Homeowner Claims Cuts in Renovation Credits

Hurricane windows and a new roof went on in 2009, one Harry Zifferblatt said county inspectors told him was just fine. But inspectors for Citizens, his windstorm insurance company, later came back and said it  didn't meet its standards.

Now there is no credit to reduce his bill for a roof not two years old.

"I want a really safe house," Harry Zifferblatt said, "I was caught in hurricane Charlie."

Zifferblatt said he wasn't going to take any chances with the North Miami-Dade home he spent a significant amount renovating.

The higher bill is due to items he installed to protect him if the wind starts blowing this hurricane season. But Citizens now says those improvments aren't good enough to get the credits given when products strengthen your home.

In all, Harry says he could end up paying $1,400 more for his windstorm insurance.

"You must use their inspection company and that's it. That's the report they take," Zifferblatt said.

"If you have everything but that one window, one door, you won't get the credit," said Tom Dorsey, an insurance expert at Butler, Buckley, Deets insurance. "There has been an issue with prior inspections, and they are checking that they don't actually qualify."

Zifferblatt said Citizens is just taking away credits as a way of raising rates when the state won't let it do that directly.

NBC Miami contacted Citizens, but they have not commented yet.

Dorsey says there's no room for error. You must follow rules specifically. For much more on how to keep your credits go to www.iiasf.com or www.citizensfla.com.
 

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