Hi Timothy, You wrote <<Course, what can be done if you have a "friend of a friend" who knows how to hook that generator and though is unlicensed, he'll do it cheaper than I as he doesn't have the expense of pulling a permit, liability insurance nor workman's comp? Same with mechanics. We [SNIP]>>
Great points Tim! As a side note, my son is a brick mason - his boss, the owner of the company has started a 1 man crusade to get the state or county building inspectors, or some government official to make sure the contractor getting the building permit will only use legal labor. Presently, full time companies doing quality brick work pay their top people around $40/hr. Lately, some contractors are using illegal labor and only paying them $5 - $6/hr - making it very difficult for licensed contractors to do business properly - that's what happens when the competition pays 1/3 what you are. As you say, there are all kinds of expenses when running a business properly. The overhead expenses can be enormous when trying to run a business and employ people - it generally doubles the cost of the employees hourly rate. Although my son's company ends up getting paid to fix some of the work done by the illegal contractors they would prefer not to do that. Better to do things correctly the 1st time. Besides, who knows what substandard work gets past the inspectors - and may cause a safety problem in the future? I'm not big on unions, so I don't want to advocate that, but someone needs to monitor the labor being used here. Gotta go put my anti-flame suit on ;-) Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D) www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil PORSCHE POSTERS! youroil.net Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs . ----- Original Message ----- From: "Timothy Robinson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:57 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Mechanics lien - need advice Hey, you know this sounds kinda like the state licensing of contractors, insurance salesmen, etc. Not that I advocate more "government regulation," but it can be a good thing. It not only protects the consumer but also the tradesman. Every month I receive a state newsletter which lists pending actions and resolutions by the state licensing board. These actions are usually a result of complaints by someone who engaged another's service and the job wasn't performed satisfactorily. The most often infraction is one engaging in business without being licensed. IMHO inspections are a good thing which protect you, the homeowner but also me as the electrical contractor. Face it, if your house burns down and they can't decide the cause of the fire it's often assumed to be electrical? As last person on record that work on your house, I'd wanna be protected (and my liability insurance) by knowing that the work I had done was signed off on by the local inspection authority (in this state under the insurance commission). Course, what can be done if you have a "friend of a friend" who knows how to hook that generator and though is unlicensed, he'll do it cheaper than I as he doesn't have the expense of pulling a permit, liability insurance nor workman's comp? Same with mechanics. We all know "miracle working" indies who if were required to pass a state board every year (and associated fees of being in business) would probably not be able to work. Such regulation would probably put some good people out of business. Used to a plaque at a business stating they were members of the Better Business Bureau meant something. One can still call the local bureau and get a report of any complaints or actions against a business. I personally go to the local courthouse and look up and civil actions against new contractors that I don't know. Bottom line on car repair? I've been guilty of making hasty decisions under duress when a vehicle broke down on me. Used to the automatic option was to return a car to the dealer where it was purchased. Many people do that just because of warranty. Doesn't apply to we folks who drive these 25+ year old beautys. Mine really should qualify for "Medicar" <----Look! I made a funny!). Under duress though... that's kinda like funeral homes who are required by the Federal Trade Commission to give you a list upfront of their costs of services when you have to plant old Aunt Madge. Maybe at least a shop should provide a list of fees (including diagnostic) upfront. > From: Bob Hamilton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:29:33 -0700 > To: "mercedes@okiebenz.com" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Subject: [MBZ] Mechanics lien - need advice > > I am Executive Director at the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council > (AMVIC). > We license 6000 businesses that are selling and repairing vehicles in the > province of Alberta. We also register 9000 sales people. We have 15 > investigators that mediate consumer complaints. We are funded by the > licensing fees that we levy. Our function used to be done by the > Provincial > government - they weren't doing a great job at it so between them and > industry, AMVIC got created in 1999. Our mediation last year added up to > about $4 million. We refuse to grant licenses and cancel them as well. > We > lay charges for operating without a license. > > So, if you were in Alberta, you would complain to us, we would assign an > investigator and he would find some common ground. If the business has > committed a fraud, he can lay a charge under the Criminal Code. > > We have found that since we were formed, industry has learned that there > is a > fairly significant consequence if they "cross the line". I am certainly > not > naïve enough to think that it is fixed but I think we are making an impact > in > making businesses more honest and making them think twice before they > "pad" a > repair. > > Most states have a consumer affairs type office that performs a function > similar to us - I don't know them well but that might be an avenue to > explore. > > And I am progressing quite nicely in the restoration of my 67 200D > (pictures > at bottom link below). ..... Bob > > Bob Hamilton O|||||||O > * (780) 462-0860 > 7 (780) 462-0633 FAX > * [EMAIL PROTECTED]<BLOCKED::mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > * www.amvic.org<BLOCKED::http://www.amvic.org> > * http://picasaweb.google.com/hamibob > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
