JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Local legal advocates are warning homeowners to protect themselves after the Florida Attorney General’s Office sued a Jacksonville roofing company, accusing it of deceptive business practices.
State officials filed a civil lawsuit late last year against Florida Roof Specialists, a company owned by Jeremy Rogero, alleging violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
According to the complaint, investigators say the company used misleading door-to-door and home solicitation sales tactics. Authorities allege the company promised roofing work that would be covered by homeowners’ insurance, with no additional costs beyond the deductible.
Investigators say that in many cases, homeowners were later billed for thousands of dollars in extra charges. The lawsuit also alleges the company filed fraudulent property liens against customers to force payment.
The Attorney General’s Office said it has received about 137 complaints from Florida consumers. Officials said at least 75 homeowners had liens placed on their residential properties.
Annie Rodriguez, an attorney with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, said the situation can be frightening for homeowners — particularly seniors.
“People are going about living their lives and all of a sudden there’s this huge stress of someone saying they owe thousands of dollars,” Rodriguez said. “If they don’t pay those thousands of dollars or win in a lawsuit, they could lose their home.”
Rodriguez said her organization has helped some customers dealing with liens or legal action related to roofing work.
She said many homeowners are initially told the roof replacement will only require them to pay their insurance deductible.
“Then the promise is it’s not going to cost you anything — just pay your deductible,” Rodriguez said. “But what actually happens is upgrades or additional charges arise.”
Rodriguez said some homeowners report they were never told about extra work until they received a large bill.
“People are getting surprised,” she said. “The roofer says they installed decking or wood without informing the homeowner, and they don’t find out until they get a bill for thousands of dollars. Often it’s the lien or a foreclosure lawsuit that follows.”
Rodriguez said she suspects additional customers may be affected.
A recent motion filed by the Attorney General’s Office is seeking to pause some of the company’s actions while the case moves forward.
Tips for homeowners
Legal experts say homeowners should take several steps to protect themselves when hiring a roofing contractor:
- Demand a detailed, itemized estimate of costs and materials before signing a contract.
- Be cautious if a contractor cannot provide a written estimate, which is required under Florida law.
- Stay involved in the insurance claim process rather than relying solely on a contractor.
- Require contractors to disclose any additional charges in advance before work is performed.
The owner of Florida Roof Specialists declined to comment when contacted. Attorneys representing the company have filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the attorney general’s lawsuit.