Watch Out for Bogus Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors This Spring and Summer!
Warm Weather Brings an Increase in Fake Repairmen Trying to Get Into Your Home!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Plumbing, heating and air conditioning technicians from legitimate companies like Horizon Services ALWAYS wear uniforms and identification badges.
(WILMINGTON, DE/EXTON, PA; May 1, 2009) — As temperatures increase this spring and summer, so does the amount of plumbing, heating and air conditioning repair work being done in and around your home. Unfortunately, so do the number of home invasions, burglaries and other crimes committed by devious individuals posing as contractors, service technicians and repairmen.
Nearly 60,000 American homes are robbed each year, according to the National Crime Prevention Council. Thousands of Americans are attacked and harmed in home invasions. And thousands more are taken in by confidence men and rip-off artists. As hard as it is to believe, many homeowners actually welcome these individuals into their homes, thinking they are real professionals coming to provide legitimate services or inspections. Elderly homeowners are especially susceptible to these ruses.
Horizon Services, Inc. – a plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractor headquartered in Wilmington, DE that serves homes throughout the states of Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland– urges homeowners to be on the lookout for these fraudulent contractors and offers valuable advice to avoid becoming victims of their deceit.
“Because there’s so much legitimate contractor activity going on in the summer months, it’s easy for the fakes out there to blend in,” says Mark Aitken. “It’s just like the story of the Trojan Horse; these characters will come up with any pretext to get inside your home; and when they do, there’s nothing you can do to stop them. That’s why we want homeowners everywhere to arm themselves with knowledge so they can spot these impostors upfront and not become victims themselves.”
Some Common Scams and Schemes to be Suspicious Of:
- Any repairman or service technician who appears unannounced to check your plumbing, heating or air conditioning system.
- Any “repairman” or somebody claiming to be from a utility company who comes to your door telling you they are doing work in the neighborhood and need to come in to check for plumbing or gas leaks or electrical connections.
- Somebody claiming to be from the Board of Health or some other municipal authority who insists on coming into your home to check water quality, plumbing, gas, heating and cooling equipment or electrical wiring.
The Bottom Line According to Horizon Services: Do Not Let These People In. Reputable service technicians and repairmen do not approach or enter any home without previous contact with the homeowner or without a work order. Utility companies are only concerned with equipment and lines leading to your home; they are not responsible for monitoring what is goingon within your home. And any municipal authority will contact you by mail or phone long before they ever attempt to reach you in person at your residence.
Any time someone wants to get into your house — under any circumstances – your radar should be on alert, says Aitken. If you have any doubts, keep your door locked and don’t let them in. Horizon Services offers this checklist of items to consider before letting any supposed contractor into your home:
- Ask to see proper identification. All legitimate plumbing, heating and air conditioning technicians carry proper company identification with an employee number AND a photo.
- Check his or her attire. Today, most legitimate plumbing, heating and air conditioning technicians wear a uniform with a company logo or are professionally dressed and presentable.
- Look for proper documentation. Legitimate plumbing, heating and air conditioning jobs will have a work order, contract or other official paperwork.
- Look for a company vehicle. Most legitimate plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractors have company trucks with a logo and phone number on the side. They don’t arrive in personal vehicles or on foot.
- Ask what company they are from, look the company up in the phone book, and call it. Do not use a number they provide; it might be fake. Make sure they give you their name and their supervisor’s name. Legitimate plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractors will wait patiently while you confirm. Fake contractors will usually bolt right away or sneak off while you’re making the call. If there’s no such company or the company denies knowledge of the technician at your door, call the police.
- Ask for the contractor’s license number. You can then check and confirm the license online at your state government’s website.
- If at any time you feel uneasy or suspicious, CALL THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY!
Other Important Items You Should Keep in Mind:
- Be extremely careful of the home repairman or contractor who is “just passing by” or claims to have just completed a job in the your neighborhood…especially if they offer a cut-rate price, claim they have some “leftover materials” or insist on be paid in cash. Legitimate contractors take all forms of payment. “Leftover materials” may, in fact, be stolen. And con artists will often get victims to put up a cash “down payment” then skip out without doing the job or try to extort a much higher price after doing the work.
- Be particularly wary of tag-team operators; burglars and other ne’er-do-wells often work in packs. A common scam is to have two or more “technicians” come into a home — one does all the talking and acts as a distraction; the other sneaks out of view to rob items or attack from behind.
- Don’t let an uninvited “contractor” talk you into coming out into your front or back yard to look at something; while you’re outside with him, his accomplice can be inside robbing you…or be waiting to knock you unconscious.
- Do not give out any personal information. Don’t share your name, phone number, account information, billing statements, etc.; you could be giving it to someone trying to steal your identity.
How to Recognize a Legitimate Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor
According to Aitken, integrity is vital to businesses like Horizon Services, and companies like his go to great lengths to build customer trust and peace of mine.
“Horizon Services has taken steps to put your fears to rest when you call us for any type service,” says Aitken. “All Horizon technicians wear I.D. badges and clean uniforms so you can easily identify who they are. We always confirm our arrival in advance by phone or email and arrive at a schedule time — not out of the blue. Our technicians always arrive with the proper paperwork and credentials. And they arrive in our unmistakable orange trucks and vehicles.”
Adds Aitken: “Every Horizon employee is background checked and drug tested on a regular basis so you never have to worry about someone of questionable character coming in your home. Our technicians also respect the sanctity of your home. They always wear shoe covers and put down drop cloths to protect your floors and property and will always clean up when they are finished. Also, Horizon Services is a fully-licensed plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractor, and we are a 20-year member of the Better Business Bureau.”
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About Horizon Services:
Horizon Services is the Delaware Valley’s leading plumbing, heating and air conditioning services company, providing repair, maintenance, sales and installation to homeowners and businesses in Delaware (New Castle County, Kent County), Pennsylvania (Delaware County, Chester County, The Main Line) and Maryland (Cecil County). Horizon is headquartered in Wilmington, DE with additional offices in Exton, PA. Website: http://www.horizonservicesinc.com.
Media Contact:
Mark Wisniewski
Internet Marketing Manager
webmaster@horizonservicesinc.com
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