So your air conditioner has broken down and you need to hire a technician to repair it. How do you know that the technician is being fair and is not scamming you? It can be difficult to determine on your own if you aren’t familiar with the HVAC industry. There are a few scams out there that are commonly used that you can pick up on if your technician says any of the following phrases:
- More Refrigerant: If your technician tells you that “all you need is more refrigerant”, you should be aware that if your unit needs more refrigerant, there is the possibility that your unit may have a leak. The reason your technician would just tell you that you only need more of it is so that you will keep calling him back for more and more refrigerant and keep charging you each time with each service call etc. In reality, if there is a leak that could be fixed the first time, it would avoid additional service calls and additional money out of your pocket.
- Free Tune-Up: Some companies will tell you that they offer free tune-ups, but this is something to be leery of as well. Once the technician starts tuning up the unit, they will find something mysteriously wrong. This is a scare tactic to pressure you into costly repairs.
- Full Payment Upfront: Technicians don’t usually ask for full payment upfront. There is a difference in asking for a small deposit versus a full payment. Most companies offer financing resources for larger projects.
- No Contract: A technician who doesn’t want to do a contract is a no-no. Contracts benefits and protect you when service is needed. A contract will give you all the information you need to ensure what is being done, when it will be done, how long it will take to complete, and what materials were used and charged.
- Constant Parts Needed: Sure a technician may find additional parts to replace, but if they are constantly finding more and more parts that need replacing, this should be a red flag. Ask questions about the parts: what, where, why?
Tips:
- Look out for the above scams when you have hired a technician.
- Ask questions when you first talk to the company.
- Check out their reviews and testimonials.
- Look for their BBB rating and complaints if any.
- Make sure they are licensed and insured.
- Stop any repairs if you think your technician may be scamming you.
It is best to know what to look out for and what tips to use for when hiring your technician. It will save you money and the hassle.
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