Three for Thursday 08.19.2021
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
What does it take to make a difference and to be remembered for it? This week, I'm traveling to my hometown to speak before the board of education. The purpose is to get our high school football field named in honor of my coach Bruce Raley. "Dale, you played football?!" You may be asking... Yes, I did. I had zero talent, but a lot of want to, and a coach who took an interest in - not so much making me a great athlete - but making me a responsible, hard-working human being who cared about his teammates and sacrificed for a common goal. Way back in 1980, our team became the winningest in school history (at that time). What I'm really proud of, all these years later is summed up in this quote: "One of the most important kids you'll ever coach is the one who needs the program more than the program needs him/her." Thanks, Coach, for helping build the guy who ended up building TrustDALE.
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Ask Dale
Today's Ask Dale question comes from several consumers, who have questions about pools...
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is on what to do when a usually reliable contractor fails to deliver.
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? Paying no more than a reasonable deposit up front protects you from losing your entire investment in the event your contractor doesn't deliver in a timely manner
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? Fair deals rarely fall through. If they do, it's likely due to forces beyond the contractor's control.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. Responsible parties show up to bear responsibility - even when something goes wrong.
Define - Your deal by comparing Product, Offer and Price. If you've done your homework and something goes wrong in the delivery, ask your contractor to level with you about the market conditions that have led to the problem.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. Equitable contracts should protect you from unforeseen market conditions.
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. If a contractor with stellar reviews suddenly goes south, it's likely a market condition beyond his or her control. Stay calm and be willing to compromise in order to get what you paid for.
Legitimize - your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. Bad things happen to good companies. Good companies stay in business by keeping their promises.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS