Press release: AAA Screening Service Launches Contractor Screening Service

P.O. Box 2365
Shawnee Mission, KS 66201
Phone 800.289.7015
Fax 800.551.5709

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Jennifer Meents
President
AAA Screening Service, Inc.
Phone: 913.384.1129
Mobile: 913.579.6595
Fax: 913.384.5783
E-Mail: jmeents@AAAScreening.com

AAA Screening Service Launches Contractor Screening ServiceSM to Protect Consumers from Home Improvement Fraud

AAA Screening Service’s new Contractor Search ReportsSM offer a quick, convenient way for consumers to protect their family and their home during home improvement projects.

Mission, Kansas — February 4, 2004

Today, AAA Screening Service, Inc., announced the availability of Contractor Search ReportsSM that give homeowners a quick, convenient way to protect their family and home from criminals, sex offenders, inexperienced workers, liabilities, liens, fraud and more during a home improvement project. The process is easy. Homeowners have a prospective contractor(s) fill out the application, fax it to AAA Screening and within five days receive a Contractor Search ReportSM that verifies information and provides suggestions on how to proceed.

Bringing Screening Expertise to the Home Improvement Market

An established leader in tenant and employee screening, AAA Screening Service is extending their expertise and investigative skills to the home improvement arena. When updating or improving a resident, homeowners will spend anywhere from $5,000 to redo a room up to $50,000 or $75,000 for a new addition or complete remodel. Typically much time is spent bidding the project out to get the best price and researching materials, colors, or building codes, but very little time is spent checking into the background of the contractor, partly due to the uncertainty of what to ask or what information to verify. AAA Screening Service has done all the research and has all the sources and techniques for evaluating a contractor.

"I followed conventional wisdom, obtained three references from my contractors and called the references It turns out I didn’t ask the right questions because I still got burned." said Katie Olvera of Olathe, Kansas, about finishing her 1,000 sq ft basement "I could have avoided project delays, cost overruns in the thousands and litigation had I used a thorough background checking service like AAA Screening offers."

Home Improvement Industry Riddled with Complaints and Fraud

The twelfth annual consumer complaint survey conducted by the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA) and Consumer Federation of America (CFA) revealed that home improvement contracting came in second to automobile sales with 67% of the consumer agencies reporting it as a top area of complaints. Home improvement was also named as one of the fastest growing complaint categories and the type of industry in which a company is most likely to go out of business and reopen under another name. Unfortunately under such conditions, contractors cannot be accepted at face value. Conducting such a through screening takes time, research and tenacity that some homeowners don’t have or don’t want to expend. AAA Screening Service launched our Contractor Search ReportsSM to provide homeowners with a quick, convenient method for conducting through background checks before hiring a contract.

Various Contractor Search ReportsSM available to meet homeowners’ needs

Several different Contractor Search ReportsSM are available to meet the various needs of homeowners. The Single Contractor Search ReportSM is perfect for checking a sub-contractor or for those who want to do some of the research themselves. This report is available for $45 and provides

  • Summary and Suggestions
  • Business and License Verification
  • Insurance and Bond Verification
  • Criminal History of the On-Site Manager
  • Civil history on the Business and the Business Principal.

The Single Contractor Search ReportSM is perfect for someone who wants a through background check on for a project that will utilize one contractor; such as a roofing project, painting project, or tiling project. It is available for $80 and provides

  • Summary and Suggestions
  • Business and License Verification
  • Insurance and Bond Verification
  • Criminal History of the On-Site Manager
  • Civil history on the Business and the Business Principal.
  • References from three recent customers and one repeat customer
  • Credit History to understand financial stability

The Multiple Contractor Search ReportSM is ideal for homeowners doing a larger home improvement project that will involve a general and sub-contractors; such as a remodel or room addition. This report retails for $120 and provides

  • Summary and Suggestions
  • Business and License Verification
  • Insurance and Bond Verification
  • Criminal History of the On-Site Manager
  • Civil history on the Business and the Business Principal.
  • References from three recent customers and one repeat customer
  • Credit History to understand financial stability
  • References from banking institution and two suppliers
  • One Single Contractor Search ReportsSM to evaluate a critical sub-contractor

The Complete Construction Contractor Search ReportSM is ideal for homeowners building a home or finishing a basement as such projects will likely involve a general contractor and several critical sub-contractors. This report retails for $165 and provides

  • Summary and Suggestions
  • Business and License Verification
  • Insurance and Bond Verification
  • Criminal History of the On-Site Manager
  • Civil history on the Business and the Business Principal.
  • References from three recent customers and one repeat customer
  • Credit History to understand financial stability
  • References from banking institution and two suppliers
  • Two Single Contractor Search ReportsSM to evaluate a critical sub-contractors
  • Verification of Professional Certifications

Turnaround time is three to five business days on all Contractor Search ReportsSM.

Stop by the Remodeling Show in Kansas City, MO

AAA Screening Service will be at the Kansas City Remodeling Show at the American Royal Center February 6-8, 2004. For more information customers can stop by booth 524 at the Remodeling Show, call 1-800-289.7015 or go to www.AAAScreening.com.

About AAA Screening Service, Inc.

AAA Screening Service, Inc. is a national screening company helping businesses and consumers minimize potential problems and maximize profitability and return on investment. AAA Screening Service offers business, contractor, employee, and tenant screening services. For more information visit www.AAAScreening.com.

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