Missouri is known as the "show-me state"; take a page from Missouri's book and demand that any potential contractor show you their qualifications for the job. If it looks like that will be a problem, then that's your cue to get another contractor.
ex:
"Do you guys have current licenses to do the work you are doing (general contracting, plumbing or electrical) ?"
"Sure".
......"show me".
"Did you apply and obtain a valid building permit from the local building inspections' office to do the work you are doing ?"
"Oh yes"
....."show me".
"Are you insured and/or bonded and have written proof of that coverage ?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah"
"then show me".
Get the picture? When I was doing what I thought was my due diligence in checking Safe Bathing out, I asked the installer point blank if he had his license and he told me that he did. When I asked the owner, Richard Alfarone as he sat across from me at my kitchen table if he had insurance on his products he told me that he did. Well if he did then he is not giving that information to me now. I took their word for it instead of demanding that they show me what I needed. Perhaps I didn't want to seem distrustful or high-maintenance at the time, but you can see what that cost me in the end. You are not going on a beach vacation with these guys, you are engaging in a business transaction with them, so treat it as such. If and when it all goes south then you will be glad that you did.
In addition to online research like Googling, going through review sites and consulting the Better Business Bureau, ask for multiple references and call them, and get everything in writing. Demand to see a detailed, comprehensive contract well beforehand (look for spelling mistakes) that lays out your options in case things go wrong. The cost of the tub plus the cost of damage cleanup ran me to a total of around $23,000; that's quite an expensive lesson from Safe Bathing on how not to choose a walk-in tub contractor. Hopefully this will serve as a much cheaper lesson for you.
- Flora Harrington
ex:
"Do you guys have current licenses to do the work you are doing (general contracting, plumbing or electrical) ?"
"Sure".
......"show me".
"Did you apply and obtain a valid building permit from the local building inspections' office to do the work you are doing ?"
"Oh yes"
....."show me".
"Are you insured and/or bonded and have written proof of that coverage ?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah"
"then show me".
Get the picture? When I was doing what I thought was my due diligence in checking Safe Bathing out, I asked the installer point blank if he had his license and he told me that he did. When I asked the owner, Richard Alfarone as he sat across from me at my kitchen table if he had insurance on his products he told me that he did. Well if he did then he is not giving that information to me now. I took their word for it instead of demanding that they show me what I needed. Perhaps I didn't want to seem distrustful or high-maintenance at the time, but you can see what that cost me in the end. You are not going on a beach vacation with these guys, you are engaging in a business transaction with them, so treat it as such. If and when it all goes south then you will be glad that you did.
In addition to online research like Googling, going through review sites and consulting the Better Business Bureau, ask for multiple references and call them, and get everything in writing. Demand to see a detailed, comprehensive contract well beforehand (look for spelling mistakes) that lays out your options in case things go wrong. The cost of the tub plus the cost of damage cleanup ran me to a total of around $23,000; that's quite an expensive lesson from Safe Bathing on how not to choose a walk-in tub contractor. Hopefully this will serve as a much cheaper lesson for you.
- Flora Harrington