Watch WRC-TV’s Investigative Reporter Liz Crenshaw conduct a hidden camera investigation of a duct and carpet cleaning company accused of fraudulent mold and mildew testing.
DOREEN GENTZLER [WRC-TV News-anchor]:
$89 the coupon says- in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia that’s all it takes to clean the air ducts in your house and protect your family from dangerous mold and mildew- but you might be better off protecting your money instead.
ON-SCREEN TEXT: Mold & Mildew Scam
DOREEN GENTZLER:
Liz Crenshaw has a hidden camera investigation on all this tonight. Liz?
LIZ CRENSHAW [WRC-TV Investigative Reporter]:
Doreen, Montgomery County is accusing PCA Duct and Carpet Cleaning of “dirty business” complete with misrepresentations, deceptive practices, and other alleged violations. So we set up a hidden camera in Virginia to see if this outfits goal is to clean out air ducts, or wallets.
FOOTAGE FROM HIDDEN CAMERA
HOMEOWNER:
We have mold?
PCA TECHNICIAN:
Uh-huh.
HOMEOWNER:
And it’s all over the system?
PCA TECHNICIAN:
Uh-huh.
HOMEOWNER:
Alright. So what do we have to do?
LIZ CRENSHAW:
(Voice Over) Consumer protection officials say what’s going on here has little to do with mold, but everything to do with scaring consumers- to make money. That’s why PCA Inc. is being investigated for alleged “serious violations” of Montgomery County’s Consumer Protection Act.
END HIDDEN CAMERA FOOTAGE
ERIC FRIEDMAN [Montgomery County Consumer Affairs]:
I think this company is more interested in cleaning out your wallet than cleaning out anything that might be in your ducts.
LIZ CRENSHAW:
Eric Friedman has reviewed more than two dozen complaints against PCA, and says the “deal” starts with a coupon- $89 for whole house duct cleaning. Call the number, and a truck like this will visit your home.
FOOTAGE FROM HIDDEN CAMERA
HOMEOWNER:
And you say the mold and mildew is in all the duct work?
PCA TECHNICIAN:
Yeah. You can see it. You can just open the vents. Soon it’s going to be on the sheet rock, on the carpet, in the drywall.
HOMEOWNER:
Really. And how long has it been there?
PCA TECHNICIAN:
Long time.
LIZ CRENSHAW:
(Voice Over) And the price to take care of this mold is a lot more than $89 too.
HOMEOWNER:
And how much is this going to cost?
PCA TECHNICIAN:
$850.
HOMEOWNER:
Yikes.
END HIDDEN CAMERA FOOTAGE
LIZ CRENSHAW:
But during the spiel, the PCA salesman tried to sell us chemical treatments, warranty work, additional visits, and other services, quoting prices such as $208, $299, $550, $758. Eric Friedman says that’s cheap compared to some other consumers.
ERIC FRIEDMAN:
We’ve actually heard from consumers who’ve paid $3,500, when they were responding to an $89 coupon. It looks a whole lot like hocus pocus. It’s a very complicated menu, and I don’t think consumers can understand it, or are supposed to understand it. We’re talking about an industry that’s highly susceptible to scams, and it looks like you have a coupon for $89, that’s really- that’s to get in the door- and once they get in, then your subjected to a whole lot of hocus pocus.
END Scam Video Dirty