Yesterday, I spoke with a company who identifies as a “water damage” and “mold remediation” company, and who advertises “Get Your Free Mold Inspection” in yard signs, on their trucks, and website. We’ve already covered (in a previous blog) that mold remediators are not to perform pre- and post-remediation assessments, interpret laboratory reports (i.e., test results), and other important disciplines due to a conflict of interest. But I wanted to share this story with you, to help you identify some of the fraud that exists in the mold assessment and mold remediation industries. The conversation went like this:

Me: “Do you perform your own mold testing and write your own protocols?" At first, they ignored the question, responding: “Do you like us to provide you an inspection?” So, I repeated my question: “Do you perform your own mold testing and write your own protocols?”

Them: “We have licenses for assessment and remediation.”

The key to take away from this conversation is this: The mold remediation company is paying assessors a percentage of their closing invoice (i.e., a portion of the money the mold remediator is getting paid for their mold remediation services); in order to do this, the mold remediator must hide the assessment fees in the estimate for remediation – otherwise (1) everyone would see the assessment fee and question the “Get Your Free Mold Inspection” promise or (2) the mold remediation company would lose money on every job to the mold assessor and go bankrupt. Think of it like this: If the mold remediator is willing to ignore this part of the regulations governing their work, what other regulations are they willing to ignore (and where does that leave you)? This is another example of why it is so important to (1) know who is coming into your home or office to do the work and what kind of work they are intending to do. In a previous blog I gave you some questions to ask before you hire someone. Don’t let necessity force you into a further compromising position by hiring the wrong contractor.