verify at jocogov.org
Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe: Check city-specific licensing requirements
KCMO: Verify business license at 816-513-1313
3️⃣Request Certificate of Insurance
Demand a current COI (Certificate of Insurance) listing:
- General liability insurance ($1M+ recommended)
- Workers' compensation coverage
- Policy must specifically cover "Roofing" work
4️⃣Check BBB & Online Reviews
BBB of Greater Kansas City: Look for A+ rating and verify physical address
Google Reviews: Check for recent reviews (not just old ones)
Avoid: PO Box addresses, no reviews, or only 5-star reviews written on the same day
5️⃣Verify Local References
Ask for 3-5 recent references from KC metro homeowners
Call references and ask: "Did they finish on time? Any surprise charges? How did they handle problems?"
Red flag: Can't provide local references or only offers references from years ago
6️⃣Review the Written Contract
Contract MUST include: Scope, price, timeline, materials list, payment schedule
Red flags: "Contingency agreement," "we'll follow insurance scope," vague pricing
Never sign until you fully understand every line
What to Do If You've Already Paid a Deposit
If you've already given money to a roofer and are experiencing these red flags, take action immediately:
Step 1: Stop All Additional Payments
Do not sign any additional documents or authorize any additional work until you resolve the concerns below.
Step 2: Document Everything
- Save all emails, text messages, and signed documents
- Take photos of any materials delivered (or lack thereof)
- Write down dates and summaries of all phone conversations
- Keep copies of all checks or payment receipts
Step 3: Send Written Demands
Send a certified letter to the roofing company demanding:
- Proof that your deposit is being held in a trust account
- A detailed, itemized contract with scope, price, and timeline
- Delivery of materials within 7-14 days or full refund
Step 4: File Complaints
Report the contractor to:
- Missouri Attorney General: Consumer Protection Division (if Missouri-based)
- Kansas Attorney General: Consumer Protection Division (if Kansas-based)
- BBB of Greater Kansas City: File a formal complaint
- Local Building Department: KCMO (816-513-1313), Johnson County, or your city
Step 5: Consider Legal Action
If the contractor refuses to refund your money or deliver materials:
- Small Claims Court: For amounts under $5,000 (MO) or $4,000 (KS)
- Consult an Attorney: For larger amounts or complex cases — see our Kansas City Roofing Attorneys Guide
- File Police Report: If you believe fraud occurred, file a report with local police
The Bottom Line: Trust Your Gut
Not every roofer who knocks on your door is trying to scam you — but every roofer who IS trying to scam you will knock on your door.
If you see ANY of these red flags:
- ✗ Requesting payment before materials are delivered
- ✗ "Contingency agreement" instead of detailed contract
- ✗ Claiming to be "insurance claim specialists" without a public adjuster license
- ✗ Pressuring you to pre-authorize expensive work like decking replacement
- ✗ Vague "color sheets" instead of itemized scope and pricing
- ✗ Can't provide local references or contractor licenses
- ✗ High-pressure tactics using timeline deadlines
STOP. Don't sign anything. Don't pay anything. Get a second opinion.
Even if the company has a local office in Kansas City, even if your neighbor used them, even if they seem legitimate — poor business practices are a major red flag. A company that can't manage its finances well enough to wait one day for your check (until materials are delivered) probably won't be around in three months when your roof starts leaking.
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