Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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I just bought a house in Raleigh and about a week after I arrived I received a letter in the mail from a company called "Data Processing Services" offering to come and do a free inspection of my siding because they claim it may be involved in a class action suit or be eligible for a warranty claim. Has anyone on here dealt with this company or this situation. I'm not aware of any problems with the siding on the house, but the letter claims that there may be a problemt that isn't evident. Is this legit?
Yes this company and their services are actually legit. However, my understanding was that the deadline to file a claim was Jan. 8th 2008. Maybe they got some sort of extension on the settlement. Hardiboard is not the best siding and is subject to decay, but if you keep it painted and caulked, it will be fine for many years. My home has the same siding and it's fine. When you do get a bad patch, just replace that area with matching concrete board.
OK, that's good to know. I have wood siding, not "hardiboard" which is made from concrete. I think this claim is for pressed wood, not hardiboard, according to the information on their website.
What was your experience with DPS? I just met with a claim manager regarding a possible claim.
My experience with them was great, but the problem was is that I didn't get anything out of the claim. An inspector came several months after I filed my claim with them and said my house had 15 s.f. of total "damage", so I appealed because that was BS. They came out several months later and said my house now had "zero" damage. The house repaired itself I guess
Anyway, since I get nothing, then I owe this company nothing. The company usually takes 35-40% of what your damage claim would be. The actual manufacture pays you directly (if you get anything) and then you are responsible for paying DPS the percentage you owe them after you cash the check.
In all honesty my siding is in pretty good shape, but I think I did myself a disservice by having it painted before the inspection. They told me that painting it wouldn't effect what the inspector saw in damage, but in my case I know it did. Like I said though the siding is in good shape and like the P.P. said if you keep it painted and caulked every 7-10 years or so it should be totally fine.
Look back on threads that have discussed "Masonite" siding and the claims that have been filed against Masonite.
I have this siding, filed a claim myself and did get back some money.
Masonite requires more maintenance than hardiplank (fiber cement) but once you educate yourself, it is something easily taken care of.
The companies that file claims for you usually get a percentage of what you get back. I did the 30 min. of paperwork myself and kept the check myself.
Vicki
Good point and I wanted to do the paperwork myself, except I had no clue what my siding was even when a small piece was removed. I would have had to pay someone to inspect my siding to tell me exactly what brand it was and I just figured I'd go with this company. Since I got nothing back anyway I guess it was better I didn't pay someone to inspect it.
Thanks for tip I will go back through the threads. One question, was there a site you went to get the claim forms or did you contact the company directly. Thanks again!
When I took a piece of the siding off, the name was there. So that solved the problem of who the manufacturer was.
The claim paperwork was all on the class action suit website.
Do a google search for Masonite and you should have no problem finding it.
The inspector that came out didn't charge anything...he was part of the process.
Vicki
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