Ok, so about a week and a half ago, my air conditioner stopped running. The circuit breaker tripped, and when I reset everything only warm air would blow. My house has a warranty on it, supposed to cover stuff like this. I call, I schedule an appointment, I get someone to look at it. The compressor is shot, completely blown and has to be replaced. Keep in mind, this is the FOURTH time I have to have it serviced since I bought the house in February. Ok, so back to the warranty company for approval. They approve the claim, but it turns out that I can't actually initiate the service, because for some reason the warranty is not in my name, but the name of the seller. So first I have to go through all the paperwork to prove that I own the house before I can get it started. Now, I get the claim going, they order the parts and I get in touch with the company they approved to do the work. He tells me that as soon as the parts arrive, we'll schedule the appointment and get it done. It is a four to five hour job, and requires that I take time off of work. I ask him repeatedly if he can give me a time estimate so I can let my office know, but he keeps saying until he gets the parts he won't know. Alright, so the parts are supposed to be in in 1 to 2 business days. It actually takes three before I get a call back. Mean time, it's been over a week and my house has been going up into the 90's inside. I work outside all day, so I can't even cool off at the office. I have all my windows open, my fans on and I am sleeping with ice packs in my bed to keep from getting heat stroke. I ask the guy how soon he can come and he says to me, "Oh, I'm actually going on vacation, I leave tomorrow. But I scheduled you for July 6th."
Wait, what?
When I start getting pissed at him, he gives me the line "I don't want to share my personal life with customers." Hold on, I'm not asking him where he is going or what he is going to do. But if there is a block of time you are not going to be available, shouldn't you be letting your customers know that, so that they can possibly seek out a different company before setting the job up with you? If I had known, I would have gone back and got the warranty company to give me someone who could do it right away. Instead, I'm stuck with no AC, and I have to go out and buy a window unit or risk my own health, money which I really can't afford to be spending right now.
And all this happens just as I was just starting to come out of a bad mood too...
Ouch. That's rough Angel. I'm with you, the tech should have been forthcoming about his time constraints. It's one thing if he has someone else to cover his work while on vacation, but he's lead you on unfairly.
ReplyDeleteIf you do go the temporary AC route, I would suggest getting a portable unit. You can move it around to keep the cool air on you easily. It can be in your bedroom at night, your computer room in the morning, and your living room in the evening.
Something like this: http://www.sears.com/soleus-air-8-000-btu-evaporative-portable-air-conditioner/p-04280086000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5
I got one for the addition we put on the house years ago and it keeps it nice and cool.
Thank you for the advice. I would definitely get one if it were not out of my price range. I ended up going to the nearby Home Depot (It's close enough I can walk, if I choose to) and picking up a very low end window unit. It isn't as strong, nor as easily portable, but for 1/3 the price it will do. Combined with a couple of fans I can at least keep my bedroom quite cool and my main room at least tolerable. It will do until I can finally get the real thing fixed.
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