Airconditioning Service-Ripoff

A local airconditioning service company cameover to repair a heater problem and charged me for the replacement part and the labor.
After the issue has been fixed, I found that they charged me four times what it would cost outside. When I called the company, I was told that I accepted their quote and I have to live with it. I had no idea about the details of the part that they are going to replace (except for the description). The guy was rude to me and started laughing when I told him that I will report this incident to BBB or other appropriate authorities.
The company name is Algonkian Heating and A/C based out of Sterling. I strongly recommend that you be careful when you deal with them.

Did anybody have similar experience? As a consumer, should we live with whatever money they charge for parts? Any recommendations how to approach this. Please help.

 

Wow thats too bad, Algonkian put a humidifier in for us awhile back. Did a great job, price was fine.

 

hornerjo and others--

You should talk to the repair person('s) supervisors or the owners of the air and heating company. Formally file a complaint with BBB (Better Business Bureau), check to see if they are properly licensed through Loudoun County, and also check with Loudoun County to see if they have a Consumer Affairs Department to file a complaint against the company.

When dealing with any type of contractor(s), you should always try to obtain three or four excellent references and check with BBB to see if they have any complaints filed on the company that you are considering for any major jobs. Also, we use Bowman Heating and Air Services and they are great! Web site for Bowman's Heating--

www.bowmanheating.com (Bowman's web site and coupons, info.)

Good luck--

Also look at contract before signing off the work to be done.

Foodie

 

I highly recommend HARTS heating and cooling. If you search old posts you will probably find more.

 

Our AC went out on July 4th this past summer... the internet saved me a ton of $$ -- it was a blown start/run capacitor (researched symptoms on HVAC/diy forums). Local places wanted ~$200+ for part/install.. I got it online for $30 shipped and installed it in 10 mins. Luckily I haven't had to call any HVAC people in in the 4.5 years we've been in the house.

 

Just out of curiosity - who do u use?

 

at $300/yr 4.5 years of no maintenance still sounds like a better deal to me!

if you don't have a service plan you might also have to wait a couple days for repairs... if you have two zones in your house that isn't such a big deal.

(just my 2cents)

 

We use Bowman Heating and Air Services in Sterling, VA. Their phone number is:

(703) 471-0451

You can also obtain other Homeowner Businesses on a local search browser at:

backfence.com (Backfence lists local reviews and various types of businesses of all kinds--i.e. heating and air contractors, restaurants, etc.).

Bowman Heating & Air Services also does duct cleaning which you should do about every 4 to 5 years. We have all wood floors so our home is not quite as dusty as if you have carpeting. Their service call for a yearly "check-up" is $100-$150. To add refrigerant if needed and servicing yearly costs are about $250. Check with Bowman for current prices. They also do a permanent filter so you do not have to buy disposal filters. A humidifer is also recommended which we have on our system when we built our home.

Good Luck--

Foodie

 

If you ever feel that you have been cheated as a consumer, please use the following link to file a formal complaint with Virginia Government. If any consumer rights are violated, they are supposed to take action.
I will also file a complaint against them in BBB.

To me, marking up the price (4 times) is totally unfair especially when they are charging labor separately.

http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/forms-pdf/cp/oca/complaint/oca1complaint.pdf