[xtypo_dropcap]W[/xtypo_dropcap]hen your head is in the clouds and your heart is a-flutter, you might think that all is well with the world as you go about planning your wedding with not a care in sight. But unfortunately, there are people who will try to take advantage of your optimistic mood and not deliver what they have promised.
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has heard enough complaints to bring her to release a report warning people to be careful of scams when they are planning their weddings. A little care can save your wonderful day.
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) suggests four steps that will give you a head start on the scammers: Write every detail down in a contract. Ask for and check references. Make a backup plan in case a vendor doesn’t show up, and also for things like unwelcome weather if your wedding is to be outdoors. And pay with a credit card, which will give you some protection if the service is not satisfactorily completed.
In Massachusetts, the AGO has a Consumer Hotline that you can call to see if any complaints have been filed against a specific vendor. Your state might have one, too, or the AGO might refer you to the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) in your area.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is an international organization set up to help consumers determine whether a company is dependable and ethical. If a business wants to display the BBB logo, it needs to pay an application fee and pass inspection by the BBB.
Since approval is given only after a business applies, the BBB website reminds consumers that a company not displaying the logo doesn’t necessarily mean that the business failed the inspection; it could also mean that the business did not seek BBB accreditation.
The inspection does not cover the product or service. Gaining approval means that the BBB has determined that the company follows good business practices and has the current licenses and permits required.
On the website, the BBB provides its Eight Principles for Accreditation:
Build Trust
Advertise Honestly
Tell the Truth
Be Transparent
Honor Promises
Be Responsive
Safeguard Privacy
Embody Integrity
A spokesperson for the BBB of Silicon Valley, Christy, said that they have not had many complaints about wedding service providers. She gave general suggestions about things to keep in mind: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is; and don’t give your credit card information online unless you are sure the site is secure.
She also suggests that you can search their Reliability list to see if any complaints have been filed against a specific company. They also have an Alert section on their website that tells about recent scams and frauds.
It seems that researching potential vendors and service companies and following the AGO guidelines reflect a time-honored idea of putting your effort into the planning stage and reaping the rewards in the actual event—having your wedding go as smoothly as planned. Maybe that’s why there are so many old sayings like “Look before you leap” and “Forewarned is forearmed.”
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has heard enough complaints to bring her to release a report warning people to be careful of scams when they are planning their weddings. A little care can save your wonderful day.
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) suggests four steps that will give you a head start on the scammers: Write every detail down in a contract. Ask for and check references. Make a backup plan in case a vendor doesn’t show up, and also for things like unwelcome weather if your wedding is to be outdoors. And pay with a credit card, which will give you some protection if the service is not satisfactorily completed.
In Massachusetts, the AGO has a Consumer Hotline that you can call to see if any complaints have been filed against a specific vendor. Your state might have one, too, or the AGO might refer you to the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) in your area.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is an international organization set up to help consumers determine whether a company is dependable and ethical. If a business wants to display the BBB logo, it needs to pay an application fee and pass inspection by the BBB.
Since approval is given only after a business applies, the BBB website reminds consumers that a company not displaying the logo doesn’t necessarily mean that the business failed the inspection; it could also mean that the business did not seek BBB accreditation.
The inspection does not cover the product or service. Gaining approval means that the BBB has determined that the company follows good business practices and has the current licenses and permits required.
On the website, the BBB provides its Eight Principles for Accreditation:
Build Trust
Advertise Honestly
Tell the Truth
Be Transparent
Honor Promises
Be Responsive
Safeguard Privacy
Embody Integrity
A spokesperson for the BBB of Silicon Valley, Christy, said that they have not had many complaints about wedding service providers. She gave general suggestions about things to keep in mind: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is; and don’t give your credit card information online unless you are sure the site is secure.
She also suggests that you can search their Reliability list to see if any complaints have been filed against a specific company. They also have an Alert section on their website that tells about recent scams and frauds.
It seems that researching potential vendors and service companies and following the AGO guidelines reflect a time-honored idea of putting your effort into the planning stage and reaping the rewards in the actual event—having your wedding go as smoothly as planned. Maybe that’s why there are so many old sayings like “Look before you leap” and “Forewarned is forearmed.”
