Beam me up Scotty: Where’s my generator I ordered 6 months ago?

All across Hurricane Country people have ordered Hurricane shutters, impact windows, and power generators and they’re still waiting for them to show up. If you’re one of the unlucky ones who ordered a generator from Michael Scheffler, of Pioneer Electric in Boca Raton, Florida then you may be on permanent hold.

According to an article published June 6, 2006 The Palm Beach Post’s Stephanie Slater and Eliot Kleinberg wrote that Scheffler was arrested on May 31 on:

“16 criminal counts, including contracting without a license, conducting unlicensed electrical contracting during an emergency, falsely identifying himself as a contractor and grand theft, a felony. He was released from the Broward County Jail Friday night after posting $8,400 bond.”

• Scheffler ran ads in the local newspaper saying he would install generators – work that requires a contractor’s license.
• Allegedly he took more than $10,000 from four people but never installed their whole-house generators
• Detectives expect to file additional charges against Scheffler, 65, on behalf of five other victims, Sheriff’s spokesman Hugh Graf said.
• A dozen other consumers have come forward to the Sheriff’s office since they’re heard about Scheffler’s arrest to lodge similar complaints.

Tales like this show up in the press almost daily and with all the hype around Hurricane protection products it’s clear that opportunists are getting into the business in one form or another and people are loosing their money because of it.

How can you protect yourself against the kind of scheme that Scheffler of Pioneer Electric is accused of? We published an article here that gives you some good tips on how to easily protect yourself.

Tell us how you research the background of a business before giving them your hard earned cash? Have you ever uncovered someone lying to you or using unscrupulous tactics? Been burned? Although it’s not fun to admit you’ve been duped (most of us have been at one time or another), by posting your stories here you can help others avoid the same fate.

Have something to share or ask about getting a power generator for your home or small business? Head over to our Hurricane Protection Forum http://forums.abigwind.com/index.php and add your comments, questions or reviews on products and contractors/installers:

• Hurricane Protection Products and Equipment
• Hurricane Protections Providers, Contractors, Installers

Remember you can also send your private comments, questions and suggestions to me directly at bigw@abigwind.com – I’d love to hear from you.

- Big Wind