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Hiring a tradesperson is necessary for many jobs. You want the work done well, but you also want to ensure you are not being conned. Getting something small, such as a leaky faucet or painting one room, might cost between $150 and $300 in Canada. Large work may run in the thousands.
Fake tradespeople are on the rise. They are individuals who claim to be tradesmen but are not. They could appear on your doorstep or trap you in your garden. They provide low-quality services such as repairing your driveway, painting, roofing, or tree trimming. Afterwards, they demand payment before undertaking the task. After receiving payment, they either vanish or perform substandard work. They sometimes abandon the job half-done.
These bogus tradespeople target elderly people. They appear at houses that have ramps, handrails, or indicate that an elderly individual lives there. They say they are there to be helpful. But all they want is to steal your money without providing any genuine service.
Let's discuss how you can identify and stay clear of these rogues.
Scammers do not behave like true professionals. They will attempt to rush you. They might tell you that they are presenting you with a "one-day-only" offer. They might tell you that they are already in the area and can provide a discount. They most likely will not leave company details or full names. They might leave you a mobile phone number and a first name.
Most of them will have an EFTPOS machine or banking details. They no longer just conduct cash business. This makes them appear genuine, but don't be mistaken.
They will also employ flyers or phony websites that look professional. They might put advertisements on telephone poles or distribute brochures. But all these papers amount to nothing if they fail to produce a licence, references, or a legitimate business.
If the sale feels like it is happening too quickly, it's probably a scam.
Take your time to do some research before you hire anyone. Never hire someone on impulse, even if they are standing before you.
Request their full name. Request their business name. Take down their phone number and business address. Research online to determine if their licence is current. Most provinces in Canada have websites where you can look this up.
Request references. Talk to previous customers if possible. A good tradesperson will have no issues providing you with contact information.
Also, look up their name or company on social media. You may see reviews or warnings from other people. If you see bad reviews or scam warnings, don't hire them.
Always request a written quote. This is not an estimate of cost. It is a contract. Once you sign a quote and commit to the work, it's legally binding.
Read each section of the quotation. It ought to indicate what the work entails. It ought to include a start date and an end date. Read what will happen in case of delay or additional expenses.
If you've signed off on a quote and they later attempt to charge more, refuse. Do not shell out money for anything that wasn't included in the initial agreement. Some scammers will attempt to tack on extra charges later, counting on you to keep quiet. But if you do, they'll continue to tack on more.
Be specific: the amount you agreed to is the amount you pay. Nothing more.
One trick that is used by scammers is referred to as "scope creep." This refers to a job that begins small, but it continues to add more work and increase the price. For instance, a $150 job might just turn into $900.
You can prevent this by knowing precisely what you want before making anyone an offer of work. Ask yourself these things:
When you are specific, you can speak confidently. Do not be imprecise. Do not say "maybe" or "kind of." Be certain. That helps prevent anybody from taking advantage of you.
As women, particularly mothers, it's easy to be all about feelings. We might attempt to be polite and not offend anyone. But employing a tradesperson is business, not friendship.
Establish boundaries. If they arrive late, tell them it's unacceptable. If they are calling you late at night, don't pick up. If they're making excuses for not doing the work, don't sympathise with them. You don't have to fix their problems.
You are paying for a service. You want your job to be done well, on time. It is not impolite to demand what you have paid for. It is intelligent.
Do not get caught up in any drama. Be professional from the beginning.
Some cons are not about shoddy work. Some are about stealing your identity. Proceed with caution about who you share personal information with.
Never hand over your Social Insurance Number (SIN), date of birth, or banking information to anyone unless you are certain they are authentic. Don't give out personal information over the phone to strangers. Don't put personal information on social media.
Shred outdated documents with personal information before disposing of them. Lock your mailbox. Review your credit report annually to ensure nobody is misusing your identity.
These little steps can save you from huge issues.
Scammers attempt to get into your online accounts, too. Keep your passwords strong. Don't use your name or birthday. Have a different password for every website.
Turn on two-step verification when you can. Update your phone and computer with the latest security patches. Refrain from logging into banking accounts on public Wi-Fi. Never click links or open attachments from suspicious emails.
Be aware online. One bad click is a big headache waiting to happen.
Scammers will pressure you into acting quickly. They don't want you to think. They might say things such as:
Don't let them pull the wool over your eyes. You can take all the time you want. Get everything in writing. If you're not sure, then say no. If someone calls and wants money, hang up.
You are in charge. If it doesn't feel right, it likely ain't.
Many people have been scammed even after getting a “good feeling” about someone. One woman found out too late that other people had already posted warnings about her tradesperson online. She didn’t search his name until after he scammed her.
If she had done a simple online search first, she could have avoided the loss.
If a job is important to you, then it is worth doing your homework before hiring.
You earn your money. You have the right to receive what you pay for. Scammers become more cunning. But if you remain smart and vigilant, you can beat them.
Always verify licenses, request quotations, ask previous clients about their experience, establish boundaries, and remain grounded in facts, not emotions.
If someone is pressuring or threatening you to move quickly, leave them behind.
A decent tradesperson will value your time, your budget, and your expectations. And if they don't, they are not the right tradesperson for the task.
Stay informed. Stay in charge. And never shy away from saying no to scammers or fake tradesmen.
