Diamond Certified News

Since the beginning of April, the 2019 Diamond Certified Directory has been arriving at the homes and businesses of consumers throughout the Greater Bay Area. We mailed more than 800,000 directories and we’ve been thrilled with the response! (If you didn’t get your FREE copy, click here.)

We wanted to take a moment to remind you of all the great features the Diamond Certified Directory contains.

Every company listed in each county-specific directory has earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award, which means they’ve been independently rated Highest in Quality and Helpful Expertise®. Our ratings team works year-round vetting local companies. They phone past customers, verify licenses, and ensure that things like certifications and insurance are up-to-date. Read more

Have you received your free copy of the 2019 Winter Diamond Certified Directory Update in the mail? It provides instant access to hundreds of local, top rated Diamond Certified companies across a wide range of service industries, from auto repair and plumbing to optometry and dentistry.

Every Diamond Certified company must continue to deliver on its promises to you, the consumer. That’s why we conduct ongoing customer satisfaction research, perform credential-based ratings, monitor each company’s performance, and back you up with mediation and the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. Read more

(L to R): Maria Onrubia, Mari K. Patrick, Suzanne Carroll (as Santa), James Florence, Char Leary, and everyone else at American Ratings Corporation wishes you and yours the happiest of holidays! See you next year!

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Have you received your free copy of the 2018 Fall Diamond Certified Directory Update in the mail? It provides instant access to hundreds of local, top rated Diamond Certified companies across a wide range of service industries, from auto repair and landscaping to optometry and dentistry.

Every Diamond Certified company must continue to deliver on its promises to you, the consumer. That’s why we conduct ongoing customer satisfaction research, perform credential-based ratings, monitor each company’s performance, and back you up with mediation and the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. Read more

Today we’re republishing one of our most popular (and useful) posts from Joy Lanzaro, Director of Mediation & Compliance.

Here are eight steps you can take to hire a reputable remodeling contractor:

1.  Obtain multiple bids (if possible). Getting multiple bids is a great way to ensure you’re making an informed choice. If you sign a contract, you have exactly three days to rescind in writing. Upon rescission, the contractor must return your deposit. If your area has been declared a disaster area, the three-day Right of Rescission extends to seven days.
2. Check license information. By law, anyone who undertakes to improve your home or property must have a contractor’s license if the cost from start to completion will exceed $500.

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Have you received your free copy of the 2018 Summer Diamond Certified Directory Update in the mail? It provides instant access to hundreds of local, top rated Diamond Certified companies across a wide range of service industries, from auto repair and landscaping to optometry and dentistry.

Every Diamond Certified company must continue to deliver on its promises to you, the consumer. That’s why we conduct ongoing customer satisfaction research, perform credential-based ratings, monitor each company’s performance, and back you up with mediation and the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. Read more

Since the beginning of April, when the 2018 Diamond Certified Directory started landing in Bay Area mailboxes, our receptionist, Ian Leary, has been rather busy. “Call volume has been 700 to 800 percent higher than normal,” he says, in between answering the phone. “The most common question I get is, ‘Where’s my directory?’ Callers say, ‘I get it every year and I really need a new one’ or ‘I depend on my Diamond Certified Directory.’”

The fact that many callers haven’t received directories is no surprise. The 800,000 directories we send to Bay Area homes and businesses only cover about 30 percent of Bay Area households. Read more