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Most profitable industries attract people who want to make money from the industry without delivering value – scams. The duct cleaning industry is not an exception. These scams are easy to fall prey to because their sales and marketing operations are similar to those of genuine duct cleaning companies.However, the work of these scams (if they do show up) always tells an unsavory story. They either deliver poor cleaning or cause permanent damage to your property. Encountering these scams is a situation to avoid and the few points in this article will show you how.
TOP 3 HOME SERVICES SCAMS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT
The following are the most common home services scamming techniques that affect innocent homeowners:
Internet Scams
Some fraudsters use the internet to defraud unsuspecting homeowners who may be in need of cleaning. These online scams usually rely on social media apps like Facebook and Instagram to propagate their thievery. They may appear genuine on your first contact with them online because they may act as representatives of a legitimate company.
One way to identify such fraudsters is their offer. Avoid outrageous cleaning offers that are too good to be true. Flat rate whole house pricing is very rarely legitimate. Another way to recognize a fraudulent attempt is if the supposed rep tries to get you to secure a cleaning appointment by making a credit card deposit.
TELEMARKETING
Some fraudsters gain access to your phone number, contact you directly and attempt to sell to you through a phone call. This underhanded approach is illegal in Canada. Especially if your number is listed in the ‘Canada Do Not Call Registry.’
Do not respond to such calls and report them where necessary.
STREET HUSTLE SCAMS
These kinds of fraudsters roam the streets, offering shocking cleaning deals which they pressure you to buy. Turn away door-to-door salespersons who claim to represent the cleaning company without official IDs and other forms of company branding.
ADDITIONAL THINGS YOU CAN DO TO AVOID GETTING SCAMMED WHILE CHOOSING A DUCT CLEANING SERVICES
When you come across unknown service providers, ensure to scrutinize their reputation through a number of sources. The Better Business Bureau is a good source for checking a company’s reputation. The Bureau tracks the quality of services provided by a company by following customer reviews. There are also other sources out there if you would do a little searching.
Verify that the company is listed in the Government of Canada GST registry. Do this by asking for their GST number.
In a similar light, you can find out if the company is in good standing with the Workers Compensation Board of your province. You can do this by requesting their WCB letter.
Find out if the company is licensed to operate in your city by calling the business license department in your province.
Does the company have a quality guarantee? Find out.
Abide by the rules that govern pre-paying for services in Ontario. Like we’ve said before, avoid securing a duct cleaning appointment online with your credit card.
