In today’s society, many different types of service providers routinely enter the customer’s residence. These people include babysitters, cleaners, and repair persons. Unfortunately, not all of these visits have a favorable outcome–some result in death, injury, or loss of property. A few simple actions can reduce the possibility of an adverse occurrence.
Prior to allowing a service person entry to your residence:
- Know your service provider and reputation, i.e., well known business versus unsolicited neighborhood contacts.
- Contact Better Business Bureau to identify past complaints.
- Ask the vendor if he/she is insured and bonded?
- Is the service person an employee or sub-contractor?
- Does the service vendor require insurance and bonding of sub-contactors?
- Does the vendor conduct employee background investigations?
- Who will be the service person and will they have company identification?
- Check national, state and local registered sex offender lists.
- For babysitters and other repeat visitors conduct your own criminal records check if necessary through local law enforcement.
- When in doubt, use another service provider.
While service person is in residence:
- Verify the identity of service person.
- Have more than one adult in residence, i.e., coffee with neighbor, relative.
- Constant checking on service person’s activities–moving throughout work area at random.
- If you feel uncomfortable about the service person during the work period, immediately go to a safe area, i.e., out of the residence, into a locked room or into a locked vehicle.
- CALL POLICE FOR ASSISTANCE.
- Carry a portable or cellular phone with you at all times.
- If attacked, make as much noise as possible to summons assistance.
After the service person has left the residence:
- Report unacceptable conduct/actions to the vendor.
- Report the incident to Better Business Bureau.