Citizens of Toronto cannot get through a day without getting a call from an air duct cleaning service. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission fined nine companies in Toronto in March 2015 for air duct cleaning scams. Even though these nine companies received hefty fines, they caused significant damage to Canada’s legitimate air duct cleaning industry.
Watch this video to learn how to avoid air duct cleaning scams and how an HVAC system generally works.
Homeowners in Toronto and elsewhere should be aware of “blow-and-go” ductwork cleaning services operating in the region. These companies do a poor job cleaning the ductwork system in your home or office and charge a nominal fee for their work. They also persuade homeowners to pay for unwanted services, whether permission-based or not.
Related: How Often Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?
How Does A Blow-And-Go Scam Work?
The scammer will usually make cold calls to customers using the bait and switch tactic. For this purpose, they will spoof numbers from various local numbers. Once a customer picks up the phone, the scammer will make attractive deals and get the customer to make an appointment.
Once the company arrives at the customer’s home to perform the job, they inform the customers that they have mould and other toxins in the ductwork system to extort more money from potential customers. The consumer pays two to three times the original quote.
This type of scam has been around in the region for many years. Despite many homeowners signing up for the “Do Not Call” list, air duct services somehow get potential customers to answer their calls.
This video show how some unscrupulous air duct cleaning companies run coupon advertisements, that in reality are just air duct cleaning bait and switch.
How To Protect Yourself From Air Duct Cleaning Scams?
- Cleaning the ductwork system is costly. It is worth getting your air duct system cleaned by a reputable company. If a company offers ultra-low prices for the job, it might be a scam.
- Please read the contract well before you sign it. Get to know what the work details and the prices are.
- Don’t share your personal information, including date of birth, social insurance numbers, and credit card numbers.
- If you feel uneasy from an unexpected call sales pitch, hang up immediately.
- Download a call blocking and caller ID app to filter unwanted calls and prevent scam calls.
Conclusion – Duct Cleaning Scams
Beware of coupons or flyers advertising ultra-low prices for “HVAC mould & soot removal” or “whole house air duct cleaning” in the mail. Contact the local Better Business Bureau to report the company if you feel that the service provider is a “blow-and-go” air duct cleaner.