[Bog99]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

If a local handyman was dishonest, how long do you think he would last after it was posted on TOTV.
Or for that matter just ask for a recommendation right here.

Yes, I'll take that under advisement -- do the research on TOTV.

Meanwhile Munn's charged me $314 to change an AC capacitor. Work order attached.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

Does anyone understand what businesses need to be licensed? For example, do home watchers need a license of some kind? How about people who mow your lawn?

No. Neither of those services require a license.

[bbbbbb]

Originally Posted by Bog99

... they charge $40/hour, take 3 weeks to get to your job.

Relatedly, I just hired a guy on Amazon (Roots Family Construction, Lakeland) to clean the gutters on my little house. He shows up with a 3' step ladder and says his ladder is too short to reach the gutters... I asked him to leave.

OK so let us look at this. What is the problem?? It is very severe here, getting someone to do a good job, it boils down to the principle of KEEPING OUR WORDS OR A PROMISE. One firm drove our nice neighborhood lady nuts. We see all sorts of jobs, started, then abandoned. So what is this? Want an opinion? We do not have a good check and balance on this item. If we did not have traffic cops and speed limits, hot rodders would be doing 75 on main street, Well, they do on Old Mill Road. So. we do not have a village or city or state control board so we need rigid control regarding performance and the license control etc. We had a real jerk, jerk us around on a painting job. He had a business card saying he was licensed and insured to work in the villages, a lie. Would any one agency do anything about it? NO absolutely not and these guys know it. Unfortunately, grown men now need to be treated like a 3 year old.
Thanks for listening.

[Villager Joyce]

I hear lots of people say to check first with Seniors verses Crime to see if anyone has filed a complaint against the person or company. THAT is one way we can speak loud and clear. If we report issues and ask first, we can get a little ahead of the odds.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

I hear lots of people say to check first with Seniors verses Crime to see if anyone has filed a complaint against the person or company.

Good suggestion.

[spring_chicken]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I think that anyone doing business is required to have a license. But, people doing certain skilled work also need a special contractor license, and if they do electrical or plumbing work, they need additional licenses. A handyman may have a regular business license, but not a contractor, electrical, or plumbing license. They make money by doing plumbing and electrical work illegally, at a lower cost than people who actually have the proper training and license for those trades.

Not in Sumter county.

[HimandMe]

Originally Posted by Bog99

Licensing for Plumbers, Electricians, and carpenters are rackets to limit competition, force up prices, and screw consumers, especially for doctors, lawyers, and dentists, and Professional Engineers, who write their own rules for competition.

This is true of many organizations. They write their own rules and protect their members before an outside authority will do it. In Florida, we are licensed to death. It is in many cases not assurance of good work but l wouldn't have a handyman I didn't know do big electrical or plumbing work for instance. A good handyman is a treasure. It's so sad there are so many here unskilled. TV must look like a captive audience to exploit. We need to protect not only ourselves but the many elderly without the capacity to handle these guys by watching and reporting by name those who are not competent or ripping us off with exhoribant prices. It's not only handymen either, one house cleaner quoted me $300 for a half day house cleaning saying she didn't do this, that and the other. The next two quoted $80 and $60 and even offered to wash the inside windows one room at a time when they came. I wondered how many get taken - usually the most vulnerable or inexperienced.

[Villager Joyce]

You can verify licenses on the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Rehulations.

[maureenod]

Originally Posted by Bog99

Yes, I'll take that under advisement -- do the research on TOTV.

Meanwhile Munn's charged me $314 to change an AC capacitor. Work order attached.

Looks like you paid a service charge to diagnose the problem, then had to order part and make another trip back for installation.

You could watch the video on YouTube , with simple detailed instructions and installed it yourself for less than $20 and screwdriver.

You also should have asked for an estimate first.

[Bog99]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

I hear lots of people say to check first with Seniors verses Crime to see if anyone has filed a complaint against the person or company. THAT is one way we can speak loud and clear. If we report issues and ask first, we can get a little ahead of the odds.

Thank you Joyce.

What is "Seniors versus Crime" and do you have a link for that?

[Villager Joyce]

Originally Posted by Bog99

Thank you Joyce.

What is "Seniors versus Crime" and do you have a link for that?

Seniors Vs Crime in The Villages
Svc in the Villages dot org

the offices are in the sheriffs offices, I think. There is an annex office in Brownwood next to the theater. You file complaints or inform them of scams or flimflam artists. The website explains it. It's too early for me. I'm going to get some coffee now.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

Seniors Vs Crime in The Villages
It's too early for me. I'm going to get some coffee now.

Here Joyce have a coffee.

[Bog99]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

Seniors Vs Crime in The Villages
Svc in the Villages dot org

the offices are in the sheriffs offices, I think. There is an annex office in Brownwood next to the theater. You file complaints or inform them of scams or flimflam artists. The website explains it. It's too early for me. I'm going to get some coffee now.

Thank you Joyce. I'll have to do my homework on this.

In general, the more I learn about this, the more the Villages looks like "open season on fleecing old ladies-ville".

This site -- Talk Of The Villages -- could be easier to use so more people could get direct feedback on who's good and who isn't in the contracting biz.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Bog99

Thank you Joyce. I'll have to do my homework on this.

In general, the more I learn about this, the more the Villages looks like "open season on fleecing old ladies-ville".

This site -- Talk Of The Villages -- could be easier to use so more people could get direct feedback on who's good and who isn't in the contracting biz.

I think they do a good job. You do know it is privately owned and not associated with The Villages.com?

[Bog99]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I think they do a good job. You do know it is privately owned and not associated with The Villages.com?

Yes I know it's not associated with The Villages.

Yes, they do a good job, but not good enough in the User Friendliness department.

I've had a tough time learning my way around this "all things to all people" website -- so how useful is it going to be to befuddled old ladies who always getting fleeced by rip-off contractors ????

For starters, this site could use a section called How To Improve This Site for getting feedback on this.

It has to be useful to befuddled old ladies if their vulnerability is going to get reduced with "forewarned is forearmed" knowledge of who the shysters are, so they can push back and the shysters start cleaning up their act or go out of business.