N.H., Maine wary of water line insurance offer

Many residents in Southern Maine and Rochester have received offers from a Connecticut company called HomeServe that is urging them to buy water line insurance, and while officials are not calling the correspondence an outright scam, they are asking consumers to be sure they understand what they're buying before entering any contracts.

HomeServe provides insurance on water lines that go from a municipal water line at the edge of the homeowner's property into the house, but some residents who live in Maine towns that have no municipal water system are also getting the mass mailings.

Some officials worry that these letters will prey upon the elderly's fears and misunderstanding.

Ian Rohrbacher, the chief water treatment operator for the city of Rochester, said the key is for consumers to get the facts.

"I don't think there's anything nefarious in this letter, however, if I received it I would try to find out when your service was installed, look at the condition of the pipes and double-check your municipal ordinances."

He said that in Rochester water department customers are responsible from the curb stop to the meter,

He said customers can call the water department offices and normally find out about what year their piping was put in by the department, which originally formed around 1900.

Rohrbacher urged consumers to find out what type of pipe is running from the curbstop to the meter. If it's galvanized service, "Personally, I would replace it. It's just asking for problems," he said, adding it's prone to leaks and low water pressure.

He said if your house was built pre-1960, you probably have galvanized water lines.

Meanwhile, HomeServe has already been cited in three states - Kentucky, Ohio and Massachusetts - for deceptive advertising. It was also ordered three years ago to pay $75,000 to a consumer aid fund in Massachusetts to address allegations of unfair and deceptive advertising.

The City of Rochester is advising customers to be on the lookout for the mailing and advises that the city of Rochester is not affiliated with HomeServe and its product is not required by the city.

The City of Rochester recommends that customers who are considering buying such insurance should remain wary and also check with their insurer to find out whether such coverage already exists under the homeowner's policy.

Some areas of South Lebanon near East Rochester get their water from the city of Rochester. The municipal water lines run about 3,000 feet up River Road, Rohrbacher said.

For questions regarding Rochester water service, contact the Utility Billing office at 603.332.3110.

The sales letter from HomeServe says recipients can call 855-321-9871 for questions or to be removed from their mailing list.