BEWARE OF TRUNK SLAMMERS - QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR CHECKLIST
Fuels work can be dangerous—even deadly—if not performed by a professional. To drive that message to the people of Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) used Fraud Prevention Month as an opportunity to launch the Trunk Slammers Enforcement Program.
Uncertified gas technicians and unregistered contractors, aka ‘trunk slammers’, are not certified or registered with TSSA. There is no assurance they will comply with safety regulations, since they have already disregarded the law by working without being certified or registered.
Click here to access the TSSA’s full Press Release about the launch of their Trunk Slammers Enforcement Program, and read stories from homeowners who have been negatively effected by fraud in the fuel-oil industry, including one from Marlene:
“I went through an entire winter with no heat. I could never get a hold of this man, couldn't talk to him. From what I understand now, the intake pipe which draws air from outside to pump inside of my house was not hooked up, so my furnace was only drawing air from the inside of my home and pumping the same air back in.”
Improper installation and poor work are the major contributing factors to the fuels- and carbon monoxide (CO) related risks in people’s homes. TSSA is concentrating on the prosecution of individuals providing gas services without proper certification and registration – with a particular focus on repeat offenders – also known as ‘trunk slammers’.
Qualified Contractor Checklist
The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) highlights obvious red flags to look for when shopping for a contractor. Qualified contractors:
will not quote prices over the phone without first assessing your job on site
will not request large cash advances prior to the delivery of any equipment or materials
will readily provide a full business address and telephone number where the company can be reached
will be happy to offer the names and addresses of customers they have done work for in your area
