Re: Excessive fees charged by hygienists

[Guest guest]

,

Most mold inspections here with testing usually do end up costing thousands

of dollars. I can also tell you from personal experience that a referral

from a reputable source in the field is no more help in finding an experienced

hygienist with integrity, then letting your fingers do the walking.

Unfortunately in this industry the term " reputable " takes on many different

meanings.

Because of the excessively high fees charged by hygienists in Southern

California costs for inspection can be prohibitive for a lot of people. The

fees

alone for hygienists that are not certified can range from an average

$500-$700 on up for the visit itself, most of which include additional charges

in

their inspection and evaluation. There are usually additional costs for a

report etc. Hygienists charge an average $80-$150 per sample. The majority

charge

an average $125-$150 for each sample taken.

Worse still, if any damage is due to another party, the resident better

watch out in that conflicts of interest abound in this industry. These

conflicts

will always favor the hand that feeds the hygienist the most in referrals

through big business. Your unregulated industry is indeed problematic to say

the least. The fact that this industry is looking at the need to improve

standards is hopeful. However, setting standards that will be implemented 5

years

down the road without any disciplinary system to enforce those standards is

questionable.

Bobbins, RN, L.Ac, QME

In a message dated 1/28/2007 9:35:51 AM Central Standard Time,

vbrk@... writes:

Live,

Yes we do need better standards. Where do you live. I have spoken

w/inspectors from all over the US and have never heard of an reputable

inspector

charging that in the beginning.

Yes, if you contact an inspection that is not reputable and have no idea

what to expect they will charge you for every kind of test there is so they can

make money. Same w/labs. The are only a handful of good labs. Yes, some

charge you many times more than they should.

It doesn't matter much where you are in the US. It is important to have a

bit of knowledge and guidance before calling anyone. So that you don't get

charged $2000.00 for something that should only be $500.00. I have heard of

this

time and time again. It sickens me.

But, that is why this group is here. To help victims. If they are needing

their home tested to guide them the steps of how to go about it. To give them

some knowledge so they can make an informed phone call to find an inspector so

they have a bit of the upper hand. Instead of the inspection company having

the full upper hand. Being able to tell them anything and charge them

anything. If they call an inspection company they can tell the inspection

exactly

what they would like to start w/instead of the inspection company telling them

they have to do 60 tests in a private home. There is no need IMOP and many

other inspectors I have spoken w/to do tons of testing in a home for someone

that is just trying to find out if they have a problem. Yes, if there is a

problem then you will need to spend more money if you can see no suspect areas.

But, you will also have to do this if you do the testing yourself and find a

positive.

I do know of a family that tested their home themselves after I had

discouraged them from doing so. I knew they had suspect mold. Lab results came

back

negative. They called and gave me the news. I tried again to ask how they

conducted the testing, and encouraged them to have a professional come in. They

said they followed the instructions and they were satisfied. 6 months later

their baby ended up in the hospital because she couldn't breath. Poor baby

went thru test after test. In and out of the hospital for months. By now they

were all sick. I again encouraged them to have the home tested by a

professional after I had asked them step by step to tell me how they did the

self

testing. They had infact made several critical mistakes that they wouldn't have

known they made, because it wasn't mentioned in the instructions. FINALLY they

agreed. Since the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong w/the baby. I

made some calls. They had the home tested. 6 samples-$550.I do know of a

family

that tested their home themselves after I had discouraged them from doing

so. I knew they had suspect mold. Lab results came back negative. They called

and gave me the news. I tried again to ask how they conducted the testing, and

encouraged them to have a professional come in. They said they followed the

instructions and they were satisfied. 6

Yes, I understand that saving money is always good. I encourage that w/being

informed and knowing what you need when having an inspection. There is no

need to spend thousands of dollars anywhere in the US. There are good

inspectors in every state.

Some do it yourself tests are great for maintainanc. But, if you see

physical suspect mold or your families lives are at risk I never suggest doing

it

yourself. Unless you are willing to spend the $ if it comes back negative to

have a company come out and do a follow up. But, I have lived the hell of

having sick kids. I would NEVER wish that on anyone. There is NO amount of

money

that can replace my children's lives or ours. No, I don't have alot of money.

I am pretty much broke like the rest of you. But, if I thought I had suspect

mold there is no way I would do it myself. Even though I have the training,

equipment, and ability to do so. I might do an initial, but would for sure

have have a second opinion.

Re: [] new to group..need some answers..

The price on having an inspector come and test must vary substantially from

area to area. In our (urban)area, the quality labs all wanted $2000 or more

to send a person out. That is par for the course so we figured, we should

get the most credible, professional lab we could. So we hired the lab that

the city we lived in used for their environmental work. And they were very

helpful from day one, very professional and they also sent a very good

person.

And they took bulk samples, tape lifts and did spore testing with those air

pump cartridges. Even though it was a calm day and also was the morning and

the mold was always worse later in the day or when the wind was blowing from

the east or gusty and we were not able to turn off our HEPA filter unit or

shut the windows for very long because we didn't want to have to spend $200

a night to go stay in a hotel and we could not breathe that stuff, the

readings were still very high. Because the problem there was very bad.

Their report contained good instructions. But the instructions involved the

entire building, not just our apartment and our landlord ignored them for a

long time, then after we sent them letter after letter demanding a response

they replied but at the same time sent guys over to break up the visible

mold and strew it all around where the water would get it. That was their

revenge on us for forcing them to admit that they had it, First, for quite a

while, they wouldn't even acknowledge receiving the report.

That was their game, to pretend they didn't know anything. It seems to work

as they have done this to a lot of people (according to court records we

have seen..filings by other victims of their 'business practices')

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