Carpet cleaning Scams

Why scams work
SCAMS work because they appeal to people's emotions, needs and desires. Scam artists will use extremes to lure consumers into a sell--even if it means playing on consumers' greed, fear and insecurities.

Consumers typically don't become aware that they're being manipulated or dealing with a scam unless they take the time to research and ask questions before making a commitment. By the time a consumer realizes he or she is a victim it's often too late to back out. Both the consumer's money and the scam artist are gone. Scam artists spend a lot of time polishing their pressure tactics. They include:

• Guaranteeing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity;

• Promising winnings or earnings;

• Playing on a person's desire for wealth, or need for health and safety;

• Making the consumer feel stupid for not going along with them;

• Providing nothing unless the consumer makes an appointment;

• Providing only partial disclosure and obscuring facts or sources;

• Telling victims they must make an on-the-spot decision to avoid missing an opportunity;

• Pressuring the victim until he or she gives in and commits;

• Offering to share "inside information;"

• Telling consumers that the product or service is legal;

• Advising consumers to borrow money or cash in retirement funds to invest in the products;

• Using a name that sounds like a legitimate or respected brand or business;

• Using military-sounding names;

• Pretending to be the consumer's friend and taking a personal interest in his or her life;

• Claiming to be a charitable organization and playing on consumers' guilt;

• Giving false credentials so consumers feel no need to check out the business with the Better Business Bureau; and

• Selling poorly understood products, especially financial products.

Here’s one example:

The Kirby Vacuum Scam
These guys came into our home to sell us a vacuum. They insisted on going to places in the home we were not comfortable with. When we said no, they actually insisted. We of course stood our ground.

When the demonstration was over, my husband decided he wanted to buy. They did the whole let me get your info and said we were approved for the payment plan and left the vacuum. They also “gave us a discount" if we gave them our old vacuum.

So they left theirs and took ours. Then three weeks later they came back to our home and said they were here to retrieve the vacuum because we were not approved. We never heard from the finance company saying we were not approved they just showed up to take it.

When my husband called them to say it wasn’t right, he got a little hot because of the huge hassle this turned out to be and because we felt as though we were being swindled. The guy on the other end said he was going to put a warrant out for our arrest and say we stole it if we didn’t let them pick it up.

At the same time not saying anything about returning the vacuum they took from us. We signed a contract with them saying we were approved and what the payment plan was. How did we steal it when they left it here saying it was ours?

My biggest concern is that these guys drive around doing this to all kinds of people and I am not sure this isn’t a gimmick for scoping out peoples homes.

Charity
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
U.S.A.

Other scams:
Nigerian Scam
Work at Home Scam
Insurance Scams
Phishing Scams

Let’s face it there are hundreds of scams out there and from time to time many of us play in the role of the scammer.
We embellish (lie) on our resumes to make ourselves look more qualified for the position we are applying for. There are even many of us who walk around in the marketplace with cell phone up to our ears or even have unimportant conversation to make ourselves look important.

Carpet Cleaning Scams
Like every industry, the carpet cleaning industry has its share of bad companies. Although the majority of the companies are honest, there are some that are looking to scam the consumer. This article will help you identify the unethical carpet cleaners and help you avoid getting ripped off by a carpet cleaning scam.

Bait and Switch

This is the classic carpet cleaning rip-off. In this scam, the customer is lured in by a ridiculously low priced carpet cleaning. Often the advertisement you read will offer carpet cleaning in the neighborhood of $5 per room. There is no way that a company can be profitable selling its services that low. But the companies usually have no intention of leaving your home with only the advertised amount. So how do they increase the bill after you have taken the "bait" of the low price?

Preconditioning Scam

One way they will increase the bill is by selling you preconditioning. Most legitimate companies include this in their pricing. That low price they offered probably didn't include it. It may have been $5 per room to clean it with water only but pre-conditioning will cost you an additional 25 cents per square foot. Considering an average room size of 150 square feet that would be $37.50 per room extra. So at $5.00 per room that home would go from the advertised carpet cleaning price of $25 to $212.50. Quite a difference!

But what if you just refuse to pay for the pre-conditioning? Chances are you will get a substandard cleaning or a rush job, but there is another way that they can try to force you into paying for the pre-conditioning. They may offer to do a demo for you. This isn't necessarily bad; many good carpet cleaning companies do demos. What Bait and Switch companies will do however is clean an area in a highly visible area. If you decide to not pay for the extra service, you will have an extra clean spot in the middle of your carpet that will stick out like a sore thumb. By doing this you are forced to pay the extra price.

Extra Room Scam

Another way for Bait and Switch companies to increase their bill is through extra room charges. If you use a coupon, you must read the fine print. Some companies will charge extra for rooms over 100 square feet of carpet for example. It is hard to find a room in a typical home under that square footage, so that means the typical room will count as two and the typical living room or family room will count as three or even four rooms.

Carpet Protector Scam

Almost all carpet cleaning companies offer protection at reasonable prices and carpet protectors themselves are good products. This doesn't become bait and switch until a company uses high pressure tactics. Customers may be told that their carpet will be ruined if they don't have protection applied. This is simply not true. Protection will certainly extend the life of your carpet and make future cleanings easier but it is in no way necessary.

What does the word of God say
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew12:35-37NKJ

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29 NKJ

Who Do You Trust?

Truth #3

Since September 11, 2001 the world has changed as we once knew it.
The corporate media focuses on all of the negative issues in the world; terrorism, murder, child abuse, domestice violence, we live in a constant state of fear and distrust.
The world has changed and we have to change with it. We must learn interdependency.
Will you have retiremment plan to support you when you retire?read more
What do I do when I need someone to come into my home and provide the services that I need?

Now it comes down to you having to make a decision.

Do I Hire a Professional or D-I-Y?

Not just for carpet cleaning but for many others services, but for this blog we will just stay with carpet cleaning.

These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself;
Can I trust someone to come into my home to do a good job and not do any damage?

Here is a few tips:

1. Contact the Better Business Bureau to see if the company has a history of complaints.

2. Make sure the company has a business license and carries liablilty insurance.

3. Use a company that uses technicians that are certified by IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration) and are in good standing.

4. Make sure their work is guaranteed 100% and never pay unless you are completely satisfied.

5. Avoid using independent contractors or marketing firms. These are companies don’t actually clean carpet but only schedule appointments for the independent contractors. You might get lucky and get a good cleaner, this is a gamble.

6. Avoid coupon ads. This is a bait-and-switch tactic to lure you into an appointment for a cheaper price and once there in your home the price is a lot more than originally quoted.

7. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on cleaning. Most recommend HWE (Hot-water extraction) using truck-mounted equipment.

8. Get references or testimonials from other satisfied customers. Use public testimonials like the one’s published to a internet bulletin board or search engines.

9. Place personal belongings or anything of value in a safe and seure place. Never leave money, jewelry or weapons out in the open were they can be easily misplaced or stolen.

10. If unable to resolve any dispute with the carpet cleaner
o Complain to the local office of consumer affairs
o Contact the firm's headquarters, if it is a franchise
o Get the carpet inspected by an independent inspector who might even assist you in solving your claim

Remember everyone’s situation is different. Be upfront when requesting the services of a carpet cleaner.

Finally we want to close with the following:

It’s What God Says

An experiment with teenagers showed how they handle peer pressure. A group of 10 adolescents were brought into a room and instructed to raise their hands when the teacher pointed to the longest line on three charts. Nine of the people had been told ahead of time to vote for the second longest line. But one person had not been told.

The experiment began with nine teenagers voting for the wrong line. The tenth person would typically glance around, frown in confusion and slip his hand up with the group because he lacked the courage to challenge them. In I Kings 13, an unidentified man of God performed miraculous signs at the altar in Bethel. But then, after this great victory, he took the word of another prophet to be the truth even though he knew it was contrary to what God had told him. Because of his disobedience, he was killed by a lion.

The story teaches us that God’s Word is superior to anyone else’s word and therefore should be obeyed. When we are tempted to buckle under pressure, it’s when we must stand firm. God’s Word-the truth-can always be relied upon on.

DIY or Hire a Professional ?

Once you have made the decision that your carpet needs more cleaning than that provided with regular vacuuming, the next question that you have to ask yourself is -are you going to hire the services of a professional carpet cleaning firm or are you going to tackle the task on your own, with equipment rented from your department store and with cleaning agents bought off the shelf. We hope that the following issues will assist you in deciding:

Remember a Professional Carpet Cleaner knows his job.
A competent service person will:

Save you time and trouble
Use heavier, more effective equipment
Be trained and more experienced
Recognize fiber and fabric type
Know the right cleaning method for a particular stain
Get the work done faster and more efficiently
In the end, the price may not be much more than the cost of doing it yourself

On the other hand, by doing it on your own, you will:

Avoid the task of shopping for a professional carpet cleaner
Satisfy your own standards which might be higher than the company you receive service from.
Increase the risk of leaving shampoo (akaline) residue in the carpet fibers which leads to rapid resoiling and a shorter life span.
You might even save a few dollars today, but the cost of replacement will be a lot higher in the end.

Truth # 1
Let’s face it most consumers don't know as much about carpet as they think they do!!
We spend most of our time indoors and the carpet we tread over constantly bringing, in soils and all sorts of contaminants from the outdoor environment. Sooner or later we look-up and we begin to notice the soils in the carpet and the air doesn't smell as fresh. Now comes reality, "It's time to clean my carpet."

Truth #2
Everyone is not willing to pay for a Stanley Steemer or Sears to come into the home and pay top-shelf prices to clean their carpets professionally.

It all comes down to what are we willing to pay for carpet cleaning?

This blog will be the first in a series that will address the most common isssues that take place when it comes to make a decision in maintaining your carpets and upholstery fabrics.

Did you ever think that carpet is one of the most expensive and prized investments in your home?

We know that where you live and where you work ar the two most important places to you and your family that's why we are commited to providing your with a safer, cleaner and healthier indoor air environment.