Latest news with #MahsaSaeidi
CBS News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
New Jersey residents cleaning up from flash flooding now faced with filing insurance claims
Hundreds of homes in New Jersey were damaged by flash flooding Monday, and many families are only just beginning the process of filing insurance claims. CBS News New York's investigative reporter Mahsa Saeidi spoke with residents about the challenges they're facing and got important advice from experts on what homeowners should do next. For the second time this month, the Gavin family called their insurance company. On July 3, they filed a homeowners claim after strong winds damaged their siding. Then on Monday, they filed a flood claim after water surrounded their North Plainfield home. Stephanie Gavin said they have thousands of dollars worth of damage. "Water heater, air conditioner, washer, dryer, deep freezer, refrigerator," she said. "Hopefully, I get the max, the guy is supposed to come, but that looks like it's only going to be maybe $9,000." Some neighbors are in even worse shape. The storm ripped apart the foundation of one home, and it could collapse at any point, according to the family who lives there. Like so many in the community, they're at the mercy of their insurance company. "It's been nonstop claims," said insurance agent Jaclyn Licato. "Lot of flood insurance claims, auto claims." Jeff Licato said he's been selling insurance for 44 years in the community. "This is the worst I've ever seen when it comes to flooding. It's new to me too to see something so severe," he said. Experts say take pictures of the destruction before starting to cleanup. File a proof of loss and take steps to prevent further damage. Schedule a visit from an adjuster and document everything. Across the Garden State, rates are ticking up, as well as cancellations. "Some companies have gotten a 10% rate increase, some have gotten 22 or higher," said Jeff Licato. In December, a Senate report on counties with the largest jump in non-renewals nationwide named three in New Jersey: Cape May, Hudson and Atlantic. So even if you aren't filing a claim now, you could still face insurance troubles soon. "It's all up to the adjuster that's coming tomorrow, so it's in their hands. Everything is in the insurance hands," Gavin said.
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Thousands struggling to get solar panels fixed after company's bankruptcy. How the new CEO is trying to help
An icon in the solar industry left customers scrambling after they filed for bankruptcy. After CBS News New York investigator Mahsa Saeidi helped get a New Jersey family's solar panels fixed, her inbox was flooded with similar complaints. She spoke to the company's new CEO to help find solutions for the thousands of families impacted. "Two and a half years of no help from these people" Maria and Louis Pinneri's golden years have been shaded by a broken solar panel system. In 2011, the Staten Island couple leased it through SunPower, a giant in the industry. In March 2023, they say it broke – specifically, the inverter, which converts electricity generated by the sun into electricity appropriate for the grid. "And they told us as soon as we get the new meter, we're going to replace it," Louis Pinneri said. "And I never heard it from them again." "No phone calls, no emails," Maria Pinneri said. "Two and a half years of no help from these people." The Pinneris say they watched their electric bill spike. On a fixed income, they say they had no choice but to stop making payments on the panels. Then, in August 2024, with their system still not working, SunPower collapsed. Louis Pinneri says it's been "a nightmare." "I'm 77 years old already," he said. "If something happens to me, I don't want to leave a mess to my family." When Maria Pinneri tried to call for an update on the status of their meter, an operator first told her they weren't able to speak with her regarding the account because it was under Louis Pinneri's name. After Saeidi got on the phone and asked when a team could come to the Pinneris' home, the SunStrong Management rep said, "There's a backlog due to the bankruptcy and SunPower customers coming in." Soon after, Saeidi spoke with the general counsel of SunStrong Management. SunStrong was hired by the third-party companies that lease the solar panels to families, including the Pinneris. They say they're working on clearing the backlog. Eventually, a crew with SunStrong Management came through, ensuring the Pinneris' panels are once again powered up. "Between all the emails and phone calls I made and got no results, I called you and here we are," Maria Pinneri told Saeidi. "And it's now fixed." The Pinneris aren't the only ones struggling. One woman told CBS News New York her electric bill is now over $5,000, and another customer who stopped making payments on the panels said, "My credit is ruined." "We have a solution, a temporary solution" Complete Solar Corporation CEO T.J. Rodgers bought part of SunPower's assets in the bankruptcy, including the "SunPower" brand and related intellectual property. "My little dwarf company bought the mighty SunPower for 45 million bucks," he said. "I expect that company to be worth a billion dollars shortly." The assets he purchased exclude any interest in leases, systems, batteries or equipment installed before Sept. 30, 2024. While Rodgers says the new SunPower isn't liable or responsible, he's working to help customers. "They had over 100,000 batteries in the field, and the batteries decided not to work," he said. "We have a solution, a temporary solution that will keep those batteries running safely." Rodgers says to troubleshoot battery issues, "You have to talk to it." The problem, he says, is that SunPower had created a proprietary connection. "So one of the keys to the realm is we're going to have to put in a standard communication link that is well-known and works interchangeably in multiple systems," Rodgers said. "That is part of a permanent solution. That is going to cost $900 ... and there's no way around that." Rodgers says broken panels and inverters both have a long warranty. "Panels have the longest warranty of any solar product," he said. "So the two most expensive components of the system can be covered by a passthrough warranty." Rodgers says in recent months, dozens of small to mid-size solar installers, contractors and companies have failed. "It is an industry that has pretty much collapsed," he said. "And the other problem, I'll just tell you, is the government ... 'Oh, we can't do it because we can't get this vote through. Oh, we're going to pay for a part of your system, we're not going to pay for part of your system.' And those jerk-arounds take a toll." Meanwhile, even if your system is broken, you are likely still obligated to make payments on the panels. That information will be in your lease agreement. SunStrong Management says they're letting customers defer payments until their systems are back up and running. For the tens of thousands of customers with broken batteries, Rodgers says there's a number you can call to find out more about a temporary solution. There's also a permanent solution, though that one will cost you. To learn more, call 1-877-299-4943.
