contractor offended for insurance?

[yankswin]

Of the 4 contractors Ive met for estimates, 3 got somewhat offended that
I asked for proof of insurance and certiifcation....is that odd? These 3 are
popular contractors in my area in business many years. One guy said, "well, I
guess I can get them, but nobody ever asked for them." The other...
"dont you trust me." The other..."yeah, I guess I can see if I can find them."

[big johnson]

For residential work, that is not a common question and I suppose you are expected to believe them when they say they are licensed and bonded. For commercial work, proof of insurance and bonding is a requirement.

[Mr Bill]

Of the 4 contractors Ive met for estimates, 3 got somewhat offended that
I asked for proof of insurance and certiifcation....is that odd? These 3 are
popular contractors in my area in business many years. One guy said, "well, I
guess I can get them, but nobody ever asked for them." The other...
"dont you trust me." The other..."yeah, I guess I can see if I can find them."

Most of the time when this comes up we have the insurance company fax a copy to the customer "although we have one" but in 30 years I think I might have had to do this once on residential and because it was a big remodel and the bank wanted it, basically it's not very common to ask for one especially on residential.

Not only that "you" started off on a bad note "trust" if you don't trust someone like my old Dad used to say don't do business with them, and trust me just because they have proof of insurance don't make it that they will do the job any better only that they are more responsible.

[t527ed]

it is not common but nothing to be offended by. its just a phone call to get one sent out.

[firecontrol]

Of the 4 contractors Ive met for estimates, 3 got somewhat offended that
I asked for proof of insurance and certiifcation....is that odd? These 3 are
popular contractors in my area in business many years. One guy said, "well, I
guess I can get them, but nobody ever asked for them." The other...
"dont you trust me." The other..."yeah, I guess I can see if I can find them."

The first person you thought was offended by saying "well, I guess I can get them, but nobody ever asked for them."? As you can see by the other posts here, he was just repeating what every contractor that does residential and commercial work would say. It didn't come from being offended, but from hearing something that they've probably never heard before.

The second person again I would guess was caught way off guard by the request and voiced his honest concern as to why you'd ask in the first place. Being in business for years, I would never do work for someone that didn't trust me.

The third person I would guess does less commercial work than the other two and was being honest in letting you know that he probably really didn't know where he had "filed" this information away.

You might want to look at the way and timing of your asking. I would suggest that you wait till you're ready to sign a contract before asking for proof of insurance and required license. As for certification (your word) the term certification just means that an individual has documentation that says someone else says they are "certified" to do something. As far as I know, no agency of the government issues certifications.

[dngtig]

Of the 4 contractors Ive met for estimates, 3 got somewhat offended that
I asked for proof of insurance and certiifcation....is that odd? These 3 are
popular contractors in my area in business many years. One guy said, "well, I
guess I can get them, but nobody ever asked for them." The other...
"dont you trust me." The other..."yeah, I guess I can see if I can find them."

As a contractor I have no problem with someone asking for proof a license and insurance after all I pay enough for them I would hope someone wanted to see them.

[smokin68]

I agree with T527ed, it's no big deal,and nothing to be offended by. If you're legit and have these,not a prob. I don't know how you asked them, but personally it would have been..." If I accept your estimate/bid, do you mind furnishing me a copy of your insurance/ license, because there's tons of unlicensed companies out there, and I want a professionally licensed one. Thanks."

[timebuilder]

I agree with T527ed, it's no big deal,and nothing to be offended by. If you're legit and have these,not a prob. I don't know how you asked them, but personally it would have been..." If I accept your estimate/bid, do you mind furnishing me a copy of your insurance/ license, because there's tons of unlicensed companies out there, and I want a professionally licensed one. Thanks."

Call it a guess, but what are the chances it was asked in that way? Of course, almost everything we say every day could be rephrased, if we had the chance. This very good example of they way the question could be asked would require more planning than most folks would undertake.

Now, if this HO had a perception that these contractors were offended, then they probably were offended, if not simply surprised.

It could be the way the question was asked.

Or, it could be that no one else asks it.

In fact, it could suggest to a contractor that they are dealing with a HO that they might consider to be "hyper vigilant." We don't have any HO's here that fit into that category, now do we?

[Twilly]

I would be happy to give that to upon approval of the proposal, not before the fact, if the contractor asked you to provide your bank statement would you be offended?

[Mr Bill]

I would be happy to give that to upon approval of the proposal, not before the fact, if the contractor asked you to provide your bank statement would you be offended?

No I probably would not be offended but I would be embarrassed.

[Twilly]

No I probably would not be offended but I would be embarrassed.

We continually trust customers, complete strangers to pay us thousands of dollars and all we have is a signature. I would venture to say that credit reports are not pulled if it's a cash deal. We have to trust them.

I understand that some/many "contractors" may not have insurance, but as in my o/p I would be more than willing to provide them with anything they required upon accept of the proposal. Sound fair to me.

[timebuilder]

I would be happy to give that to upon approval of the proposal, not before the fact, if the contractor asked you to provide your bank statement would you be offended?

This week? Yes.

But, I have an interview scheduled for Friday.....

[dec]

Hummm .... in 30 years of business I can only think of a few times I had a homeowner ask for proof of insurance. I have to provide it to about all the building contractors , for their insurance records.

I know of the times I was was asked for it, it did catch me a little off guard. Its not a real problem but as some say........ I would like to ask that customer, while Im getting that for you , would you get me a financial report , a letter of guarentee from you bank , sign this right to lien, oh and a list of 20 people you have had do work for you so I know whether your a nitpicking whiner. LOL


No I have no problem having the insurance company mail a copy but I would also be thinking ......... hummmm is this gonna be a hassel ?????? I get that once in a while when someone before I even get the job , calls back and wants me to refigure a bid 5 times a differqnt way that I might have to keep going back and looking at it to see what would really have to be done being he really never even mention wanting that done.

When it gets to that point I usally dont want the job. being I have wasted too much time on them anyway. I dont really like being that way but over the years, you just get that way. I dont believe in the customer is always right ..... He is right when he is right ----- If he is wrong Im not going along with it just being he is a so called customer.

Sure I will put it in illegal being you want it that way, The customer is always right ........ NOT