Ways to Spot an Appliance Repair Scam Part 1

Your washer breaks, leaving you worrying about who to call and scrambling to clean your clothes elsewhere. What’s the first thing you do? Search online for a great appliance repair company to get your machine back up and running! But when contacting an appliance repair service, there are some things you need to know—most importantly, that you can easily fall victim to a scam. Yikes!

At Immediate Appliance, we believe that you should be able to receive trusted appliance repair service in the Mercer County, NJ region. We also want you to be armed with the knowledge necessary to discern whether a company is legitimate and safe to use. One popular instance of a scam is when a company uses call centers to send out unqualified people to diagnose your appliance issue at home.

Thankfully, there are ways to protect yourself. Here are some things to look out for to spot an appliance repair scam:

• Make sure the company is invested in itself. If a company does not have the resources to properly do their job or do it professionally, then they might not be legitimate. Ask yourself: Are they embedded in their community? Do they have a trademark brand?

• Car wrap and company car. Your repair company should have a company vehicle that has a car wrap describing their business and has their contact information on there. Their truck or van should also feature commercial plates—a legitimate technician will never pull up to your home in their personal car!

• Uniform. Another telltale sign that your technician is from a reputable company is by the uniform they wear. Do they look neat and professional? Does their uniform feature a name tag, brand logo, or other identifying information?

• Affiliation with trade associations. A good repair company should be affiliated with trade associations. For example, Immediate Appliance is a member of the United Servicers Association, the leading repair service support group.

• Reviews. A company should have reviews online. Offering clients the opportunity to give feedback about the level of service they received is a sign of transparency.

• Referrals. Similar to reviews, referrals are a helpful way for homeowners to scrutinize who they call for service. A company that is referred by members of the community and other businesses is one that is more trustworthy.

• Don’t be afraid to ask technical questions. Do you have questions for your technician? Don’t be bashful! Your technician should be able to answer your appliance inquiries, whether they are simple or complex, and put you in touch with an owner or manager at your request.

• Ask for EPA certification. Lastly, ask for the company’s EPA certification if they are working on your refrigerator or air conditioner. They should be able to show that they are qualified to work on your appliance.

These are just a few things you should keep an eye out for! Stay tuned for the second part of this blog series to learn more. You can also turn to our appliance service company in Mercer County, NJ for reliable and trusted work.

Interested parties can learn more about our company and schedule an appointment by calling 732-518-2249 or filling out a contact form on our website. We hope to hear from you!