A recent thread shows how a business stole money from customers:
www.troublefreepool.com
The question is: What due diligence did the homeowners do, if any, and would it have been enough to protect them?
Here is what I suggest:
The full legal name of the company as it is registered with the state, which might be the single sole proprietor’s name and any DBA (Doing Business As) names the company uses.
Full contact information for the company including website, email, physical address, phone, EIN, registered agent if any etc.
For any business with a “Fictitious” or DBA (Doing Business As) name, there has to be a state or local registration of the “Fictitious” or DBA (Doing Business As) name as associated to the full legal name of the company, which is the person’s name if a sole proprietor or a corporation or LLC or Partnership.
A business license if required (Link to verify that it is active and in good standing).
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) if required or available.
A sales tax permit if they will charge sales tax on products they itemize (retail) like chemicals, parts, supplies etc.
A contractor’s license if required by the city, state or federal government depending on the type and scope of work.
A trade license for any work requiring a trade license like plumbing or electrical.
All owner information including a comprehensive detailed profile of all qualifications, work history, background check verification including civil, criminal and traffic from all courts anywhere.
Check all reviews from any site like BBB, Google, Yelp, Porch, Thumbtack, Amazon etc.
You want insurance including:
General Liability.
Errors and Omissions for any professional work, especially if the work requires a trade license.
Umbrella (Preferred).
Commercial Auto.
Worker’s Compensation Insurance if the business has employees.
Surety Bond in an amount of the total cost of the job (Minimum).
Verify that a building permit was issued before the contractor does any work requiring a permit.
Some information is available online, but it can be complicated and time consuming to find what exact qualifications are required and if the company actually meets the requirements.
Worker’s compensation insurance information might be available online, but other insurance and bond verifications need to be provided by the company.
The Houston contractor search shows that the right to do business in Texas was revoked.
Epic Fiberglass Pools.
https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/coaSearchBtn
There are no requirements for a contractor’s license or a business license in Houston, which seems like a bad idea.
A recent thread indicates that a pool service is using the name Trouble Free Pool, which is probably a trademark infringement and the person is trading on the reputation of this site.
www.troublefreepool.com
So, here is some information related to “Trouble Free Pool Service”, which shows that their “license is expired and not able to contract at this time”.
Further investigation shows that they have no worker’s compensation insurance, but they seem to have employees, which means that any employee that gets injured on a customer’s property could potentially create a liability for the homeowner.
UNIVERSITY POOLS INC. DBA (Doing Business As) TROUBLE FREE POOLS.
(760) 385-8722
2021-9010714
www.sandiego.gov
bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov
UNIVERSITY POOLS INC. DBA (Doing Business As) TROUBLE FREE POOLS
Contractor's License Detail for License # 1028787
This license is expired and not able to contract at this time.
D-35 - Pool and Spa Maintenance Contractor
California Code of Regulations
Title 16, Division 8, Article 3. Classifications
A pool and spa maintenance contractor installs, replaces or repairs pool motors, pumps, filters, gas heaters and any above ground piping in connection with pools; includes electrical switches, breakers, pool lights, diving boards, existing solar systems that heat pools, pool and spa acid baths and applies vinyl liners to existing surfaces.
Business Phone Number: (619) 797-6651
Entity Sole Ownership
Issue Date 07/10/2017
Expire Date 07/31/2021
This license is expired and not able to contract at this time.
This license is exempt from having workers compensation insurance; they certified that they have no employees at this time.
Additional Status
The license will need a contractors bond to renew active or reactivate.
www.cslb.ca.gov
www.cslb.ca.gov
https://troublefreepoolservice.com/
The “Testimonials” seem to be fake because the pictures associated with them as “Clients” are just stock photos copied from online sources.
Based on the available information, would you do business with this company?
What additional information could you check and would you check?
Client "Jane Smith" is just a stock photo and probably a fake review.
drlaneve.com
Michael Fidanni also seems to be a stock photo and probably a fake testimonial.
Pool Contractor in Houston charged with theft of $150,000
https://www.click2houston.com/news/investigates/2022/04/08/pool-contractor-charged-with-stealing-more-than-150000-from-spring-conroe-area-families/?breaking_news=7112&utm_content=27307315&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Breaking%20News%20Alert&utm_term=kprc_breaking “He...
www.troublefreepool.com
The question is: What due diligence did the homeowners do, if any, and would it have been enough to protect them?
Here is what I suggest:
The full legal name of the company as it is registered with the state, which might be the single sole proprietor’s name and any DBA (Doing Business As) names the company uses.
Full contact information for the company including website, email, physical address, phone, EIN, registered agent if any etc.
For any business with a “Fictitious” or DBA (Doing Business As) name, there has to be a state or local registration of the “Fictitious” or DBA (Doing Business As) name as associated to the full legal name of the company, which is the person’s name if a sole proprietor or a corporation or LLC or Partnership.
A business license if required (Link to verify that it is active and in good standing).
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) if required or available.
A sales tax permit if they will charge sales tax on products they itemize (retail) like chemicals, parts, supplies etc.
A contractor’s license if required by the city, state or federal government depending on the type and scope of work.
A trade license for any work requiring a trade license like plumbing or electrical.
All owner information including a comprehensive detailed profile of all qualifications, work history, background check verification including civil, criminal and traffic from all courts anywhere.
Check all reviews from any site like BBB, Google, Yelp, Porch, Thumbtack, Amazon etc.
You want insurance including:
General Liability.
Errors and Omissions for any professional work, especially if the work requires a trade license.
Umbrella (Preferred).
Commercial Auto.
Worker’s Compensation Insurance if the business has employees.
Surety Bond in an amount of the total cost of the job (Minimum).
Verify that a building permit was issued before the contractor does any work requiring a permit.
Some information is available online, but it can be complicated and time consuming to find what exact qualifications are required and if the company actually meets the requirements.
Worker’s compensation insurance information might be available online, but other insurance and bond verifications need to be provided by the company.
The Houston contractor search shows that the right to do business in Texas was revoked.
Epic Fiberglass Pools.
https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/coaSearchBtn
There are no requirements for a contractor’s license or a business license in Houston, which seems like a bad idea.
A recent thread indicates that a pool service is using the name Trouble Free Pool, which is probably a trademark infringement and the person is trading on the reputation of this site.
Facebook Group - Trouble Free Pool (Not)
A while back I saw there was a FB page called Trouble Free Pool. I joined, thinking it was you fine people, just in another land. I realized it was not TFP peeps. This weekend he changed the name of the group to Pool Owners Mafia. Not really newsworthy, just interesting.
www.troublefreepool.com
So, here is some information related to “Trouble Free Pool Service”, which shows that their “license is expired and not able to contract at this time”.
Further investigation shows that they have no worker’s compensation insurance, but they seem to have employees, which means that any employee that gets injured on a customer’s property could potentially create a liability for the homeowner.
UNIVERSITY POOLS INC. DBA (Doing Business As) TROUBLE FREE POOLS.
(760) 385-8722
2021-9010714
Master Business Listings | City of San Diego Official Website
www.sandiego.gov
Secretary of State
UNIVERSITY POOLS INC. DBA (Doing Business As) TROUBLE FREE POOLS
Contractor's License Detail for License # 1028787
This license is expired and not able to contract at this time.
D-35 - Pool and Spa Maintenance Contractor
California Code of Regulations
Title 16, Division 8, Article 3. Classifications
A pool and spa maintenance contractor installs, replaces or repairs pool motors, pumps, filters, gas heaters and any above ground piping in connection with pools; includes electrical switches, breakers, pool lights, diving boards, existing solar systems that heat pools, pool and spa acid baths and applies vinyl liners to existing surfaces.
Business Phone Number: (619) 797-6651
Entity Sole Ownership
Issue Date 07/10/2017
Expire Date 07/31/2021
This license is expired and not able to contract at this time.
This license is exempt from having workers compensation insurance; they certified that they have no employees at this time.
Additional Status
The license will need a contractors bond to renew active or reactivate.
Check A License - CSLB
www.cslb.ca.gov
Check A License - CSLB
www.cslb.ca.gov
https://troublefreepoolservice.com/
The “Testimonials” seem to be fake because the pictures associated with them as “Clients” are just stock photos copied from online sources.
Based on the available information, would you do business with this company?
What additional information could you check and would you check?
Client "Jane Smith" is just a stock photo and probably a fake review.
Recontouring & Microabrasion - Today's Dentistry
drlaneve.com
Michael Fidanni also seems to be a stock photo and probably a fake testimonial.
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