Three for Thursday 12.02.2021
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
How did you choose your most recently hired contractor? Chances are, he/she was recommended by a relative or a neighbor. How do I know? Because 99% of the help requests that come in to TrustDALE, are from one, people who didn't check online reviews, and two, they didn't ask for twenty references. "Twenty?" you ask? Yes, a reputable company should easily produce a list of twenty recent satisfied customers. It's then up to you to contact just three of your choosing. At TrustDALE, we don't ask a "neighbor" about their experience, we ask your "neighborhood." There's a huge difference! I wish so badly that I could head off every bad mistake with this piece of advice: Find your next contractor on TrustDALE.com, go to the effort of getting three estimates (to arrive at an accurate price), and protect your purchase with our $10,000 Make It Right Guarantee! Yes, it's that easy.
Watch this Investigation
Today's investigation - Shady tree update. When an accused predator targets elderly females, TrustDALE gets to work. Watch, because this could happen to you!
Ask Dale
Today's Ask Dale question comes from Sylvia, who wants to know if she should hire a professional arborist or simply a tree-trimming professional. Click the video for the answer.
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is on how to get closure on an unsatisfactory contactor experience:
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? Don't give them full payment in advance, unless it's a gumball!
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? Too good to be true promises are almost always followed by poor performance or peekaboo payment demands.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. If the person gets away with your money and you can't find him, it's too late to get closure.
Define - Your deal by comparing Product, Offer and Price. Make certain the product or service is what it claims to be. This is accomplished through thorough sampling and reviews.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. This is your most important step. Make certain your written agreement provides a specific path for resolution in the event you're not satisfied. I am not a fan of company-sponsored arbitration.
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. Again, prevention is worth a pound of cure. Be thorough and deliberate!
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS