Home Services Scams?

Submitted by delcrossb t3_11eimoi in boston

So I am trying to just get a simple dryer vent cleaning. I search up companies that will come to my area and one of the first ones that comes up is Certified Green Team--they offer many home services. I google them, and they have horrible reviews. Like a 1.1 star rating on BBB, no thank you. I click around and I notice a lot of the companies offering the same service have eerily similar websites, but eventually I find one that doesn't seem to have as horrible a set of reviews online.

I fill out the form on the website, they say they can get me in for an appointment as soon as tomorrow. The lady talks super fast the entire time, and they only tell me how much 5 feet of vent line will cost and are super cagey about how much it will cost for any more than that. I ask about fees for inspection or anything like that and she just says all sorts of reassuring things like "I will put in a note no fee for cancellation" or whatever. I notice the price was the same as the opening price listed on the Certified Green Team website.

I get a confirmation email later in the day from none other than Certified Green Team and the ruse I suspected is confirmed. The sad part is every website I seemed to come up with seems like it is just a shell game of the same company. Is this a common scam, and is there a way around it?

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Comments

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Mumbles76 t1_jaeavmm wrote

We had a company come out once for this. After reading the review carefully, i just stayed with the guy the whole time. I ensured that he run his equipment through the whole distance of the vent and not just a part of it.

He did seem a little shady. But not overly so.

When he was done doing the vents we requested, he offered to do a few other vents for 50% if i gave him cash.

YMMV.

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MassholeAsswhole t1_jaesbnw wrote

Do you have a leaf blower? If so check out YouTube videos on clearing a dryer vent with them.

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Jer_Cough t1_jaewd4g wrote

If you have a drill, the brush is only $30 at Home Depot. Took me all of 15 minutes to clean mine out (about 25ft of solid vent pipe), including disconnecting one section at a 90deg bend

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delcrossb OP t1_jaf0bee wrote

Replying to Jer_Cough (#2,132,052)

I do have a drill and thought about that, but I also just have pretty bad allergies and my vent is def full of a few years of cat and dog hair. I know I messed up as a home owner, but I figured I’d have someone else do it to clear it out for the first time then be a bit more fastidious in the future. I may yet just buy the attachment though since it seems like there aren’t a ton of reputable services

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dupattaluella t1_jaf0q3a wrote

Replying to delcrossb (#2,133,913)

It's super easy and quick to do it yourself. My husband cleaned ours in the fall and it took about 20 minutes total. Plus, with the attachments being less than $50, it will save you lots to do it yourself.

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