Insurance

No, I've heard many stories of customers using low price companies which have then left them at best disappointed and more often chasing the company that has carried out the work trying to get them to come back and rectify a problem or replace items that have been damaged. Four of the most common rip-offs are listed below.

Unbelievably low price

All of us are attracted to a low price because we want to work within a budget. But some companies use price as a bait to catch customers. They offer a cheap price, usually between 5.99 and 9.99 per room- and then once they are in the home, they pressure you into buying "add-ons" which should already be included. It's as if you were buying a car and found that the dealer was charging you extra for the tyres and steering wheel. If a price looks to good to be true it probably is!

Bait and switch

Dual process carpet cleaning describes the process of heavy preconditioning, followed up by Hot water extraction cleaning this is used in situations where the carpet is extremely soiled, stained and matted in the main walkways. Unfortunately, unethical companies use dual process as a bait and switch technique. Here's how it's done: First, they "bait" you with a basic cleaning (single process) at an unbelievably low price. Then, when you call, they try to "switch" you to a more expensive dual-process cleaning. If you don't fall for the switch and choose their basic service, you'll likely receive poor workmanship which will result in ineffective cleaning and possibly damage to the carpet.

Door Knocking, Flyers and Telesales

You may have seen or experienced carpet cleaning companies using the above methods of advertising, and while many use them honestly to promote their businesses, some companies hide behind the anonymity that they provide. They will target an area over a short period of time and then move to another area. Leaving any customers with complaints trying in vain to contact them to deal with the problems they have left behind.

Inadequate Insurance

All businesses should have Public Liability insurance to protect their customers in the event of any accidents, which result in damage to their customer's property. Its little known that most Small Business Insurance Policies have exclusions relating to carpet cleaners, the most surprising been that any damage to the carpet been cleaned is excluded. It is possible to purchase what is known as treatment risk cover to cover any damage to the item that is been cleaned. But it is not a cheap option. Therefore some carpet cleaners do not take it out. The customer only becomes aware of this fact if the carpet is damaged beyond repair after cleaning and asks the cleaner to replace it under his insurance. The cleaner then has to explain that he has no cover for this and unless he is able to pay for replacement from his own resources, which if he does not have the money to pay for treatment risk cover is unlikely. The only option the customer has then is to pursue the matter through the courts.