How to identify and avoid unscrupulous carpet cleaning operators
We've heard some worrying reports about deceptive carpet cleaning companies starting to work all over the UK in the last few months. I have personally heard of several instances in Yorkshire. We obviously want to help our local communities and potential customers to be informed and avoid falling prey to scams. Here’s what’s happening:
Rise of Deceptive Carpet Cleaning Companies:
Individuals are setting up carpet cleaning companies under multiple names in Leeds and other UK cities.
Some of these fraudulent companies are listed on your search engines with thousands of positive reviews
5 to 10 reviews appear a day which is quite suspicious, but they all get uploaded within a one-hour window which agains questions the legitimacy. Once they get to 1000's of reviews the number of reviews coming in each day slows down unless they get a poor review.
They do get many poor reviews that reference the scam or poor work, but as soon as these appear, the company gets 5-10 glowing reviews, which masks the impact by pushing them down the page so customers don't see them and keep their score high.
Although their search listing may say they have been operating for over 15 years, every review is from the last few months, and you cannot find any historical trace of them.
Despite how large and legitimate these companies look, most do not have a website or social media presence - just a mobile number. If a company was doing 10-20 jobs a day, they are a big business, and you would expect a website and a booking office.
Bait and Switch Tactics:
Scammers provide low initial quotes, which along with their apparent great reviews, attract customers - but then engage in bait and switch tactics.
When they arrive at the property, they claim the quoted price was for basic services (like water-only cleaning) and demand additional payment for more comprehensive cleaning.
To avoid this, always ask for a detailed breakdown of services and costs upfront. A legitimate, professional team will always be happy to talk to you about their cleaning process and what's included in the price they quote.
Lack of Professional Websites:
Legitimate businesses typically have well-designed websites with comprehensive information about their services, pricing, and contact details.
Be wary of companies with just a Google listing and no website at all or those with poorly designed ones.
Trust Your Instincts:
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Do a few checks to satisfy yourself.
If something feels off during initial communication or when the technician arrives, trust your instincts.
Cancel the service if you’re uncomfortable.
Local Carpet Cleaning Companies in Leeds:
While we obviously hope you'll choose Moore & Son for your carpet cleaning, we know loads that are fantastic carpet cleaning technicians & trustworthy. They don't have unrealistic review numbers coming through, they all have websites and/or social presence, and with a simple call, you will quickly be assured they know their stuff.
You can also request a free, no-obligation quote from us here at Moore & Son Yorkshire Carpet Cleaning, or get in touch by WhatsApp or Mobile using our Contact Us page.
Please stay informed, be cautious, and protect yourself from carpet cleaning scams!
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