SERVPRO bills can balloon from an initial estimate of $2,000 to a final invoice of $8,000+. Here's how to stop work, dispute charges, and protect yourself during disaster restoration.
🚨 Critical: Never sign a SERVPRO "Authorization to Perform Services" without reading the fine print. Some forms include assignment of insurance benefits (AOB) — meaning SERVPRO bills your insurer directly and you lose negotiating power.
How SERVPRO Billing Works (And Why It Gets Expensive)
Emergency response: They arrive fast (often within hours) — which is genuinely valuable during water/fire damage
Authorization form: Signed during a crisis when you're not reading fine print
Time-and-materials billing: Equipment rental ($50-200/day per dehumidifier), labor ($50-100/hour), materials at markup
Insurance padding: Since insurance pays, there's incentive to maximize the bill
How to Stop or Cancel SERVPRO Work
Call your local SERVPRO franchise (the number on your work order)
Say: "I want to pause/stop all work effective immediately"
Request an itemized invoice for all work completed to date
Do NOT pay the full amount immediately — you have the right to dispute
Contact your insurance adjuster and share the itemized bill
If You Signed an AOB (Assignment of Benefits)
An AOB lets SERVPRO bill your insurer directly. If you signed one:
Contact your insurance company immediately and inform them
In many states, you can revoke an AOB within a set period (check your state laws)
Your insurer can still negotiate the bill on your behalf even with an AOB
How to Dispute an Inflated SERVPRO Bill
Step-by-step dispute process:
1. Get the itemized invoice — every line item with hours, equipment, materials, and rates 2. Request Xactimate pricing from your insurance adjuster — this is the industry-standard cost database 3. Compare line by line — SERVPRO often charges 20-50% above Xactimate rates 4. Challenge equipment rental days — did they really need 5 dehumidifiers for 7 days? Get moisture readings to verify 5. File a BBB complaint if they refuse to negotiate — SERVPRO franchises respond to BBB complaints 6. Escalate to your state insurance commissioner if your insurer is paying inflated bills without pushing back
Preventing Surprise Restoration Bills
Get 2-3 quotes before signing: Unless it's a true emergency (active flooding), take time to compare
Never sign an AOB: Keep control of your insurance claim
Set a cap: Tell them "Do not exceed $X without my written approval"
Document everything: Take photos before they start, during, and after
Ask your insurer for preferred vendors: Insurance-referred contractors have pre-negotiated rates
Get daily updates: Request moisture readings and progress reports in writing
SERVPRO Alternatives
Your insurance company's preferred vendor list: Pre-negotiated rates, less billing disputes
Local independent restoration companies: Often 20-40% less than national franchises
For minor water damage: Rent dehumidifiers from Home Depot ($40-75/day) and fans ($15-30/day) — same equipment SERVPRO uses at 3-4x the price
Paul Davis, ServiceMaster: Competing franchises — get competing quotes
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