Everyone wants to get what they pay for. Hiring a limousine service is no different.
Once you have the name, phone number and physical address of a limousine service the next thing to do is check the references of the company. As with other types of service providers, the limousine company may have a list of satisfied clients that they will be willing to provide for you. Do not hesitate to ask them if they can provide you with a copy of their list, if they have one.
Perhaps the best place to start is with the local Better Business Bureau. They will be able to tell you if there have been any complaints against the company and will also be able to let you know what type of complaints they have received. Ask the limousine service if they are a member of the Better Business Bureau.
If the complaint was filed very soon after the company opened, chances are that any issues they encountered have been resolved. If the company has been in business for a significant length of time and customers continue to encounter problems it is a wise idea to steer clear of their services and seek the servicces of another limousine company.
Another way of checking the credibility of a company is to inquire at the Local Livery Association. They can give you much of the same information as the Better Business Bureau, along with more specific details concerning the required maintenance of the fleet.
Larger and more reliable limousine companies are also willing to pay the fees to be a member of the National Limousine Association, which holds its members to a higher level of responsibility. Again, ask if they are a member of this association.
Perhaps the best or worse advertising any company can get is through word of mouth. This can often be your best source of information. Ask your family, friends, and associates about their satisfaction with the service that they received from the company. Another source of checking on a limousine service are wedding planners. They routinely deal with the local limousines.
Once the wedding planner has found a company that consistently meets the satisfaction of the customer the wedding planner will use the same service unless otherwise requested. Wedding photographers may also be able to provide some information for you.
Doing your research before hiring a limousine service will save you disappointment later. It can be costly, both in the terms of time lost from work and the hiring of an attorney, if you should have to take legal action against the limousine company.
