Ice dams and roof leaks
Water that backs up under shingles from ice dams can be treated differently from damage caused by the weight of snow or ice. The wording in your policy, and what caused the water to get in, decide it.
Andover CompaniesClaim guide · independent
Rhode Island and New Hampshire public adjusters · Andover Companies claims
Andover Companies denied or underpaid your claim?
Andover denied your home claim or paid less than the repairs will cost? We read the policy your independent agent placed, inspect the damage and compare it line by line with the insurer’s estimate. The review is free.
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- New Hampshire public adjuster license 20497788
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Disclaimer: AF Claims is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Andover Companies (Merrimack Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Cambridge Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Bay State Insurance Company). Carrier names are used only to identify the insurer. Every claim is different; results are not guaranteed.
About Andover Companies
The Andover Companies is a mutual insurance group based in Andover, Massachusetts, in business since 1828, that sells home and business insurance through independent agents. Its insurers are Merrimack Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Cambridge Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Bay State Insurance Company, according to the company and a Massachusetts Division of Insurance market conduct report.
In a compilation of 2024 NAIC market-share data, Andover is the 5th-largest homeowners insurance group in Rhode Island (5.80%) and 8th in New Hampshire (3.88%).
Why Andover Companies claims get denied or underpaid
General reasons homeowners in these states report for denied or short-paid claims, with any carrier (not a description of Andover Companies’s internal rules):
Frozen and burst pipes
Freeze claims often turn on whether heat was maintained or the water was shut off in a vacant or seasonal home. Keep utility bills, thermostat records and the plumber’s report.
Wind damage to siding and roofs
Lifted shingles and loose siding can let water in long after the storm. Photograph every elevation soon after the event and keep weather reports for the date.
Fallen trees and debris removal
Policies often pay to remove a tree that hits a covered structure, but may limit debris removal when no structure is damaged. Photograph the tree, the damage and the property line.
Code upgrades not included
Repairs may have to meet current building code. Ordinance or law coverage, if your policy has it, can pay for required upgrades; check the limit on your declarations page.
Tip: Get the full policy
Ask for a complete copy of the policy in force on the date of loss, including endorsements. Denial letters often cite a specific endorsement that isn’t on the declarations page.
What to do after a Andover Companies denial or low offer
In Rhode Island
- 1
Expect an acknowledgment within 15 days
Under 230-RICR-20-40-2.6(A), an insurer must acknowledge receipt of a claim in writing within 15 days, unless it pays the claim within that time.
- 2
A written decision within 21 days of proof of loss
Under 230-RICR-20-40-2.7, the insurer must accept or deny within 21 days after receiving proof of loss, with a written denial citing the policy provision. If it needs more time, it must tell you within 21 days and then every 45 days, and undisputed amounts must be paid within 30 days after it affirms liability.
- 3
Read the exact policy language cited
Find the exclusion or condition the letter relies on, then read your declarations page and endorsements: deductibles, roof or cosmetic-damage terms, water damage limits and any matching or ordinance-or-law coverage.
- 4
Document the damage before repairs
Photograph and video every room and roof slope, keep damaged materials or samples when you can, and save invoices for emergency repairs. That record is what a reinspection, supplement or appraisal will rely on.
- 5
Use the policy’s appraisal clause if the fight is about the amount
Most homeowners policies have an appraisal clause for disagreements about the amount of loss, not coverage. Read its exact steps, costs and deadlines before invoking it.
More on Rhode Island claims: Rhode Island public adjusters · Rhode Island insurers and claim rules
In New Hampshire
- 1
Get the decision and the reasons in writing
New Hampshire’s unfair claim settlement practices law lists failing to acknowledge and act promptly on claim communications and failing to affirm or deny coverage within a reasonable time after proof of loss forms have been submitted (RSA 417:4, XV). Ask for the specific policy provision the denial or reduction relies on, the adjuster’s estimate and any reports, and keep all requests in writing.
- 2
Read the exact policy language cited
Find the exclusion or condition the letter relies on, then read your declarations page and endorsements: deductibles, roof or cosmetic-damage terms, water damage limits and any matching or ordinance-or-law coverage.
- 3
Document the damage before repairs
Photograph and video every room and roof slope, keep damaged materials or samples when you can, and save invoices for emergency repairs. That record is what a reinspection, supplement or appraisal will rely on.
- 4
Use the policy’s appraisal clause if the fight is about the amount
Most homeowners policies have an appraisal clause for disagreements about the amount of loss, not coverage. Read its exact steps, costs and deadlines before invoking it.
- 5
Check the policy’s time limit to sue
Many homeowners policies set a contractual deadline to file suit that can be shorter than you expect. Ask a New Hampshire-licensed attorney about legal deadlines; we are public adjusters, not attorneys.
More on New Hampshire claims: New Hampshire public adjusters · New Hampshire insurers and claim rules
Andover Companies claim FAQ
My policy names Merrimack Mutual or Cambridge Mutual. Is that Andover?
Yes. Merrimack Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Cambridge Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Bay State Insurance Company make up the Andover Companies. The company named on your declarations page owes the coverage.
A nor’easter damaged my roof and siding. What should I do first?
Report the claim, make temporary repairs to prevent more damage and keep the receipts, and photograph every elevation before anything is removed. Then ask for the adjuster’s estimate in writing and compare it with a contractor’s scope.
How long does an insurer have to decide my claim in Rhode Island?
Under 230-RICR-20-40-2.7, an insurer generally must accept or deny a property claim within 21 days after receiving proof of loss, in writing with the policy provision for any denial. If it needs more time, it must notify you within 21 days and every 45 days after that. Claims must be acknowledged in writing within 15 days (230-RICR-20-40-2.6).
How long does an insurer have to decide my claim in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire’s statute, RSA 417:4, XV, requires insurers to act promptly on claim communications and to affirm or deny coverage within a reasonable time after proof of loss forms are submitted. The Insurance Department’s claim rule (Ins 1002) has set specific day counts, but its current status was unclear when we checked, so ask the Department for the version in effect.
Can you guarantee the insurer will change its decision?
No. No one can honestly guarantee an outcome. We review the file, tell you what we see, and represent you if it makes sense to work together. Every claim is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does the review cost?
The claim review is free, and asking questions doesn’t hire us. If it makes sense to work together, the fee and services are explained in a written agreement before you sign.
General information, not legal advice. Policies and state laws differ, and laws change.
Sources
- The Andover Companies, About Us
- Massachusetts Division of Insurance, market conduct report on Bay State Insurance Company, Cambridge Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Merrimack Mutual Fire Insurance Company (Aug. 2024)
- Agency Checklists, “The Top Homeowners Insurers in Massachusetts & New England” (Oct. 27, 2025), compiled from NAIC Market Share Reports, 2024 group direct written premium
- 230-RICR-20-40-2.6, Rhode Island, failure to acknowledge pertinent communications
- 230-RICR-20-40-2.7, Rhode Island, standards for prompt, fair and equitable settlements
- N.H. RSA 417:4, XV, New Hampshire, unfair claim settlement practices
Sources checked September 27, 2026.
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Disclaimer: AF Claims is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Andover Companies (Merrimack Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Cambridge Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Bay State Insurance Company). Carrier names are used only to identify the insurer. Every claim is different; results are not guaranteed.
American Financial Claims is a licensed public adjusting firm, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice. Office: Brickell Arch, 1395 Brickell Ave, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131. Every insurance claim is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.