Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is alerting businesses to USWorkmen.com. Purportedly based in Tucson, U.S. Workmen is soliciting contractors around the country, offering a “free” list of biddable jobs in their area for a $100 background check fee.

According to businesses who spoke with BBB, U.S. Workmen claims that the list of biddable jobs is free, but the businesses must pay a $100 fee for a background check before receiving the list. Businesses who paid the $100 fee tell BBB that they never received a list, and that they were unable to contact the company to collect a refund.

Since July, BBB has received 545 inquiries from businesses and consumers into U.S. Workmen, making them one of the most inquired about Southern Arizona businesses of the summer.

U.S. Workmen claims to be located at 5151 Broadway Blvd., in Tucson, but upon investigation, BBB determined that no such company exists at that address. A virtual office, called Intelligent Assistant, is housed in the suite U.S. Workmen claims to be in, and Intelligent Assistant management tells BBB that U.S. Workmen is not contracted with them to use their services or faculties.

BBB spoke briefly with a company sales representative who said he was based in Oregon, but continued to insist that their “corporate headquarters” was at 5151 Broadway Blvd., in Tucson.

In the About Us section of its Web site, U.S. Workmen claims to be “certified” in the state of Arizona, as well as with “several Federal, State, and Local agencies.” However, upon investigation BBB found that the entire About Us section of the website appears to be plagiarized from the Web site of a company called Environmental Construction Group (ECG), in California. BBB has alerted management at ECG to the issue.

BBB was not able to locate a corporate listing for U.S. Workmen with the Arizona Corporation Commission, and U.S. Workmen management has failed to respond to BBB’s phone calls and emails attempting to verify which- if any- state agencies it is registered with.

BBB Tips:

• If you receive a call from a telemarketer selling any sort of product make sure to research the company before buying. Make sure the company not only exists legally, but also that they have a proven track record of delivering to their customers.
• Never give personal information over the phone to telemarketers. This includes social security numbers for background checks.
• Beware of telemarketers- or online companies- that require you to pay either via Paypal or by wiring money. Often times these companies have had their merchant accounts taken away from them due to a high volume of complaints from other consumers, and are unable to accept credit cards.

If you have questions or concerns about a telemarketer that has contacted you, contact BBB at (520)888-5353 or visit www.tucson.bbb.org.

With recent temperatures reaching triple digits, many Southern Arizonans are thinking about having an A/C unit installed, or having their existing unit tuned up, but consumers should be wary of too good to be true deals, Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona warns.

An A/C unit or some sort of cooling system is more or less a necessity during Southern Arizona’s hot summers. Every year BBB sees a dramatic rise in consumer inquiries during the spring and into the summer as consumers look for HVAC contractors to tune-up, replace, or install units. In 2011 BBB received over 9,500 inquires from consumers about heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors in Southern Arizona between May and the end of September.

Unfortunately, complaints against HVAC companies increase along with inquiries. As HVAC contractors ramp up their advertising, unscrupulous contractors often make misleading, or even false claims about the price of their services, and even the quality of the equipment they’re selling.

Wade Hamstra, of Hamstra Heating and Cooling- a Tucson HVAC contractor doing business in Southern Arizona since 1983- says that there are a few “red flags” consumers can look for to ensure they’re not being ripped off:

RED FLAG #1 – THE LOW-BALL PRICE

Ever see those ads that say “$39 Heating or A/C Tune-Up!”? Sounds great doesn’t it? Don’t be fooled: an average heating and cooling service technician makes at least $18 per hour. Add in the costs of fuel to get to the home, the service van, overhead expenses for a basic office- people to answer the phone, schedule calls, process paper- and the average HVAC company has, at a bare minimum, expenses of $50 per hour. When you add up all these expenses it’s very unlikely you’ll ever find a true $39 tune-up.

RED FLAG #2 – THE 400 SQUARE FEET PER TON OF A/C “RULE OF THUMB”

Just about any consumer who has researched buying a new A/C system has read about, or had a contractor tell them about the “Rule of Thumb” for equipment sizing:  “Mr. Johnson, your home is 2000 square feet, at 400 square feet per ton; you need a 5-ton air conditioning unit today.”

“This is the most bogus and lazy lie that exists in our industry,” Hamstra says. “Every reputable heating and cooling company will insist on performing a Manual J Engineering Load Calculation- as required by the International Residential Code book, Tucson Electric Power and Energy Star- to determine the size of system you need.  This process takes a lot of education and extra time to perform, but is essential for proper sizing.  A system that is not properly sized will not keep a home comfortable, and will drive up energy bills at the same time it decreases equipment life.”

RED FLAG #3 – NEW SYSTEM QUOTES OVER THE PHONE ARE NOT ACCURATE!

There is a large range of variables when performing a system replacement. For that reason it’s virtually impossible for an A/C contractor to give an accurate estimate for a new system over the phone.

Hamstra lists three reasons why it’s not possible to give an accurate estimate over phone:

1. The home might have experienced changes since the original system was installed (new windows, added insulation, added addition, more internal heat loads like appliances, TV’s, computers, people).  All of these factors will affect the system size that the home needs. The only way to ensure proper sizing- which leads to better comfort, energy efficiency and longer system life- is to visit the home, take all the proper measurements and run a computerized Manual J Load Calculation.
2. There’s the issue of physical unit sizes: the contractor may need to visit the home to make sure that it has the physical space needed for a new model A/C unit.
3. Any customer looking to get new air conditioning equipment should also be concerned with making sure their duct system is adequate. If the duct is overlooked, a customer may get sold a highly efficient and more expensive unit that functions like a lower quality unit, due to leaky ductwork.  It would be like putting a brand new Ferrari motor on an old Yugo chassis.  It is not going to deliver great results.  In order to deliver a proper solution, A/C contractors need to inspect the system as a whole.

To find an HVAC contractor you can trust and to easily get free estimates scheduled through BBB’s free E-Quote service, visit www.tucson.bbb.org or call (520)888-5353.

With temperatures hovering in the 100s, going without air conditioning during an Arizona summer is not a favorable option. However, rushing to find an AC contractor can burn a hole in your wallet instead of keeping you cool. BBB of Southern Arizona finds that now is the time consumers are most in need of reputable AC contractors.

Some of the most common mistakes consumers make when looking for an AC contractor is hiring the first contractor they find, not doing the proper research and not getting all the details of their service repair in writing.

If you are need of an AC repair or just following through on a recommended check-up, BBB recommends the following when looking for an AC contractor:

Research company background and licensing. Visit www.tucson.bbb.org for the Business Review of any AC service company you plan to hire to learn more about its reputation and history of complaints. Ask if the company and its employees are licensed and insured.

Compare prices and service packages. Get at least three estimates for any air conditioning repair or maintenance work. All bids should be in writing and should provide a full description of the services to be provided and the materials to be used.

Review warranty coverage. Find out if the company offers any type of warranty or guarantee andmake certain you understand the terms and conditions of the coverage. Also, be sure to check the warranty on your current air conditioning unit to determine whether any repairs or replacements may be covered.

Ask about energy efficiency. Many new air conditioning units are manufactured to be significantly more energy efficient than others, which often qualifies them as tax deductions. Make sure you get the necessary paperwork to cash in on those savings.