Snow Plow Business Warning

Snowplow businesses are advertised everywhere this time of year in Anchorage and chances are you may be looking for someone to remove snow from your business or driveway, but not all businesses are legitimate, and could end up costing you more in the long

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By Alexis Fernandez

Story Created: Feb 18, 2011 at 9:36 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Feb 18, 2011 at 9:40 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTVA-CBS 11 News) Snowplow businesses are advertised everywhere this time of year in Anchorage and chances are you may be looking for someone to remove snow from your business or driveway, but not all businesses are legitimate, and could end up costing you more in the long run.
"I know everybody's trying to make a little bit of money, it's a little bit of a competition but I don't mind competition," AKA Plowing & Hauling Owner Anthony Green said.

But the competition can come at a price officials say when a business is not insured or licensed by the state.

"It can sometimes give consumers better protection if something happens, if there's damage while they're doing work," Better Business Bureau Public Relations Manager Tara Sims said.

Protections licensed businesses like AKA Plowing & Hauling are mandated to have.

"We're trying to be legit, compared to the guy that's just stuck a plow on his truck," Green said "He might bang your car, now you got more trouble because he's not going to pay."

BBB officials say the best way to filter through all those snowplow ads, is to get in person estimates and ask a lot of questions.

"Ask questions you know, how will you cover me if there is damage to my garage door, just ask those questions upfront and be honest with any business about what your expectations are," Sims said.

A service snowplow owners say in the end is about quality.

"If you don't know what you're doing, you get a very terrible job done." Green said.
Officials say other red flags to look out for, are to never pay up front for a service and get at least three in person estimates before you commit to anything.

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