North Carolina
NC public adjuster accused of forging checks and taking off with homeowner’s insurance money
CARY, N.C. (WTVD) — A Triangle roofing company says it’s out more than $100,000 and the homeowners who hired them could be on the hook for it, despite their insurance company already paying for the work.
The case involves a middleman, commonly referred to as a public adjuster. A public adjuster is an independent insurance professional whom a person can hire to assist in settling an insurance claim.
The problem in these cases is that the homeowners claim the public adjuster took their money.
Cary homeowners Dave Perez and his wife Jane contacted their insurance company after they noticed a roof leak at their home.
“We kept dealing with the insurance company…they said, well, $3,000 to fix this, to patch this little area,” Dave told Troubleshooter Diane Wilson.
The couple said they had much more damage than that, and said their roofing contractor, BGC Expert Contractors, recommended a public adjuster to help with their claim.
“Whenever a claim gets denied, if we feel like there was storm damage, we would get a public adjuster involved because, as the contractor, we’re not allowed to discuss policy,” Lauren Garlock of BGC said. “So we would need to bring someone else in who can discuss policy, look over their policy, and assist with the insurance claim.”
Garlock said they recommended public adjuster Tyler Englin of TDE Claims LLC.
Once TDE got involved, the Perez’s insurance claim increased to more than $100,000.
“Most of it was in the roof and then the rest of it was interior, you know, repairs, and you know, the kitchen needed to be redone,” Dave said.
BGC did all of the work, and the Perez’s said they thought everything was fine until they heard from BGC, who said they hadn’t been paid for the work.
The Perez’s called their insurance company, which provided records showing they issued two checks for the claims. One check for more than $51,000, the other for more than $47,000.
“You can see where our signatures were forged. Jane doesn’t even write out her name; it’s more like a scribble. Those checks that were cut to him, sent to him, and then he endorsed them and never paid the contractor,” said looking at the checks.
The Perez’s asked their insurance company why they sent Englin of TDE the checks and not them. The company told the family that they were provided a contract that had the Perez’s e-signatures hiring the adjuster.
Dave said his insurance told him, “Once we get this from an adjuster, then at that point we no longer deal with you. We deal with him.”
The Perez’s claim they never signed that, nor did they sign the back of the checks from their insurance company.
“I think it’s pretty evident you have canceled checks that were for, you know, that were forged,’ Dave said. “Then you have a contract that we didn’t sign. And you have a contractor that is out, you know, $100,000.”
Garlock with BGC said that Englin with TDE has promised payment for the completed work, but it hasn’t happened.
“Just excuses,’ he said. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, I put a check in the mail,’ and then we never get it. He’ll say, ‘Oh, well, I’m out of town.’ And then, you know, at some point, we’re like, we will meet you. We live here. And one time, one of our reps went to his house, sat in his driveway for two hours, finally got a check, and the check bounced.”
In total, Garlock said they’re owed about $120,000 for three of the jobs they did for homeowners where Englin with TDE was the public adjuster.
“It greatly impacts our business. We are small, we’re local, a mom and pop, you know, a general contractor. So you know, not being able to get paid on these jobs for a year is tough,” Garlock added.
Garlock and Perez have filed complaints with the North Carolina Department of Insurance. A representative stated:
“The Department of Insurance has received multiple consumer complaints regarding Tyler Englin, who is a licensed public adjuster, and also against TDE Claims. The Department is currently reviewing these complaints.”
Troubleshooter Diane Wilson has tried to get answers from Englin in a number of ways, but was not successful.
The website for TDE no longer works, and when ABC11 attempted to call, it said temporarily unavailable. There was also no response to multiple emails and texts.
As for the Perez’s, Dave said he is worried that if Englin doesn’t pay BGC for the work they did at his home, he could be responsible for paying the contractor.
“There’s nothing in place that protects the homeowner from an adjuster doing this,” he said.
Besides the Perez’s, Troubleshooter Diane Wilson also heard from a Holly Springs homeowner who hired Englin with TDE Claims. There’s proof the public adjustor received the insurance money, and while TDE did give the homeowner a check for the amount they’re owed to pay the contractor, the check bounced.
When it comes to a public adjuster, before you hire one, you should make sure they’re licensed in North Carolina. Also, don’t pay anything up front, as public adjusters get a percentage of the insurance money.
Always make sure the check is made out to both you and the public adjuster, and of course, before you sign anything, read the small print.
ALSO SEE ABC Price Tracker: Check regional prices of groceries, utilities, housing and gas
All of the people involved said they followed those tips, but this still happened.
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North Carolina
Ex-senator’s wife, 75, found escaped inmate cowering in the backseat of her car: ‘I was shaking like a leaf’
The 75-year-old wife of a former Republican North Carolina senator had a frightening start to her week when she discovered an escaped inmate hiding in the backseat of her car, according to local reports.
Marie Steinburg, married to ex-State Senator Bob Steinberg, left her Edenton home for work around 7:30 a.m. Monday when she unlocked her Honda Civic and found 23-year-old accused thief Charles Babb cowering in the backseat, with a blanket wrapped around his orange prison jumpsuit.
“I headed out the door, and I clicked the unlock, and it must have scared the guy, because the next thing I know, I saw something moving in my backseat,” the startled senior said, WTKR reported.
“I kept backing up little by little by little because I thought, I don’t know what this man is going to do.”
Babb — who police said escaped from the Chowan County Detention Center Sunday night — then jumped out the car.
While residents were urged to lock their doors and windows, stay inside, and avoid interacting with the armed and dangerous fugitive, Steinburg said she remained calm and began talking to him.
“I figured if I was nice to him, he’d be nice to me,” she said, WAVY reported.
“I just figured that was the thing to do because I didn’t know if he was really dangerous,” Steinburg explained, adding that “he kept saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m so cold.’ And, you know, I was startled and I know he was too. And I said, “Well, hey, let me go in and get you a coat.’”
Steinburg said Babb then turned and raced down the driveway — reportedly leaving behind his prison sandals and a face mask — as she ran inside, called out to her husband, and dialed 911.
“I got in as fast as I could,” she recalled, according to WTKR.
“I was shaking like a leaf, and I could barely get the key in the lock, but I did.”
The Edenton Police Department apprehended the convict nearby shortly thereafter.
Police did not give details on how Babb escaped jail, other than to say he used a make-shift edged weapon. He was being held on felony breaking and entering and larceny charges before his breakout, according to the Daily Advance.
Her husband, who advocated for prison reform during his 10 years in office, praised his wife for how she handled the terrifying situation, believing a higher power was looking out for them.
The couple added that they will never forget to lock their car doors again.
“Oh let me tell you, if I don’t, [my husband] is gonna,” a relieved Steinberg said.
“It’s one of those things that we learned.”
The Chowan County Sheriff’s Office has since launched an investigation into Babb’s jailbreak.
Injuries are an unfortunate element in sports, and that has been relevant for the North Carolina Tar Heels this season. Now, most of the time, those injuries occur in games or practices. That was not the case for Seth Trimble, who suffered a broken arm in a workout accident.
The senior guard has not played since the second game of the season against the Kansas Jayhawks on Nov. 7.
Although the injury forced the Tar Heels’ coaching staff and players into an uncomfortable situation, the team has responded, winning six of seven games in Trimble’s absence. You never want to see a player suffer a significant injury, but in this particular case, it has opened the door to possibilities that North Carolina may not have been aware of if this never transpired.
Here is why Trimble’s injury has not been doom and gloom for the Tar Heels in this early portion of the season.
Unlocking a Potential Star Off the Bench
Before the last two games, North Carolina’s backcourt situation appeared to be a significant shortcoming for the Tar Heels. Because of that, Davis was forced to expand his bench with the hopes of unlocking the offense while supplying consistent production.
That has elevated freshman guard Derek Dixon’s role in the rotation, which has proven to be pivotal in North Carolina’s wins in the last two games against Kentucky and Georgetown. During that span, the 6-foot-5 guard has averaged 11.5 points while shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range.
With the rotation becoming solidified in recent weeks, head coach Hubert Davis explained how the backcourt has taken shape following the Tar Heels’ win over Georgetown on Sunday.
- “I really like [Kyan] and Derek [Dixon] on the floor at the same time,” Davis continued. “I’ve always said that I love multiple ball handlers. You can’t take us out of our offense. And with those two, with the way that Georgetown was switching defenses, we always had somebody that can handle the basketball and get us into a set and get us organized.”
- “So, it’s trying to figure out rotations,” Davis continued. “And then when Seth comes back, it’s finding it again. Different combinations is one of the things that I was excited about coming into the season. That is the versatility that we have, that we can throw out a number of different rotations out there that can be really effective on the floor.”
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North Carolina
Seasonal flu virus numbers increase across NC; NCDHHS shares tips to stay healthy this season
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Flu-related illnesses and deaths have been rising across the state, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Three flu-related deaths were reported within the past week, bringing the number of deaths to nine this season.
North Carolina reported 542 flu-related deaths for the 2024-25 respiratory virus season; this is the highest number of statewide flu deaths ever recorded in NC.
So far, no flu-related deaths in children have been reported in North Carolina.
SEE ALSO | Flu concerns grow in US as UK sees more cases among kids
Influenza A (H3N2) virus strain known as subclade K has spread worldwide, and it is the most often reported flu virus so far this season in the U.S.
State Epidemiologist Zack Moore says the flu is spreading quickly in our state and says flu vaccines are the most important tool to protect yourself from illness or death.
As holiday travel and gatherings ramp up, NCDHHS shares the following tips to keep yourself and loved ones safe and healthy:
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and water. Alcohol-based sanitizers can help prevent the spread of some respiratory viruses.
- Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are often touched.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw it away into the trash.
Stay home when sick: Avoid going out if you can and take steps to prevent spreading the flu to others in your home, such as using a separate bathroom, not sharing cups, towels and utensils, and wearing a mask when around other people.
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