So many times consumers recognize a brand with reliability, and other times they search for a recommendation. Some come from co-workers or friends and neighbors, and these are usually the most reliable sources. But when you don’t know a guy that performs the service you are looking for you can end up with a dud for a contractor. We wanted to highlight the story below and let you and our customers know why it is important to do your re-search. And that it is not always good to trust the service that is making the recommendation. Here are a few good things to do and why.

1- Did you know company like Angie’s List charge there clients for there service, but they also charge the contractor, And the contractor that pays the most gets the most most leads? This isn’t exactly fair playing ground.
2- Check with other review services, don’t just trust the name, you could be in for more then you bargain for. Google, Yelp, etc.
3- Ask for a recommendation, as a contractor in business for over 45 years we have no problem producing a good reference, and other good contractors wont either.

Well read the story below, and beware of services who recommend contractors and don’t get scammed!
News story out of CAPE CORAL, Fla. – A Collier County woman was scammed by an unlicensed contractor who she said she found on Angie’s List.

The woman needed work done on her home and paid Patrick Leach of Bonita Springs nearly $2,000 to get it done, according to arrest records. For two months, Leach failed to complete any work on the woman’s house.
Leach was arrested and charged with a felony offense of grand theft. But Stacey Payne of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said other scammers are looking for easy targets and unearned paychecks across the state.
“They want to get your money and then they move on to the next area.” she said.
One Cape Coral man, Niels Brusteerd, said contractors became hostile with him after he refused their services.
“They tried several times to have me sign the contract and when I didn’t want to sign it they got angry at me,” Brusteerd said.
To avoid becoming victim to contract scams, Payne suggests:

• Checking with friends about the contractor
• Getting referrals on the contractor
• Ensuring the contractor is licensed and insured before hiring them for a job

Just want our customers to be informed. Lot of fakes, and untrustworthy contractors out there. Do not be afraid to ask a contractor for a reference or two. And beware of services that charge you for a recommendation. Good contractors are more then happy to supply you with references.
Check out the video here: http://www.winknews.com/2016/02/15/scammers-seek-work-contracts-unearned-money/
We are here to help if you need us! www.howardserviceshvac.com