Scammers recently targeted an elderly couple in Texas, charging them more than $2,000 to inspect their septic tank and adding insult to injury by damaging the onsite system. When authorities wanted to find a pumper to give them an educated assessment of the situation, they turned to a member of the Texas On-Site Wastewater Treatment Research Council (TOWTRC) for help.

In Grimes County, a father-son team of scammers allegedly took the couple’s money without providing services. The men were later arrested on charges of exploiting the elderly. The sheriff’s department asked TOWTRC member Montel Rutledge, of Brazos Valley Septic, to examine the system, and he reported the tanks hadn’t been cleaned as promised, and had actually been damaged by the men. Two reputable pumpers told the sheriff’s department that the couple had been grossly overcharged.

See the entire story here:

http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/article_87913ea1-efd4-56f2-a1f5-8172f758df9e.html

The local sheriff said this was the first time he’d heard of a septic service scam. Whether it’s fair or not, situations like this can reflect badly on the legitimate pumping industry. Potential customers will be rightfully wary about hiring a contractor when they read a story like this.

What can you do to put customers at ease with hiring you as a service provider? Join your state’s onsite septic or septage haulers trade association and get involved with efforts to raise the professionalism of the industry. Then seek any available certifications or licensing offered by your local health department or the state. Tell customers about your involvement in a trade group and continuing education.

Both of these measures will help build public awareness of proper septic service and bolster your reputation in the community

Do you have comments on this blog? Respond below or send me an email at editor@pumper.com.