In-Home Service Provider Security Tips

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.

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