Overall
The process is now taking years to complete when it should be no more than 6 months. Every property has had at the least 2 inspections and some are going on their 2nd application as well as a re-inspection on their 2nd application.

Unfortunately, because of the other errors below, the owners have put off repairs for many months, sometime years, and have sometimes given up. They are being denied a fair settlement.

Inspection results.
On most properties we have had to request a re-inspection some having enormous differences in results. In one case the inspector inspected twice to verify the product was Masonite. The result was lower than we expected, but identified about 7500 sq ft of Masonite on each of the 15 buildings. The re-inspection resulted in 0 damage with 0 sq ft of Masonite. The third resulted in 3 of15 buildings with Masonite and from $0 damage to $20,000 worth of damage for the same building.

This is a similar process for all the properties. A re-inspection is almost always needed and requested. The owners are getting low balled on a continuing basis.

Inspection Errors
I have seen many different errors, but the most severe is the actual inspection of the properties and the errors in the results. These are blatant errors that in some cases we believe the inspector was either not adequately trained, or didnít inspect the property. In one case the condo had 5 feet of snow around the buildings. There was no possible way to adequately inspect this property. In other properties, pictures taken of the property showing the damaged also shows a ladder leaning up against the wall, but no damage identified. Yet there is obvious damage right next to the ladder. It is almost as if the ladder was placed there just for the picture sake.

We have seen complete walls with obvious damage, yet no damaged noted. We have requested the pictures of the damaged walls with the damaged siding outlined in red and compared the results to the actual damage to the building. The results were horrible. And this was not ìpossibleî damage; this was obvious damage that was not considered. Whole walls were not considered damaged; yet it was obvious even to the untrained eye.

Inspection training.
From all the errors listed above, the only reason is the lack of training of the inspectors. 

Claims Administration phone bank:
Overall good experiences from the folks on the other end of the line. They all seem to help when answering questions or when researching a problem. 

Attorneys
The attorneys could take a more proactive role in this. When we complain about inspection errors or invalid results, it would be nice to see them jump to help.

Lost Claims:
We have seen claims returned to us requesting proof of ownership, proof of Masonite, proof of damage, etc when our records clearly show we have sent in the material. Only when we ask to research the issue does the material surface.

Not Masonite Samples
We have seen buildings being denied even after a picture of the stamp was sent it. We have also seen claims denied after a $100 inspection fee has been sent it. We do not send in $100 for buildings if there is any possibility it is not Masonite. We send it in only when we are sure. After we demand a second inspection the problem is resolved. Sometimes we must remove a sample.

Discontinued Products
We have many condos with a discontinued product, but they are denied the 20% rule. We can never get the name of the product, which they claim is not discontinued, or a place we could purchase the product. This is very frustrating to find a match. In most cases we cannot.

It is very difficult if not impossible to replace a subset of a wall when the boards are hidden nailed. Once you take off the damaged board, the board above must be partially removed which will cause damage to the board. This compounds the problem with discontinued products.

Lost results
We have had many occasions where we are mailed results or checks, which we never receive. At times I have received mail for other homeowners I am not assisting.

Lost settlement checks
Many homeowners in my neighborhood of 400 Masonite homes have had their checks mailed to a wrong address. In some cases a neighbor has received 3 checks for others in the community. We have had 2 individuals who applied early in the year and they have yet to see a check. The claims admin claims the checks were mailed months ago. Check periodically with teh claims admin to verify your check has been mailed.

Lost applications in the mail
I've had this happen to me. When you send in the application, call a few days later and see if it has arrived. I have now been sending applications via 2 day mail with the new delivery check. You can check to see if the post office delivered it and when on the internet.

Lost $100 deposits
Some homeowners sent in $100 for the inspection instead of sending in a sample. Only when they specifically asked did they get this money back. Check your settlement offers before you accept.

Mishandling homeowners information
Many homeowners in my subdivision had their mailing addresses changed for no reason. Their offers were sent to another business. By chance I knew the owners and they forward the information to me.

Missed inspections
According to the settlement, they are to inspect within 90 days of having your application approved. If you have not been inspected call the claims admin. They will not and have not been actively checking this. If you do not track this, you will probably never be inspected.

Poor Inspections
In the beginning of the settlement we had some terrible inspections. Over the past year or so they seem to have been pretty fair, but lately we have had another set of very poor inspection results. There is little to do about this. 

Defective Glue
(I'm not kidding) All the envelopes I received from the claims administration had glue that wouldn't stick. A neighbor of mine had their claims lost in the mail, TWICE! We think it could be the glue let loose and the contents were thrown across the Post Office. So.....use a bit of tape to secure the envelope and use confirmation tracking (35 cents extra)

Missing Buildings
On 3 homes in my subdivision the inspectors "forgot" to inspect the garages, or the results of the garages were never provided to the claims admin or to the homeowners. This happened to 3 homeowners in just one single subdivision. 

Clerical Errors
A homeowners was denied a claim because she had stated the homeowners association was responsible for the exterior of the building. Upon reviewing the copy we sent to the claims admin we determined it was a clerical error. We checked the box stating the association does NOT have this responsibility. The claims admin agreed and corrected it quickly. So, keep a copy of your claims for your record! And dont give up!

Math Errors in the Settlement Offers
Many homeowners have found very simple math errors in their settlement, for example, $3.97 * 1000 = $2876.00. As simple as that. Addition errors in the total sq footage of the house are common. It almost seems in some cases they are not using computers to do this type of math. So carefully check the math before you accept the check,

Incorrect regionally adjust cost figure
Homeowners in my area were given settlements based upon panel siding at a cost of about $3.50 a sq foot, but every home in my subdivision, about 400, with Masonite has LAP siding. This should be at $3.97 a sq foot. These mistakes were made even though the settlement offer clearly states LAP not PANEL siding. Check before you sign.

Miscalculations in the measurement of the house
My neighbors on both sides of me had measurements so far off, they thought they had the measurements of a different home. Again, check before you accept.

Regional Adjusted cost too low
I have yet seen anyone received enough money to remove, replace, and paint their homes based upon the regionally adjusted cost. This cost is way too low, but there seems to be little to do about it. Each year the rate is adjusted for inflation. Last year we must have had negative inflation since the price in Houston went down from $3.99 to $3.97.

Safeguarding personal information
Some homeowners have received settlement checks with other homeowners names on them. Again, check before you sign.

No advertising about the settlement
There has been little if any advertisement of the settlement in the area. Houston has thousands of homes with Masonite, yet no organization, not even the attorneys have advertised.

"Reasonable Substitutes"
According to the settlement if Masonite has discontinued a particular product then homeowners only require 20% damage to get 100% compensation. But if there is a reasonable substitute, then homeowners require at least 75% damage before being compensated 100%. They are now allowing competitor products be be considered "reasonable substitutes". For instance I was told by Mr. Cole of Masonite that Temple and Boise Cascade makes identical looking products as woodsman 8" lap. Temple and Boise had state class actions filed against them in Texas last year.

Wall Sections
According to the settlement if a wall section is 50% damaged, then the entire wall is compensated for. But....wall sections are not defined in the settlement. The definition of wall sections are to help the homeowners, but in many cases it actually makes it more difficult to get fair compensation.

Damage specifications
According to the settlement, the inspectors should be using feeler guages, and Delmhorst Moisture Meters to measure the moisture content and edge checking. We have yet to see any type of instuments used besides a visual inspection and pictures during their inspections. Some inspectors take less than 10 minutes.

Changes to the Settlement
It seems that although there is a settltement document detailing the terms of the settlement, changes are being made as the settlement progresses such as the definition of wall sections and reasonable substitutes or how they determine damage to the siding.