The Verified Chimney Sweep program is designed to help homeowners find a reputable chimney sweep company. This program will likely begin in the spring of 2010. The best way to find a good chimney sweep company is to ask them lots of questions. Our verification process is an extensive procedure. This process is performed on the chimney sweep company and researches the owner or largest shareholder of the chimney sweep company. The verified chimney sweep program is a company verification. The steps of our verification process is listed below. The verification is a snapshot in time. Chimney Sweep University urges all homeowners to perform through research before doing business with any service business. The verification program is an aid for home owners to help find the right chimney sweep.

1) The Verified Chimney Sweep company has been licensed for 3 years or more. This requirement may seem unfair but the truth in the matter is that many times bad companies simply change their name to erase a bad reputation.

2) The Verified Chimney Sweep company has a great record with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB grade for the company must be an A-, A, or A+. This requirement may seem a little unfair but this is the standard for our program. We feel companies who can maintain excellent BBB marks tend to offer better service to their customers. 

3) The Verified Chimney Sweep company has liability insurance for a minimum of $500,000.

4) The Verified Chimney Sweep company has worker compensation insurance. Many companies state they are license and insured. Many homeowners are not educated enough to ask if the company has workers compensation insurance. Statistically speaking, most chimney sweeps companies do not carry workers compensation insurance. This insurance covers a claim if a worker is hurt on the property of the home owner. If the company does not carry workers compensation insurance, the home owner is the one who is sued by the injured worker.

5) The Verified Chimney Sweep company owner or majority stock holder is drug free. The owner of the verified company agrees to drug screening by independent drug screening labs. This is a one time screening and should not be considered a verification as 100% drug free.

6) The Verified Chimney Sweep company owner or majority stock holder is felony free. The owner or majority share holder has agreed to a criminal background check and returns a record free of any felonies or construction fraud offenses.

7) The Verified Chimney Sweep company has passed a chimney competence exam administered by Chimney Sweep University. Other approved certification such as FIRE is a sufficient level of competence for this step. 

8) The Verified Chimney Sweep company owner or majority shareholder is not a sex offender.

9) The Verified Chimney Sweep company agrees to arbitration. This is likely the most important requirement of all our verification process. This arbritration requirement is a binding contract between the verified company and ChimneySweeps.org This step is fairly clear. If a homeowner does business with a "Verified Chimney Sweep" company and a disagreement arises. The issue is discussed on a three way telephone call. Both sides tell their story. ChimneySweeps.org decides what the proper and fair resolution is to problem. This resolution is binding. Pre-arranged legal contracts are arranged beforehand to verify the Verified Chimney Sweep company agrees to this arbritration. Complete details of this contract will be provided in the weeks to come.