Have you had unexpected calls claiming to be your fire extinguisher service provider? Two customers received cold telephone calls from companies claiming to be their existing fire extinguisher service provider. If it’s happened to our clients, it’s likely to happen to many other businesses. The callers say something like:
“Hello, we’re your fire extinguisher company and we’re in the area tomorrow. We’ll visit to sort your fire extinguishers.”
It can sound plausible. A receptionist, administrator, or call handler may, quite reasonably, book the appointment. After all, fire safety and extinguisher servicing are important. Nobody wants to put it off.
Don’t Trust Just Anyone with Your Extinguishers
This is where the problems can begin. Businesses need to be particularly careful about unexpected calls. Maybe it’s just (a rather underhand) sales tactic. However, it could also be a scam.
There are fire safety companies that use cold sales calls to contact businesses. Although the caller may not explicitly say they’re your fire extinguisher supplier by name, they can be deliberately vague and create the impression that they are already responsible for servicing your equipment, so whoever answers the call may agree to an engineer coming to service the extinguishers. They may already have been serviced.
Reputable fire extinguisher firms, like us, maintain detailed records. We know the last service date, and when the next is due. There’s no reason for another company to turn up unexpectedly to do the same work. Yet if you refuse the visit when the cold caller’s engineer arrives, you may incur an unfair cancellation charge.
Rogue Fire Extinguisher Companies
We’ve heard complaints about various companies, even some familiar names. Please beware of unsolicited calls or the background noise of a call centre. Some may be legitimate fire extinguisher providers, but that cold-calling approach is disingenuous, intended to gain business through misunderstanding at best. Even if they don’t manage to talk their way into an appointment, they’ll often try to find out when your service is due, so they can try another time.
You’re welcome to choose any competent fire safety provider, but you absolutely shouldn’t be misled by a person suggesting they’re your existing provider. Such callers exploit the person taking the call – and potentially charge you for a service you don’t need. If they’re happy to get business that way, who knows if they’re competent? And THAT’S a real worry.
Know Your Fire Extinguisher Provider
Please ensure anyone answering the telephone knows what to do if an unexpected fire safety company calls. The answer is simple: “Contact our responsible person.” If you already have a fire extinguisher company maintaining your equipment to the required schedule, check your records:
- When were your extinguishers last serviced?
- Who carried out the work?
- When is the next service due?
- Who is your current provider?
If you don’t know, ask the person responsible for fire safety – these simple checks can prevent a great deal of hassle.
Our Handforth Customer’s Experience
One of our customers was victim to this approach. They received a call purporting to be from a fire extinguisher company and subsequently found themselves dealing with a tricky situation. Thankfully, after taking our advice, our customer challenged the situation, making it clear they’d go to court and involve Trading Standards. Unsurprisingly, the company went away.
We reassured our customers with a goodwill visit, checking all their fire equipment. We didn’t want them feeling they’d been caught out.
Our Knutsford Customer Knew What to Do
Our Knutsford customer received a call and remembered our advice. Knowing we look after their fire extinguisher servicing, they didn’t agree to anything but contacted us instead.
We confirmed where they stood and assured them their equipment was already looked after, so no need for concern and absolutely no need to pay again for something that we dealt with.
Cold Call? What To Do
If you received a cold call from a supposed fire extinguisher company, the best advice is simple:
- Don’t agree to anything. If someone claims to be your ‘fire extinguisher company,’ don’t assume they are.
- Ask the company’s full name, the caller’s name, and a contact number.
- Don’t confirm your existing arrangements. You don’t need to tell a cold caller who services your extinguishers, when they’re next due or what equipment you have. As above, they’ll use this information to call again.
- Speak to your responsible person. If you’re not responsible for fire safety, don’t agree to an appointment.
- Contact your existing provider directly – don’t use a telephone number supplied by the caller.
- Check your records and find out when your equipment was last serviced.
- Don’t panic if someone turns up – you don’t have to allow them to conduct work simply because someone on the telephone mistakenly agreed.
Simply stop and check with your existing provider.
A Message for your Admin or Reception Team
Give reception and administration staff this simple instruction:
“If anyone calls claiming to be our fire extinguisher company, don’t agree to a visit or service. Take their details and pass them to the person responsible for fire safety.”
That’s it. Five minutes of staff awareness could prevent an expensive misunderstanding.
If you’re a Francis Fire customer and unsure about a call you’ve received, contact us directly. We’re always happy to check.
Not a customer yet? Contact us – we’re happy to discuss your requirements.