How do you deal with scammers in your Industry

Another Duct Cleaning Scam Exposed, Score one for the honest Duct Cleaners

Our industry like most has its percentage of scammers looking for a quick buck. Unfortunately people are often lured by a too good to be true price only to end up paying more for less. In this piece by WDTM channel 2 news a duct cleaning scammer is caught red handed doing just that. Please copy and paste the links below to learn more and avoid being scammed.

part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu6u8KiA-o
part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT4WKwfBu18&NR=1

Nothing makes an honest company angrier then something like this. Un-fortunately many people will take a negative view of the entire industry because of the dishonest practices of a few individuals. The fact is if it is too good to be true it probably is. When someone calls me and asks for a ball park price on air duct cleaning I tell them $500 - $600 is average for a residential home. I am sure I could have said $250 many times then when I arrived at the customer's home made up some reason why their house is different than all the others on the block. Instead, I would rather focus on what we do for the customer and why our service is worth the extra cost. I mention the fact that all employees are bonded, uniformed and insured. It cost money to do a criminal back-round check on every employee but you would be amazed or maybe scared to death at what has come back on some of the applicants I have interviewed. Not the type of person I would want in my home or yours. I am an owner operator and oversee every job. We take before and after pictures and whenever possible I find a way to let the customer look into the system before and after and see what they are paying for. And of course we always give a written in stone estimate before starting any work.
Do you have any scammers in your industry, if so please share how do you deal with the negative vibe they put on the industry as a whole and fight the good fight.
Al Gallucci
Ductz Indoor Air Professionals
570-4221-2930