CPUC

CONSUMER ADVISORY

California Public Utilities Commission 505 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102

Contact: Armando Rendón 415-703-1366

PLANNING FOR PROM NIGHT?

MAKE SURE THAT LIMO IS NOT A LEMON!

Prom night presents enough worries, moms and dads, without making the evening a total disaster by not checking out the limousine service you hire to take your teenagers to the Ball.

Whom can you trust to check out a limo service? The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), of course! The CPUC can help you by checking to make sure that the limo service is safe and reliable and has a permit to operate.

The horror stories that teenagers and parents can recount about forgettable experiences with limo services could fill a book: a limo driven by an unlicensed driver; a limo service insisting on advance payment, then not showing up; teenagers marooned when a driver hiked up the price before he'd get them home; limos risking busy city streets with faulty brakes and other equipment problems; teens being chauffeured in a stolen limo! The tales go on and on.

The CPUC urges parents, teenagers and school administrators to be absolutely sure that, before signing a contract, a limo service is clear of any violations with the CPUC. Here's what you should do:

· Shop around in the Yellow Pages-by law, limo services cannot advertise without an official permit from the CPUC.

· Get recommendations from other parents who have hired limos in the past; maybe a list of reliable firms is available at school.

· Check the limo operator/owner for three things: a valid CPUC-approved permit, a TCP- number issued by the CPUC, and up-to-date insurance.

· Call 1-800-877-8867 to have the CPUC check the company's status. Ask the CPUC to verify that the limo service is current as to insurance coverage, safety requirements and licensed drivers.

· Get everything in writing: limo drivers have been known to bait and switch-quote one price on the phone and raise it before you can board. If you have a contract, CPUC staff will have a better chance of getting your deposit back.

If you have a complaint, call the CPUC at 1-800-894-9444 for help. r