NBC's Dateline did a great piece on the Better Business Bureau and how the organization forces companies to become members. The piece showed that the BBB would give a company a bad rating and only after the company in question paid their membership dues did their rating improve.
Ever wonder how a company received good ratings from companies like Angie's List, Kudzu, the BBB, etc.? Well, now you know. All three of these organizations have been very aggressive in their marketing. I've received many phone calls where the representative states that "Mr. Dec your and your company have received favorable ratings within our organization and we'd like to offer you the opportunity to both boast and boost your company's image by offering you membership in our organization." Basically, pay $400 for the use of their logo on my letterhead, advertising, etc.
Anyone can post a logo onto their letterhead. Do your homework. If you are trying to hire a contractor there is no better referral than that from a friend or family member. Be sure to get at least three references from the contractor and call all three of them. Ask them what they liked about their experience and what they disliked. Be sure that the contractor is licensed and insured. The contractor's insurance company should send you a certificate of insurance. This certificate should come from the insurance company directly, not from the contractor. With desktop publishing tools that are readily available, a contractor could easily fabricate a phony insurance certificate.
My goal here is not to make you paranoid, but to help you make the best decision possible in hiring a contractor. Do your homework, follow your gut instincts and you should be fine. As always, if I can be of any help, don't hesitate to ask.
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