Air Conditioner Rip Off - Big Big Forums

buglebe · 09-09-2008, 04:04 PM

Our air cond has broken down 3 times this summer. The second time was 2 weeks ago and again last night. It was 87 in our house last night at midnight. That is hot. Our windows don't open.
The guy came out today. He said it was the transformer again like it was 2 weeks ago. It is still under warrantee and he replaced it. Then he said for $117. he would replace the wire outside that is getting wet everytime it rains and that is causing the transformer to go out. I said to him "So I have a choice of paying $117 for you to replace the wire, or I can call you every time it rains and you will have to come out and replace the transformer." He said yes , that is right. Does this make any sense to you?
So I called the office and tell them my 2 choices. The office girl gets pretty mad at me and says she is sure there is a limit on how many times they will replace the transformer. I didn't bother to get out the paper work but I"ll bet there is nothing in there saying they will only replace the transformer 3 times or 7 times. So I tell her to let me speak to someone else. I am still waiting for the boss to call me!!! I imagine that will happen when heck freezes over.
But the tech guy out here fixed the wire because I went out and looked at it and it was something my dh wouldn't be able to reach (bad back) and I couldn't either. Then he brings the wire inside and says "See this wire that I removed and replaced, you can see where they scraped the covering off because they were going to set it up differently but changed their mind and the vibrations of the condenser caused it to finish wearing out and short out" Yes the wire was bare. You could see where it had been stripped with a knife or something. I said considering this I don't understand why we have to pay for this replacement. He said the office girl had called him and told him we hadn't had the equipment serviced since "06 and that invalidates the warrantee. We have a service agreement with them so the services are already paid for and yes we have had them out here 2 times a yr. He said if I can find the paper work then they will pay if we have more problems on something under warrantee and that if I can't the warrantee is invalidated.
I don't always keep up with that stuff. I have not looked in the filing cabinet to see if I can find it but are all companies dishonest like this?
Things like this make me wonder what is happening to good ole American honesty? Yep we paid the money. I'm not going to fight with them because next time it breaks down we will wait 6 days for them to get to us. And then they will say no warrantee. To top all that off if there is no warrantee why did they replace the transformer today?
This was the same guy that was out 2 weeks ago. I said why didn't you fix this 2 weeks ago when you were here and he didn't see the problem then. I just feel very outdone. They have us over a barrel in so many cases. Ok just got my gripe out.

Hetty · 09-09-2008, 04:32 PM

What company? I have never heard such things we have a few thing that we have under such agreements and we have never had this problems.I would find out how high up in the company you could take this...I will even do it for you I am excellent at B****in until I get the answers I want...lol I got three free months of phone service because I paid a bill and apparently the service people couldn't read and disconnected me I called and got want I wanted and then some.

SLance68 · 09-09-2008, 05:42 PM

Ok first of all I work for a A/C contractor (part time) I use to work for him full time. THERE IS NO requirement to have the unit serviced for the warranty to be covered from the manufacturer. I am guessing they roped you into a service agreement - big mistake - the only one that comes out ahead in that is the company. If you change your filter EVERY month you should not need to have anything other than have the coils cleaned every year or 2. If they installed the unit and the insulation came off the wire due to how they installed it then that is a WARRANTY issue.

buglebe · 09-09-2008, 11:32 PM

Thanks, the little tech gave me the wire and I have it. Maybe I will do something about it.
I looked at the warrantee and it doesn't say anything about having it serviced to protect the warrantee. Thank you.

Army-Mom · 09-10-2008, 05:32 AM

sending hugs. that is a shame they are doing that to you..

Freebeemom · 09-10-2008, 08:43 AM

Personally, if you are living in a house where the windows don't open, you need to get that fixed. That is such a fire hazard, especially with faulty wiring around.
I would definately ***** about this one. Something just doesn't sound right!

madscientist · 09-11-2008, 12:07 AM

I used to work as an A/C tech and I can tell you we were given 8 jobs to do in 8 hours. We never had time to do anything right the first time. These A/C places only care about money. And I still don't know what your crew is talking about, unless they mean the relay. You may have been lied to.

SLance68 · 09-11-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madscientist

I used to work as an A/C tech and I can tell you we were given 8 jobs to do in 8 hours. We never had time to do anything right the first time. These A/C places only care about money. And I still don't know what your crew is talking about, unless they mean the relay. You may have been lied to.

There are transformers in A/C units and they do go out. The company you worked for obviously didn't give a damn about repeat business. The Co. I work for has the guys there unit the job is COMPLETED CORRECTLY.

whatever · 09-11-2008, 11:40 AM

the company they hired would probably LOVE your repeat business. Cause they are billing the air conditioner company. But as for under warranty coverage I have no clue. I'm guessing there probably is a claus as these big companies usually have them....

madscientist · 09-24-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatever

the company they hired would probably LOVE your repeat business. Cause they are billing the air conditioner company. But as for under warranty coverage I have no clue. I'm guessing there probably is a claus as these big companies usually have them....

I would stick my hand in there, while holding some food. That's my favorite animal.

madscientist · 09-25-2008, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLance68

There are transformers in A/C units and they do go out. The company you worked for obviously didn't give a damn about repeat business. The Co. I work for has the guys there unit the job is COMPLETED CORRECTLY.

What are these transformers used for? The thermostat? FYI, the place I worked for died a horrible death. No wonder, since they ripped-off the employees too.