I bought a home with a 30 year old AC unit just over a year ago (sellers were unwilling to negotiate a new unit before closing), so we purchased a home warranty knowing that it would probably go kaput soon, which it did. Last May, we had to replace the condenser fan motor, which the AC company said would require a recharge of the refrigerant. My warranty company doesn't cover that, so it was ~$300 out of pocket.
Exactly 1 year later, the AC breaks again, and we had renewed warranty, so I put in a service call on Friday, but there were no appointments until Saturday. The guy comes out Saturday in an unmarked vehicle seemingly not ready for a big job and only to diagnose. By the way, I live in Florida, and have pets that are home alone during the day -- being without AC is a big deal. The repairman fiddled around with it for a bit, mentioned how it didn't make sense that it was the same thing as last year, but that it seemed to be.
He specifically said to me it wouldn't be fair for us to pay for freon again as they did the work last year and they guarantee their work. He then tried to convince me to get the warranty company to pay me out 40% of a new unit and that they had financing options. He was trying to sell me a new unit. I told him I have a warranty to cover these things happening, and that if they want to keep paying for repairs on a 30 year old machine, that's their poor decision making, I don't have the expendable income for 60% if a new unit.
Then he told me he didn't have a the parts needed, and would order one for Monday. I told him i worked but would be home by 4 to give him access to the breakers. He left on the note that made it sound like he'd be back Monday. I called the appliance repair company Monday morning to confirm and got no answer. Disconnect after being on hold for 10 minutes. Repeat this process about 10 times, then it starts just going straight to voicemail. I left a message.
I then called my warranty asking what I should do, they said the appliance company has called THEM and that it was the compressor and the refrigerant would cost us 490 out of pocket at $80 a lb which the warranty company covers $10pp of.
After thinking about this, it doesn't add up. Why did the tech come out unprepared with parts? Why did he seem so specifically puzzled about it being the same thing as last year? Why did he tell me I shouldn't need to pay for refrigerant again but now I do, and why did it go from $300 to $500 in only one years time?
The repairman never showed up, the company never answered their phones despite 3 voicemails, and now their voicemail box is full, so it's apparent nobody is even listening to them.
What I know: we have a 1 year old compressor fan motor, new wiring, new capacitors and refrigerant. They now want to replace the condenser and refill the refrigerant. They are not staying in contact with the client and missed the appointment. I looked up the serial number, and the current compressor we have was manufactured in 2013. There are many new parts in this old machine. But it is outdated technology with expensive refrigerant. Any advice on what you'd tell your grandma to do in this situation? Take out a loan for a new unit? Suck it up and pay an enormous markup for refrigerant in trade for warranty co paying for new compressor?
Thanks!
[link] [comments]
No comments:
Post a Comment