An elderly Angie’s List member phoned our call center terrified because a contractor she called to do some work had asked her if she was widowed, if she’d be alone when he arrived and if she had any savings. She was ready to call the police, and I don’t blame her!
Three questions
contractors should never ask.
- Will you be alone when I arrive?
- What’s your credit score?
- Can I see your other bids before I give you mine?
It’s not uncommon for service companies to screen potential customers, especially for big jobs. The contractor was trying to determine if the prospective client would make the hiring decision project or if others needed to be present when he made his pitch, and if she seemed like a good risk for actually paying his bill – both legitimate concerns.
But he could have phrased the questions better, like “will you make the final purchasing decision or how would you like to handle payment?"
Angie's List works closely to educate contractors on the finer points of customer service, and we'll definitely use this recent call as an example of what not to do. I'm curious, have you ever had a contractor ask an inappropriate question? Join the discussion on our
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