I had bought a 26.00 part for my washing machine and was told by the parts dealer that it was easy to install.Just reach under the front panel disconnect 2 leads and 2 bolts -then drop the new part in. Unfortunately when I took the front plate off - the 2 nuts were in the back and could not be reached. Now I think it is a major job to lift the dishwasher out since I am an appliance klutz ! I notice the neighbor across the street has a Art Adams Repair truck in their driveway.I call over and see if he can walk over and tell me what I am not seeing about this simple job. He calls back and says I must call his office to get approval for him to come over. It really is not for approval -it is so they can tell me that - the service call is free if they do the repairs, but there is a $40.00 diagnosis fee, and they if they did not make repairs the service call would be $59.00. Since I already had the part -just not the knowledge of how to install - it was worth the 40 or 59 dollars since I did not know .It looked to me like it needed to be lifted out, hoses disconnected, etc. -so I said okay.
The rep literally drives across the street 100 yards comes in looks under the machine and I tell him the "easy to install story for 5 minutes " he tells me that sometimes these are difficult and he needs to go out to his truck. I look out the window and he is on the phone for 5 minutes or so and then comes back in to tell me that he can't do it today -he has another call to get to . He then whips out some flat rate service contracts and spends another 5 or 10 minutes telling me about his other job to get to and this flat rate contract details and they can do the job the next day for a flat rate of $190.00 . Now I am left thinking that this must be a major job and two guys must have to come out and lift this thing out, disconnect hoses, cut off electrical, etc., etc. So I agree -sign the contract and pay them the $190.00. since they have me at a disadvantage -I need it fixed.
Well -the next day the another rep arrives - tells me -no its simple -this has wheels in the back -just undo these two screws and it rolls out ! He was done in less time than the previous days rep took to explain to me why he couldn't do it and take my money. I felt absolutely cheated as all the guy had to do the previous day was tell me that it rolls out and I could have easily done it in less than 10 minutes.Instead I am charged a $190.00 for a simple job that required less than 10 minutes work - remember I had already bought the part necessary.Did I sign a contract? yes I did ! But I did not expect to pay an extremely high rate for something that I find out later is a extremely simple job. All that 1st rep had to say was -undo these two screws and it rolls out.Instead they just embarassed me by having me sign a contract for a high rate for what they knew was an easy job.
I sent a letter to the company complaining about this unethical behavior and I recieved a call from a very rude executive that kept screaming to me that -I signed a contract and they did nothing wrong and that if I complained on the internet about his company -he would sue me for slander. He did not care why one of his customers felt cheated - he just wanted to let me know that I signed a contract . In other words - buyer beware ! I am aware of this companys practices now and I intend to let my friends and neighbors know - beware of this company .