What does it mean to be screened and approved by Service Magic?

Mantych Electric, Inc. on 28th Apr 2010 | View all blogs by Mantych Electric, Inc. at http://watchdogcontractorservice.socialgo.com

I’ll save a lot of time and space by just providing you with an example, and there are many. ServiceMagic promotes Jeff’s Handyman out of Clayton, NC. First let me say that Jeff Blevins is probably a nice guy and may even be a great contractor. I do not know the gentleman; I am just using his relationship with ServiceMagic to make a point.

Jeff’s Handyman is a sm.rated service provider. This means he is a ServiceMagic screened and approved professional as follows:

“ServiceMagic pros must pass our rigorous background screening in order to receive the ServiceMagic Seal of Approval.

· We put service professionals to the test with our rigorous screening process.

· We require state-level trade licensing when applicable.

· Your neighbors rate and review thousands of our service professionals each week, so you can make a more informed decision-one you won't regret later.

· The average rating score of our pros is 4.5 out of 5 stars!

· In the unlikely event that things don't go as you planned, we try to help resolve the situation. Since 1999, we've connected 15 million consumers to professionals and we receive complaints less than one tenth of one percent of the time. “

(Below is the small print enlarged)

“Note: Member service professional information, as described above, is confirmed at the time of the service professional's enrollment in the ServiceMagic Network, and may change or expire over time. While ServiceMagic attempts to maintain accurate and up-to-date information, and confirms changes when notified, we cannot guarantee that profile and screening information is accurate or up-to-date. Therefore, we recommend that before working with a service professional, you verify that information presented is still current and/or acceptable to you. Click here for our terms and conditions. Last updated: 1/22/10.”

Member Since: 2008

State Licensing:

* Not required for work offered, when matched by ServiceMagic.

Insurance:

* General Liability, $2,000,000; 09-02-2010

So what does the ServiceMagic Seal of Approval attached to Jeff’s Handyman mean?

1. That Mr. Blair has paid them $99.00.

2. SM’s claim that, “We require state-level trade licensing when applicable” is a false and misleading statement as it pertains to Jeff’s Handyman. So is the statement under State Licensing, “Not required for work offered, when matched by ServiceMagic.” When searching for electricians in the Clayton, NC area, Jeff’s Handyman came up in the eleventh position through ServiceMagic’s web placement. NC General Statute 87-43 requires one to hold a license issued by the North Carolina Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors in order to engage, or offer to engage, in the business of electrical contracting. (87-43. Electrical contracting defined; licenses. Electrical contracting shall be defined as engaging or offering to engage in the business of installing, maintaining, altering or repairing any electric work, wiring, devices, appliances or equipment. No person, partnership, firm or corporation shall engage, or offer to engage, in the business of electrical contracting within the State of North Carolina without having received a license in the applicable classification described in G.S. 87-43.3 from the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors in compliance with the provisions of this Article, regardless of whether the offer was made or the work was performed by a qualified individual as defined in G.S.87-41.1.)

There is no license issued in the name of Jeff’s Handyman or Jeff Blair on record with the NCBEEC.

3. SM’s claim that, “In the unlikely event that things don't go as you planned, we try to help resolve the situation. Since 1999, we've connected 15 million consumers to professionals and we receive complaints less than one tenth of one percent of the time“is also a misleading statement but does not necessarily pertain to Jeff’s Handyman. To find the truth about this statement just enter ‘ServiceMagic Complaints’ or ‘Complaints Against ServiceMagic’ in any search engine.

4. Then there is the disclaimer in small print. The following statement is self explanatory. “. . . we cannot guarantee that profile and screening information is accurate or up-to-date. Therefore, we recommend that before working with a service professional, you verify that information presented is still current and/or acceptable to you.” Need we say more?

5. Now about the Insurance. What about Worker’s Compensation. Who pays the personal damages if the contractor or one of their employees is injured on your project? Hopefully the contractor does carry worker’s comp but you will not know from ServiceMagic’s rigorous screening process. ServiceMagic only requires and verifies Liability Insurance. It will be up to you to ask this question.

So, what does it mean to be a screened and approved professional of Service Magic or to hire a screened and approved professional of Service Magic? It means the contractor has been rooked into paying ServiceMagic a fee to be listed as an approved and screened service professional. It means the consumer has been rooked into subscribing to a service which apparently gives them erroneous information on which to make their decisions. Who benefits from ServiceMagic? ServiceMagic.

Keep in mind that the contractors which have been rooked by ServiceMagic are not necessarily bad guys, but ServiceMagic definitely does not guarantee them to be reliable. Anyway, who guarantees ServiceMagic?

by Mantych Electric Inc