Econmic Downturn (or that is what they are calling it...)

The situation regarding unlicensed and uninsured, so-called, cleaning contractors will only worsen as more and more people lose their jobs as our economy (for whatever reason....that's for another post...) shrinks.

The tendency of our government has been to "look the other way" when it comes these types of situations because of, what I would call, political correctness gone.........a muck. There is little to no reason to hope that any relief will come from them!

So...........what is left for us who are working "legally" to do?

IMHO...........about all we can do is try to educate our marketplace as to the ethical and practical dangers involved in hiring those who are not operating legally and that is why I authored the What the Heck is a Trunk Slammer article.

I have encouraged everyone I can at GCA to copy and use this piece as part of their sales and marketing packets and, from what I hear, some have had some success (albeit limited) in educating and convincing potential clients that they need to do some "due diligence" when selecting a cleaning company to work in their homes and businesses and................that is encouraging.

Compassion or...........Confusion

As some readers might know, I am the author of an Internet-Published article titled "What the heck is a Trunk Slammer?" You may also be aware that there are some who think that my "branding" of people with names like Trunk Slammer is cruel and unethical. Some have called for me to publicly apologize for my remarks and have suggested that I publish and print a full retraction.

To those who think they are being "compassionate" in their demands, I say, they are truly........."confused" and they only succeed in confusing, but more dangerously, "encouraging" others who may be listening/reading what they preach.

First, let me briefly define what I call a Trunk Slammer: A person or persons who operate cleaning businesses without licenses, in areas where they are required and....there are "very few" regions where they are "not" and without insurance. This group of people are also "very unlikely" to declare any income they make to the IRS or State agencies because, without the license...........nobody knows they are working/making money.

Trunk Slammers are almost always the lowest bid on any job a "licensed/insured" contractor might bid on because they have little to no overhead expenses to cover and can and usually do work for minimum or below minimum wage thereby lowering (whether intentionally or not) the market value/price for work performed in a geographic area.

So.....................all of the above, coupled with the fact that Trunk Slammers usually posses little to no experience in materials and methods and we have a recipe for disaster both economically and physically yet............there are those (some who are "highly visible and vocal in our industry) who actually encourage people to open businesses this way citing........"compassion".

UGH!!!!!!!!!