COLUMN BUSINESS TALK Ripped off Protect yourself from fraudulent tradesmen, contractors BY ANTHONY LOMBARDI A s chiropractic health profes-sionals we are very educated and we know how to differen-tiate things like a sacroiliac dysfunction from a disc injury – but very few of us know how to differen-tiate a con from a contractor. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way when I was defrauded during a home reno-vation. Thankfully, I’m now able to pass this information to you. I was one of the lucky ones though. I was able to press charges against the offending party and collect some restitution. But as we tell our patients, the best way to solve a problem is to prevent it. I hope this piece provides you with some insight on how not to get ripped off. Do your homework It is important to do your own research be-fore meeting contractors or tradesmen for a quote. In total, these steps take about 10 minutes but could save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Check for bankruptcy. Call the Office of Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) to see if the company is under bank-ruptcy protection. The phone number is 613-952-1133. If a company is under bankruptcy protection it is obligated to tell you or it could face federal charges. Also, bankrupt contrac-tors cannot ask you for anything more than $1000 up front under their protection terms with the OSB. Most professional contractors have their expenses come out of a bank-approved line of credit so that they do not have cash flow problems. So, if a contractor is asking you for an incredible sum of money up front, it’s likely because they cannot obtain financing due to bad credit, bankruptcy or both. Check online. Check the company for any online reviews on Google, Houzz, TrustedPros and/or Facebook – but do not always trust these reviews. Con artists will stage reviews so they appear to have an impeccable reputation. Be wary of a total averages of five out of five stars on their reviews as even the best companies sometimes have unhappy customers. DR. ANTHONY LOMBARDI, DC, is consultant to athletes in the NFL, CFL and NHL, and founder of the Hamilton Back Clinic in Hamilton, Ont. He teaches his fundamental EXSTORE Assessment System and conducts practice-building workshops to health professionals. Visit exstore.ca for information. 18 Canadian Chiropractor October 2016 It’s important to read the unhappy reviews and see if the company made a response. Reputable companies will con-front their bad reviews with appropriate responses designed to help their client and improve their own product. Know your rights Under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), you must get a written contract for transactions that cost more than $50 if: • you hire a business or individual, like a general contractor, mover or snow removal services; • you purchase any product or service at home from a door-to-door salesperson; • you sign up for a membership (e.g. from a fitness club or buying club); If the contract is signed in your home you have a ‘cool-ing-off’ period of 10 to 14 days (depending on the service) to change your mind and void the contract without penalty. Consult the CPA website for more details. https://www. ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-signing-or-cancelling-contract The contract must contain all the details of the purchase and any credit terms you’ve agreed to. Always remember to read and understand the terms and conditions before signing. The final price cannot be more than 10 per cent above the estimate unless you agree to a new price and sign a change www.canadianchiropractor.ca Photo: fotolia
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