MN Hail BuddyFree Minnesota hail history
← All guides

Your right to cancel the contract if the claim is denied

Minn. Stat. § 326B.811 gives you 72 hours to walk away from a storm repair contract after your insurer denies the claim.

Written and statute-checked by Dan Swenson, Minnesota attorney. Every legal claim cites the statute so you can verify it yourself.

The protection

If you entered a written residential roofing contract with a residential roofer, or with a residential building contractor or remodeler providing roofing services, for work to be paid from property- or casualty-insurance proceeds, and the insurer denies the claim to pay for those goods or services, Minnesota law lets you cancel within 72 hours after notice of denial. The statute says the claim has been denied; it does not clearly make every partial scope or amount disagreement a cancellation trigger. The contractor must return payments within ten days, but may charge for emergency services already performed.

Why it exists

Storm chasers historically signed homeowners to binding contracts on the doorstep: 'we'll handle everything with your insurance': leaving the homeowner on the hook for the full price when the claim was denied. The 72-hour right shifts that risk back to the contractor.

How to use it

Cancel in writing within 72 hours after notice of denial and send it to the contractor's address stated in the contract. Properly addressed, postage-prepaid mailed notice is effective on deposit. Keep the denial and cancellation. The contract must include the statutory notice and a completed cancellation form.

This guide is educational information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Policies differ; always check your own policy language. For legal questions about your claim, talk to a Minnesota attorney.