The following is taken from a real customer review of a mold remediator who performs mold assessments: 

“I had my service conducted late July. I still have not received an email with the findings, as promised over two weeks ago nor have I received a receipt for the $350 I paid for the lead inspection. I've sent follow up messages with no response.”

This same company (who we’ll not name, rather call John Doe Restoration for the purpose of this blog) did the following, according to two sources (a hotel owner and his mold remediation project director) on a hotel mold remediation project: 

• After the mold remediation project director informed the hotel owner that a mold assessment with protocol was necessary, the hotel owner decided to hire the cheapest option: John Doe Restoration. (To be fair, this company does not name themselves a “restoration company”, rather an “environmental solutions” company. The hotel owner couldn’t have known what to expect from John Doe Restoration Company’s advertisement.) The price for a mold assessment with protocol: $350.00.
• John Doe Restoration Company collected two samples inside the hotel; after which, they wrote a report stating (in one sentence) that there was a problem requiring mold remediation. No protocol was provided in the report.
• When the mold remediator was provided with John Doe Restoration Company’s report (by the hotel owner), he requested the protocol; in response, the hotel owner gave the mold remediator his mold assessor at John Doe Restoration Company.
• When the mold remediator called the assessor, the assessor attempted to solicit his services to the mold remediator. When the mold remediator told him that they do not use other mold remediators to perform mold assessments, the mold assessor stated, “Well, I have nothing to say to you then.” The mold remediator politely repeated his request for the protocol. The mold assessor responded, “Like I said, I have nothing to say to you” before hanging up on the mold remediator.
• John Doe Restoration Company attempted to blame the mold remediator for not doing his job and proceeded to offer his mold remediation services to the hotel owner. Because the hotel owner declined, citing it as a conflict of interest, John Doe Restoration Company increased the mold assessment bill to $1,500.00, stating the $350.00 was only if he hired them to perform the mold remediation.
• Because John Doe Restoration Company refused to provide a protocol, the hotel owner had to hire another mold assessor to perform an assessment of the hotel and write a protocol.