"gpsman" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Aug 12, 8:07 pm, "Eigenvector" wrote:

If I hire a repairman, would it be rude for me to ask to see his license
and
bonding documents if I am in doubt.

If their first impression left me in doubt that they're LB&I I
wouldn't use them, even if they are...

And as has been suggested, they should have that documentation at
hand.

But it would be an error to interpret that alone as any measure of
honesty or competence.

Any legitimate business is registered with the state, which is -very-
easy to check in MT via the Secretary of State's website. YMMV. I
usually find additional interesting information there too, such as the
same person/s control two directly competitive businesses.
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- gpsman


Yes, there are a lot of poor businessmen and scamsters out there who are
licensed, bonded, and insured.

In Las Vegas, recently, Purrfect Auto Repair has been under investigation by
the State AG office for ripping off customers. And I mean for big money,
and for a long time. I know this company has been in business for nearly
ten years at their location near my home.

Point is, they are still going, and it took a long long long time to do
anything about it. Right now, they are "under investigation" and doing
business as busy as ever. And lots of time, if you call, and ask some
governmental agency about a company, or even the BBB, their reply is, "I'm
sorry, we cannot divulge that information."

Being licensed, bonded, and insured don't mean ****. Any smart scamster
knows how to successfully tap dance within the lines. And there's always
plenty of suckers, new business, and clueless homeowners to keep them plenty
busy.

"Oh, look, Honey! There's a handyman van. Did you get the phone number?"

Friends and family and neighbors of mine know I'm a handyman DIYer type, and
they bug the **** out of me all the time to do things. Many times, I
relent, but it's stuff I know I can do, and nothing that requires a
contractor. I WON'T tell people I weld. Point is, anyone who is halfassed
good at all can go get work.

For our state, it goes something like this: If you work by the hour, you're
a handyman. If you say you'll do the job for $200, you're a contractor.
This is loosely enforced in my state for repairmen until they get to the
point of doing major work. The State Contractor's Board has changed the
reading so that "anything that permanently attaches to the house, or is part
of the systems within the house" requires a contractor. But, still, they
won't bother the licensed handymen who install fans, or unstick disposals,
or install new ones, although it clearly falls within the lines of their
laws. And then, no one cares until you start taking the big jobs, run
into inspectors, or step on the toes of contractors by taking work they
want.

Steve