The team at Rainbow have been speaking to more and more to clients who have had bad experiences with carpet cleaning companies using a bait and switch sale strategy which is starting to tarnish the reputation of the carpet cleaning industry.

Bait & Switch is exactly as it sounds. Unethical carpet cleaning companies will bait you with a very low and an unrealistic price before switching it to a much higher price once they get inside your home.

How it works:
A carpet cleaning company will give you a very low price to clean your home [for example £10 a room or £60 for the whole house].  However, once they get inside your home they will tell you that you have to pay extra to remove stains or charge more for rooms over 10sqm.  They often find many ways in which to charge the client more and can apply quite a lot of pressure which can be quite intimidating.

It’s often very difficult to turn away a company who are offering you a service you want whilst they are in your property and geared up ready to clean. They know that in all likelihood the customer will think,  “Although it’s a much higher price than I first envisioned, I still need it doing.” Often carpet cleaners will request the client to prepare their home for the cleaning, not to mention taking time of work to accommodate the visit. This makes it difficult to make alternative arrangements, so often the client will pay more to avoid wasting another day but will pay a higher price for doing so.*

These companies have no base or repeat clientele and rely heavily upon an offer that is too good to be true to obtain one off clients. How to protect yourself?

• Remember that if a price sounds too good to be true, it probably is! If a price is a lot lower compared to another company then it could be bait and switch.
• Find out what is included in the carpet cleaning quote they give you, before they come to your home. Ask if there are any other fees to remove stains.
• Check that the carpet cleaning firm is NCCA [National Carpet Cleaning Association] registered. All reputable carpet cleaners are NCCA trained professionals.
• Make sure the company you hire is fully insured.
• If a company offers you a higher price for a more ‘thorough’ or deep clean, then call another company as they’re ripping you off!

Rainbow International has been cleaning carpets throughout Devon for over 14 years. We are honest, reliable and will always offer you a free no obligation quotation with no hidden costs. We are NCCA trained and Woolsafe accredited. We’ve got access to cutting edge equipment and products, because we’re supported by a national network. Our aim is to deliver a premium level of cleaning locally with good old fashioned customer service at an honest price.

*Despite the above it should be noted that carpet cleaners can offer good discounts and upsells. The larger the areas cleaned, the cheaper the sqm price will become for clients. Rainbow International Devon are currently running a special offer for carpet cleaning exclusively with thebestof Exeter. Click here for details.