Consumer Traps & Tips # 45 - MVP = Consumer Confidence

For immediate release: October 5, 2009
Contact: Dennis Moore, 561-712-6600 • PBC Consumer Affairs Division

Trap
The Thompsons recently moved to Palm Beach County.  They purchased a 1950’s style home that was in foreclosure and desperately needed remodeling. The expensive project will include new kitchen cabinets, painting, tile floors and upgrades to the old plumbing and electrical systems. They plan to save money by dealing directly with various contractors. They’re new to the area and apprehensive about which businesses to use. Here are some tips they should consider:
 
Tips

• Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division has its MVP Program which is a prototype public-private endeavor designed to promote consumer confidence and trust. The Division maintains a list of home service providers and other businesses which have voluntarily agreed to high standards in customer service.
  
  

• Participants in the program can easily be recognized by the MVP logo. The list of MVP members can be obtained from the Consumer Affairs Web site at http://www.pbcgov.com/mvp or by calling 561-712-6MVP (6687).
  
  
• Consumer Affairs also maintains a data base that in 2009 had over 1.2 million “look-ups” of its Business Information Reports which provides detailed information about 20,000+ companies. 
  
  
• Extensive renovations require a licensed or certified contractor. Contact the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation by calling 850-487-1395 or checking their Web site at: http://www.myfloridalicense.com. To determine if a business needs to be certified, check the Palm Beach County Contractor’s Certification Web site at http://www.pbcgov.com/pzb/contractors or call 561-233-5525.

For more information, call Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs at 561-712-6600 (Boca/Delray 1-888-852-7362), or visit http://www.pbcgov.com/consumer.