Uncle Roger's Notebooks of Daily Life

Licensed to Drill

I got a letter in the mail that prompted me to share a web-based resource with my readers (both of you).

The first thing I noticed about the letter was the way it was folded. It was printed doubled sided with the first page on the inside of the fold. I took it out of the envelope and, naturally, looked for the name of the company that had sent it. Not seeing it, I opened the folded page to find the top of the first page tucked inside the rest of the page. There was no letterhead, in any traditional sense. No company name or anything else to identify the sender. Instead, it started off with the offer, in bold text centered:

The pitch is that the guy has too much business, so before the first "cold snap" hits, he wants to send out a "seasoned professional (actually a diagnostic technician)" to do a furnace cleaning "that will take nearly one and a half hours to complete." The more of these tune-ups he does before it turns cold, the more problems he'll be able to take care of when it does turn cold. The letter is signed by Max Estrada, President, and there, next to the signature, is the company name -- United Air Systems. There is also a license number, #535332.

I would be willing to be some serious money that this is a complete scam, but I was intrigued. My first stop was the California State License Board's License Status Check. Perhaps it is a bit much to expect a furnace contractor to be a good marketer or even a good writer. After all, I know plenty of good writers and business people who wouldn't know the first thing to do with a furnace. Besides, they're a licensed contractor, so they must be okay, right?

So I punched in the license number and of course everything is on the up-and-up, except... The business listed is Mannel Electric in Vacaville. They do have a C20 classification -- Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning -- but interestingly, they are exempt from having worker's comp insurance because "they certified that they have no employees at this time." So, is Mannel Electric involved in this offer? Perhaps, but if so, the person coming to your house won't be an employee. Besides, the return address on the envelope is in South San Francisco.

Okay, so maybe there's a typo in the license number. So I go to the License Check by Personnel Name page and put in Max Estrada. No luck. In fact, the only Estrada with an active license around San Francisco was a Jaime Estrada, a painter. No Max Estrada at all. Okay, so maybe Max is new. There's also a License Check by Contractor Name page, so I put in United Air Systems. Again nothing. Now it's really starting to appear that my initial appraisal was correct.

Still, not one to jump to conclusions (at least not when I can get a nice long post out of it), I dug further. The return address on the envelope is 434 N. Canal St., #8, South San Francisco, CA 94080. I put that into Google Earth and it does look like an industrial area, just south of Grand Avenue in South City. A quick search turns up little, but I did find that that address is apparently home to SF Engine Re-Manufacturing Company Inc. A search for Max Estrada at Switchboard turned up only one -- in San Diego. Zabasearch found a few more, but none even close to the San Francisco Bay Area. A google search and reverse phone directory search using the telephone number likewise turned up nothing.

So, the question comes down to this... Is this someone you would pay $79 to for a "Precision Tune-Up and Professional Cleaning"? Would you even let them into your home? What if you got this letter, knew your furnace needed a good cleaning, and didn't think to check up on them? In the letter, it claims "there is no risk to you." I would heartily disagree with that statement. There is risk to your person, to your belongings, even to your furnace. I know, because I've been burned before.

If someone claims to be a contractor, they should have a license number printed (not written) on their paperwork and business cards. Get it and check it. Having an active license doesn't mean they're competent or honest, but it gives you a better shot at it. Not having a license doesn't mean they aren't competent or honest, however, unless they are claiming to have one. In any case, protect yourself and your home. A good contractor will want you to check them out; a dishonest one won't.

Related Links California State License Board License Status Check License Check by Personnel Name License Check by Contractor Name SF Engine Re-Manufacturing Company Inc. Switchboard Zabasearch Reverse Telephone Directory Search

[ Posted: 18:00 | home | print ]