Released on: April 3, 2008, 11:54 am

Press Release Author: Rodney Mortillaro

Industry: Consumer Services

Press Release Summary: Nine tough questions you can ask a carpet cleaner to avoid being
ripped off.

Press Release Body: How To Avoid Spring Time Carpet Cleaning Scams


Just as sure as the sunrise, it's guaranteed to happen every Spring. They
promise to clean all the carpets in your house for $59.00. Sound too
good to be true? It probably is. To make matters worse, they finally show
up-three hours late-in a beat up pick-up truck with no company name, and
hop out in torn jeans and a soiled tee-shirt. Then you realize it: you've
been the victim of a bait -and -switch campaign.

What is bait and switch?

Bait and switch scams work like this: a company advertises cleaning a
roomful of carpet of carpet for a ridiculously low price. When they
arrive, they inform you the price they quoted is only for the traffic
lanes and doesn't include any cleaning chemicals." That's like taking a
bath with no soap," says textile inspector Rodney Mortillaro at
AllstateCleaning.Com. So you agree to pay extra for the chemicals
because you are thankful someone showed up. In the end, the final bill
ends up costing you hundreds of dollars.

Another typical scam is hearing that a company will clean a set amount of
rooms for a very low price ( like 5 rooms for $49.00). After they begin,
you discover a linen closet, hallway, foyer, or regular closet counts as
a room, and you wind up paying a lot more than you thought you would.
Bait-and-switch scams are especially targeted at the elderly. Seniors are
more likely to be intimidated by high pressure tactics and by someone who
"promises\" to give them a good deal.

Professional carpet cleaning technicians will arrive in a company
vehicle with company identification on the side. They may also be
uniformed, should be well groomed, and should provide some sort of
business or certification card. If they are more like person described
at the beginning of this story, then don't let them in.


So how can you avoid a bait-and-switch scam?

The best protection against bait-and-switch is to ask some pointed
questions before the cleaner arrives at your home. Call several local
cleaning companies. If the company cannot answer simple questions, move
on to another company. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it
probably is.

Here are 9 questions you should ask:

1. Are you certified in carpet cleaning? If not, what type of formal
training do you have?

2. How many years has your company been in business? ( the longer, the
better)

3. Can you provide a list of references I can call?

4. Is your company drug, alcohol and criminal free? ( Companies that
don't screen their employees can put you and your loved ones at risk. To
be on the safe side, DO NOT deal
with companies or cleaners who don't pre-screen and drug test their employees)

5. Can you provide proof of insurance and a business license?

6. What steps will be included in your cleaning process?

7. How long will it take for the carpet to dry?

8. Do you offer free, no-obligation, on-site written quotations?

9 . Do you offer a written, satisfaction or money back guarantee?



After your questions have been answered, you also may what to check the
firm's reputation with the Better Business Bureau at www. bbb. org . You
can also check the consumer affairs department of your state's attorney
general's office. "You'd be shocked at the number of companies that have
lousy reputations when it comes to addressing consumer complaints", says
Mortillaro.

When you have decided on a cleaner, make sure you pay your bill with a
major credit card. Sometimes it's difficult getting a cleaner to come back
to fix a problem after you've paid the bill. Paying by credit card will
give you an option to dispute the bill if the problem is not resolved to
your satisfaction. For a free report on how to select a carpet cleaner
see, How To Select A Professional Carpet Cleaning Company and the Oriental
Rug Guide at

END




Web Site: http://www.allstatecleaning.com

Contact Details: Rodney Mortillaro, President
AllstateCleaning.Com
PO Box 3934 , Hamilton, NJ 08629
(P) 609-586-5833 (F) 775-252-9496
e-mail: allstate@usa.net