Service Magic Yeah I Know

Frankawitz

I don't know how many of you use the Service Magic job lead service. But I wanted to share this with you just in case you are looking for work, Here's what they pulled on me. In June we had a change of the Laws here in Michigan which has made it Illegal to work in this state if your not holding a Builders License or a M&A Contractors License. The people at Service Magic told me they know all the Laws of every state. Well they didn't know anything about the changes that took place in December of last year here in Michigan, The new Laws took affect on June 1st of this year. I didn't know they had changed and with little to no work coming in I figured I would try their service. I have read your posts on them, but I figured I had to do something to get some work coming in. Anyways I signed up with them after these new Laws where put in place. Then I found out I could be locked up for doing my kind of work. Well I contacted them and told them it was against the Laws for me to do the job leads they sent me, well after days of argueing with their reps. I called my credit card and put a stop payment on my account. Well yesterday I get a email telling me my account has been sent to a collection agency. I explained to them about the new Laws, Now here's the good part they tell me that I still owe them the money for the leads they sent me. Again I tell them of the Law, then they tell me that I am Legal to do the work in my state cause I have a Builder's License on file with the state. they gave me the number for my License. the rep tells me he would put on my file that I refuse to pay my bill and it will be sent to collections. I have never had a license in 23 years as a Plaster Contractor, we don't need a license to do drywall/plaster in this state. well now with the new Laws we have to be. So I go to the Michigan State web site and look the Builder's License number up and it is issued to a Frank Witt. which is my name the only thing is this guy lives on the west side of the state and has no DBA. I call Service Magic back and tell them that is not me. well they again they argue with me and demand payment. I tell them they have commited Fraud, By miss leading me to think I could do the jobs they would send me. They stated I have a Builders License when I do not have one, So now they are still telling me that I owe them the money. I never used the leads cause for another thing I never received them, they kept calling my cell when I asked them to contact me at my business phone, I will be contacting the Attorney General of Michigan and file charges against them for Fraud. Then on top of all this they call me and say I can still do Small jobs? Are the people who work for them Brain Dead or what I would say Contractors should watch this Company they will do whatever to charge you even if they are wrong. I would say Service Magic is a rip off. So stay clear of them.

DavidC

On the right side of your keyboard, 3rd row from the bottom is a key marked "enter". This will go a long way toward making your future posts readable.

Good Luck
Dave

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www.CookContractingLLC.com

Mike Finley

SAY WHAT NOW? CAN THIS BE TRUE?

I was under the impression that the great and Holy, all knowing bestest lead service company in the world offers to consumers safety and piece of mind as one of their greatest reasons to use them because they SCREEN all of their contractors?????!!!?!??!

How could they offer your services to the masses without properly screening you? They were offering to consumers an un-licensed contractor!!!

It simply can't be so, please say it isn't so!

Frankawitz

Isn't that wild or what!!
The License for Plastering and drywall was not required that's the only work I was doing. we carry our insurance so we were LEGAL by this States Laws

THEHANDYMAN

I have been useing SM for a few months now. Yes have had some problems getting some refunds but have kept with it and won on most counts. They have sent me several leads and I am busy.

If you are getting the calls on cell rather than other phone, what makes the diff as long as you get them? I get mine on cell TEXT MESSAGE plus home phone and e-mail. I'm not sticking up for hem, just trying to figure out what your beef is. You should have known about the law and protected yourself rather than lay blame on someone else. I can't belive that you are in the trades and in 6 months never heard about the new law taking effect. this had to be #1 topic among all the trades. Up to you to know the law and not rely on someone else, you are just looking for a scrapegoat to cover your back side.

SORRY GUY but hard to feel sorry for you.

Frankawitz

I aint lookin for anyone to feel sorry for me, and as for the new Laws here in Michigan I just learned about them when I ordered a home study course so I could take the Builders exam. They don't have any media here reporting on these new Laws. so I guess I should keep a close eye on Michigan's Goverment I am not a Lawyer dude. as for why I didn't want them to send it to my cell I only use it for emergencys, I'm not one of those guys who has his cell phone up to my head all day like some of the guys out there, The reason for this post was just to say Service Magic isn't up on everything and also they didn't do their research, as to using another guys license to keep charging me for leads. which with new laws I would be looking at jail time and fines, I know it's all my own fault for signing up with a company who says they know all the Laws yet use someone elses license just so they could bill my credit card.

www.frankawitz.net

Remodel Bud

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Remodel Bud

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DavidC

Truth in advertising. Pre-screened, literally, before screening.

Good Luck
Dave

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www.CookContractingLLC.com

detroitMi

As a contractor you need to be licensed,as a subcontractor you don't. I do work for several builders,their jobs are insured and licensed.Never been asked for license in order to subcontract. You can find the Michigan Law here...www.michigan.gov
Q: When is a license required as a Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor?
A: In general, a person who contracts with a property owner to do residential construction or remodeling on a project whose total value is $600 or more, including material and labor, is required to be licensed as either a Residential Builder or a Maintenance and Alteration Contractor.

Teetorbilt

The morons are STILL calling me after their 'freebee' went bad years ago. They were practically begging me to take on work. I think that they are promising more than they can deliver.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

deckspec

we found many of service magics "leads" were not really ready to purchase or even reelly looking for a quote. they basically got tricked into filling out a form, and were bothered by us contacting them. this was proably true of nearly 1/2 of the "leads" many of the other leads were for very crappy or indisrable leads. only a very small perchantage of the leads turned out to be decent.

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paul
http://www.deckspecialists.com/

BSmart

I bit on them too.....my uncle used them in South FL and said he had good luck

I realized quick that they were not what they claimed....thank God!!

Rockwood

Very enlightening! I get their calls routinely, but have not tried any leads yet. I avoid insurance work and don't start without a signed contract.

Stonecrafters

Wow very enlightening indeed! I have been wary of using their service for a few weeks now. After contacting them in attempts to get going with this thing, but their representatives never seem to return calls, they seem to have a hell of a "customer service"I would say.

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www.stonecraftersusaonline.com

BKFranks

All residential builders and maintenance and alteration contractors who construct, repair, alter or improve a residential or combination residential and commercial structure are required to be licensed. Contact the Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Bureau of Commercial Services at (517) 241-9288 for licensure information or visit our website at www.michigan.gov/builders.

The Michigan Residential Builders and Maintenance & Alteration Contractors Board was created under Article 24 of Public Act 299 of 1980, as amended, to license and regulate persons engaged in the construction of a residential structure or combination residential and commercial structure, or persons who undertake the repair, alteration, addition, subtraction or improvement of a residential structure or combination residential and commercial structure for compensation other than wages for personal labor.
http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,...3789--,00.html

A Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) Contractor is licensed to perform only specific trades and services and may accept contracts only in the trade(s) or craft(s) for which he or she is licensed. The contractor's wall license and pocket card identifies the trades for which the M&A Contractor is licensed. The pocket card contains a letter code that represents the trade or trades in which that contractor is licensed. The M&A trades and their equivalent letter codes are: Carpentry (A); Concrete (B); Excavation (D); Insulation Work (G); Masonry (I); Painting & Decorating (J); Siding (K); Roofing (M); Screen & Storm Sash (N); Gutters (O); Tile & Marble (P); House Wrecking (R); Swimming Pools (S); and Basement Waterproofing (T).

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Green_Handyman

as a business owner and contractor it is solely your responsibility to maintain your license, ins. and bond, invest in a decent cell phone plan and expense it at the end of the year, also pick up some trade magazines, learn more and be informed. i subscribe to about 5 different trade magazines, i live in Washington state and i knew about the law change in Michigan. how did you not? I just started using ServiceMagic, out of the leads i have gotten so far, 98% sold, the others i referred to some other contractors who would provide a better service for the clients job.

Stonecrafters

Is anyone here familiar with Sales Genie?

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www.stonecraftersusaonline.com

BKFranks

Other than the commercials I hear on the radio...no. I wonder how those 100 free sales leads works out when you sign up.

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duckdown

Why avoid insurance work? It requires special tact but can be profitable.