Long-Time International Member Speaks Out on Fraud

Posted on 04/08/2019

If you’ve ever wondered if NADCA’s international members deal with the same issues of blow-and-go contractors or customer fraud as are seen in the United States, George Thomas of long-time NADCA member company EPSCO has your answer. Thomas was profiled in an article posted on Construction Week Online, a website dedicated to the construction industry in the Middle East. EPSCO primarily serves customers in United Arab Emirates (UAE) with additional offices in Abu Dhabi.

In the article, Thomas discusses many of the same issues seen by American air duct cleaning problems— from contractors falsely reporting discovering mold to bait-and-switch tactics to lure customers with low-cost offers —proving that combating fraud is a global issue. “Any time you have a good thing going, you’re going Long-time international member speaks out on fraudto have the guys show up who are riding on the coat tails of the good companies,” says Mark Zarzeczny, NADCA board member and Chair of NADCA’s Anti-Fraud Task Force. “In any industry you’re going to see that, so of course we have our fair share in air duct cleaning.”

The solution according to Zarzeczny: education. “You can spend millions of dollars pursuing legal action, but one of the bests ways, utilizing our resources, is education. Customers don’t know what they don’t know. Educating the customer about what needs to be done, and how it can be done the right way, is the best way to address fraud in our industry." That’s exactly what Thomas does in the article, discussing NADCA, certification, and standards. “The more we talk about the fraud that’s happening, the more aware customers will be,” said Zarzeczny.

NADCA provides a range of educational resources via its new website. The new design of the site went live in late 2017 and houses a library of information for consumers at the residential and commercial level. Users will also find links to interviews and NADCA content that’s been broadcast on national media. The launch of NADCA’s Breathing Clean initiative and public service announcement videos speak directly to customers, an added layer that further supports NADCA’s focus on education. “By picking multiple points and educating the consumer through those points, we’re making them aware of the quality of workmanship and craftsmanship that NADCA can deliver,” said Zarzeczny. “We want to help customers understand that quality comes at a price. You get what you pay for.”

Read the EPSCO article here.