Lisa Wagner made the point on her blog* that most independent carpet cleaners really don't care much for the IICRC. Stories of corruption, conflicts of interest and sweetheart contracts for a few insiders are threatening to derail this successful program that was the brainchild of Ed York. Jim Pemberton, whose father Lee helped organize the original IICUC, and Tony Wheelwright are leading an effort by a few dedicated people who are working to preserve the organization.
I've never been a fan of IICRC because of many of the things Lisa talks about, but primarily because I never wanted them to dictate the curriculum at Bane-Clene Institute. Not being a fan doesn't keep me from being concerned about the possibility of IICRC failing. If this should happen, some troubling events may occur that I think would be detrimental to the well-being of all independent carpet cleaning firms.
It's interesting to note that most franchises do not openly support IICRC. Equally interesting is the fact that more than 70% of CRI's CSPs (Certified Service Providers) are franchises. Some of the largest carpet mills coincidentally own cleaning franchises. Here's what I think is happening. CRI, which is owned by these mills, is waiting for IICRC to implode and has the machinery in place with the Seal of Approval program to take over certification in the cleaning industry.
Franchises control franchisees. It would be simple for CRI to control the cleaning industry if most "approved" cleaners were franchises. I heard a representative of a carpet mill express those very motives at a meeting in Dalton back in the early '90s. I didn't take him seriously then, but I sure do today!
I believe danger lies ahead if CRI and their member franchises take over the entire carpet cleaning industry. Independent cleaners need to wake up, organize, become active in an association or form a new one. But, don't sleep through this one or it will cost you dearly.
* http://realdirtoncri.wordpress.com/
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