Review from Ben S.
Published:over 10 years ago
I was pleased with the estimate. He told me the job would cost $145 to replace the spring and that the technician would check both doors to make sure they were both operational. I asked if this would cost more since that door was working, and he said they would just check it at no charge. We set up a service date for any time the next business day. On the date, the technician arrived mid-morning and I met him in the garage. I showed him the door that had the broken spring, and he got to work. I stayed in the front room with the screen separating us while I watched my 1 year-old. Several times during the first hour he evidently knocked on the door, but by the time I got to that back door he had walked away so I thought it was just hammering. After about one hour he knocked on the back door then rang the front doorbell. I found him in the driveway and he told me that the ball-bearings were bad. I said okay, not really sure if this was just informational or if he was telling me that this would be an extra charge. He didn't say anything about it, so I assumed this was a part of repairing the garage door that I had been given the estimate for. After about another 1/2 hour, he knocked again and told me that the rollers were all bad on both doors. This time I asked how much it would cost and he said he didn't know - that he didn't do prices. I insisted so he called the office and was informed that it would cost $3.95 per roller. I told him that I only wanted to do one door because I couldn't afford to go much more over the $145 estimate. He then told me that the job would be difficult because screws were loose and/or rusting. I thought that this was just to inform me that it would take more time. He finished about an hour later. During this time my wife got home and she was thrown off by his manners - knocking on the door and then immediately walking away. The next Friday I got the bill in the mail for almost twice the price ($288). I called the following Monday to ask for an explanation and was forwarded to the billing specialist. She broke down the charges: $145 for the spring repair, $2.95 for 8 rollers, $5.95 for two other rollers, $60 for labor, and another $40 or so for work done on the other door and screws. I pointed out that he never informed me of any of these charges except the $2.95 for 8 of the ten rollers, and that I never wanted anything done to the other door, and that I thought that when I asked for the charge for the rollers I should be informed about the labor charge - that I assumed that the labor was a part of the original estimate and that I would be paying just $40 extra not $143 extra. She told me that most people assume labor to which I asserted that I would have no way of knowing that they charged $60/hr for labor, how long the job would take or that this was how they did business. I also expressed my frustration that they had technicians that did work without informing me about prices - and that didn't even know what the prices were. I was told at this point that she would have the original salesperson call me later to explain the charges. The next day, I received a call from the same person. I asked about the salesperson and was told that he was on vacation. She said that she, the technician, and the owner had reviewed the job and had decided to give me $30 off the price and they would send me a new invoice. I expressed my frustration about still paying significantly more than I had planned for or had been informed about. I let her know that we live on a budget and had only planned on a certain amount for the job, that we didn't have that much extra to pay for the job. At this point she told me that she others to help and that she would have to hang up on me. I received the new invoice for $258 with a note that I could pay this fee in two equal payments and instead of only 10 days, I could have 4 weeks. I felt like I was blown off and cheated. I was given a price estimate, and I understand that things come up, but when asked how much things cost was told that he didn't know the prices. I was told that I should assume certain additional charges even if I already had someone come out to give me an estimate. I felt like they basically sold me a job, did extra non-approved work, and then charged for it. Then while expressing my concerns in a very respectful way, was hung up on.
Services Rendered: The provider came to the house to give me an estimate and tell me what I needed done. They came back over after the holiday and replaced the broken spring, 10 rollers, tightened some screws, and lubricated both doors.