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October 14, 2007
Was I taken to the cleaners?
I called Blizzard Mechanical 718 241 4846 to come over and see why my new boiler wasn't heating the house. But I don't think I got a fair deal-- what do you think?
They said it would be $125 for making the call, and they came by the same day (this was not an "emergency" visit).
After looking at the boiler for about 20 minutes and unscrewing and one pipe which was installed the wrong way, I was told what the problem seemed to be.
They needed to weld a few small cracks in a pipe. This would cost $475. And if I didn't want to do it, I would owe 275 for what had already been done (unscrewing the pipe).
I was a bit shocked-- thinking that the 125 would get me an answer and an estimate. But the guy was pretty huge, even though generally pleasant, and I didn't feel like arguing!
Anyhow, thinking that if I was already in for almost 300, I might as well get the job done, I agreed. They welded a few cracks and I ended up paying over 500 with tax, and it still doesn't work.
They were here (there were two guys) for less than two hours and they didn't supply any parts aside from what they used to patch the cracks.
I'm don't think that this can be a fair price-- at least I can't think the hourly rate that would justify it. Although they seem like decent guys, I feel like I was not given a fair deal.
Any reactions? Can you really drop 500 for very little work/time/outcome! Obviously I will be much more cautious in the future!
Comments
Do the math.
$500 for two guys for two hours is only $125/hr. Probably means they get paid $40/hr or less.
What's wrong with that? I don't think you were duped.
Posted by: guest at October 14, 2007 2:33 PM
If they give you a quote that you feel is too high, you simpy say " no thanks, I think I will shop around " However if you say okay, and you pay them and it still doesn't work! That's wrong and you should call the company back to get it fixed right or get our money back. I hope you didn't pay them cash.
Posted by: Rick at October 14, 2007 2:44 PM
Call Boro Fuel Oil Company...located on Church Ave. in Kensington...good company...woman who answers the phone is a little rude but overall they are fair, I am a 2nd generation customer, my mom used them from 60's on and now I do as well.
Posted by: guest at October 14, 2007 3:19 PM
I suggest getting a service contract with a reputable company. I am paying $125 a year and the company will do an annual checkup before the heating season, then only charge for parts for any repairs. They also have a 24 hour emergency service. It's like an insurance policy.
Posted by: guest at October 14, 2007 10:03 PM
In my opinion did you did screwed for one reason -- they did NOT give you an estimate before starting the work. Instead, they told you you already owed $275, instead of the $125 for making the call. This tells me they were just out to scam you and force you to pay the additional $200 since you were already out nearly $300. Any professional company would not have done that, but just told you the cost of repair, and you would pay $125 for the visit and decide whether to pay the rest.
Clearly Blizzard Mechanical is not a reliable company and I'm glad you posted. Where did you get the recommendation? If I were you, I'd report them to the Better Business Bureau.
Posted by: guest at October 15, 2007 11:05 AM
Op here:
Thanks for the comments and reactions everyone! I think I've felt a combination of all the reactions--
11:05, though, articulates best for me why I felt like it was not fair.
I thought--and think there should be!-- a bright line between the initial 125 and everything else. But before I knew it I was told in a very authoritative manner that I owed more. Having the conversation in a small dark room in the basement didn't help my ability to think clearly--this whole transaction feels like a economics/psychology experiment about celar decision making. I then talked myself even deeper into the hole. Had I been offered 125 or 500, I'm pretty sure I would have declined the extra work (in hindsight, of course, the decision is even easier since the heating is still noladmvlt working! The fellow, I should add, did discover another piece that needed to be replaced, for 500, parts only, which I declined).
I found them by a simple web search-- so didn't do due diligence. Although I did do a quick search on this site and didn't find anyone. I think that my two hours estimate is very generous-- it was over an hour but maybe not more. But I wasn't watching the clock, so I wanted to err towards a longer estimate.
I'm not sure if I want to come accross as completely negative on this company-- they seemed competent. I just think they --or their dispatcher--could communicate much better in advance how they planned to charge, since it blindisded me!
Cheers! Lets hope the warm weather holds up for a at least a few more days!
Posted by: guest at October 15, 2007 12:55 PM
"What's wrong with that? I don't think you were duped."
what's wrong is they didn't fix what was paid for.
if the problem was fixed, the OP would have swallowed the somewhat expensive pill and would probably not have bothered making this post.
Posted by: guest at October 15, 2007 1:24 PM
10.03 - who do you use ? We need to find such a reliable company and pronto. Thanks crownheights2007@hotmail.co.uk
Posted by: guest at October 15, 2007 2:56 PM
They are appropriately named. Blizzard mechanical .What a snow job they pulled on you. Five and change and still isn't working? Call the office and complain and then let them know you are going to contact Help me Howard or Shame on you.If that doesnt work...how quickly can you say see you in the Peoples Court? What ripoffs! After the fact but didn't you call several people for different estimates?
Posted by: guest at October 15, 2007 3:19 PM
11:05 here again and I believe the company was clearly not competent -- competent companies do NOT lie to you and tell you you already owe $275 instead of the original $125 you were told for the visit. Once a company does that, you can pretty much bet money that their work is going to be shoddy, because the only way they can get business is to dupe or intimidate a person into spending so much money that they just go ahead and spend a bit more for the complete fix. You SHOULD be completely negative because this is not a question of the dispatcher making a "mistake". Those so-called nice guys lied to you.
I don't blame you for paying the $275 because of course you felt intimidated and didn't want to get into an argument. That's what these kind of scam artists count on. I would have done the same thing.
However, I suggest again you file a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau, the city licensing, and whatever other organization you can find. That way, the next customer who does contact them will know not to trust them since they have such a bad record. And who knows, maybe the BBB will even negotiate a reply to your complaint. Good luck.
Posted by: guest at October 15, 2007 3:42 PM
Op here.
Maybe your reactions have given me inspiration and clarity! I've decided that Yes, I quite likely WAS taken to cleaners. I was trying to make myself feel okay about the transaction, along the lines of 2:33 "do the math", since this would let me let go of the whole thing. But now feel some clarity in the other direction.
So: I just sent a polite email/letter to the addressBlizzard lists on the better business bureau web page asking for a refund of the 325 I paid on my card. (Letting them keep the 200 I paid cash). I think this is more or less fair.
I still think/hope it all may have been a misunderstanding and that they are decent guys.
Will let you know what happens next!
Posted by: guest at October 15, 2007 4:08 PM
OP here
That was a disaster! I just got off the phone with Blizzard Mechanical to discuss my request for a refund and I think my physical saftey was threatened. A person I believe was Mr Cantor said in a loud screaming voice, "you don't know me, I will take care of you," when I said I would contest the charge made to my credit card.
He genuinely couldn't see that his company had done anything wrong. I was "raking him over the coals." And in an email from the company sent after the phone call they write in caps: "YOUR A SICK, PATHETIC, HUMAN BEING, A PIG TO SAY THE LEAST. IN CONCLUSION WE OFFERED YOU A FREE SERVICE CALL TO SOMEHOW SATISFY AN ANIMAL LIKE YOURSELF AND THAT WAS NO GOOD. PLEASE FORWARD YOUR ELECTRIC BILL, YOUR GAS BILL AND YOUR PHYSCHIATRISTS BILL TO OUR OFFICE SOMEHOW I FEEL YOU WOULD WANT US TO PAY THOSE AS WELL." My whole point-- which some of you made clear to me-- that I shouldn't have to pay more than the initial fee without being asked just didn't get through since I had later consented to yet more work.
I guess we are not going to see eye to eye on this one. I will definitey be sending my therapists bill! This is going to cost a few hundred for sure.
I'm going to make this post and drop the whole thing.
Well, Cheers folks. Good luck with the heaters.
Posted by: guest at October 16, 2007 9:23 PM
I have used Blizzard Mechanical in my homes and business for over 15 years.The only thing I can say about them is that they now what they are doing. While at the beggining they always quoted me a price before they did the work which was asked of them I haven't asked them for a quote in a long time.I simply tell them the problem I'm having, they come and fix it and send me a bill. From time to time I checked their prices and they weren't always cheaper but the work outlasts the price.If your looking for quality work Blizzard Mechanical is the company to call.
Posted by: guest at October 20, 2007 12:58 AM
i dont understand what this person is talking about, did he get taken to the cleaners.............. does anyone understand the story i cant make heads or tails about it after re reading it...let me know what you think
Posted by: guest at October 20, 2007 1:36 AM
I JUST HAD BLIZZARD MECHANICAL COMPLETE A LARGE OIL TO GAS BOILER CONVERSION.MY OLD SYSTEM WAS A MESS AND MY BOILER ROOM HAS BEEN TOTALY TRANSFORMED. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN WORKING PERFECTLY. I HAD TAKEN THEIR NUMBER OFF OF A TRUCK. I SEE THEIR TRUCKS ALL THE TIME IN PARK SLOPE.I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THEM BEFORE. I DECIDED TO GOOGLE THEM AFTER AND DO SOME RESEARCH.I FOUND THIS COMPLAINT ON THE BROWNSTONER. DONT KNOW WHAT THIS CLEANERS COMPLAINT IS ALL ABOUT. IF YOU SEE THE WORK BLIZZARD PERFORMED YOU WOULD BE CALLING THEM TOO. DONT BELIEVE ALL YOU READ, GLAD I DIDNT READ THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE, I MGHT HAVE MISSED OUT ON QUALITY WORK. HOW HARD IS THAT TO FIND THEESE DAYS.
Posted by: guest at October 26, 2007 12:31 AM
The previous comments (2 made on Oct 20th - and the 3rd on Oct 26) look like Blizzard trying to scam the readers of this thread. Especially the one typed in ALL CAPS like the email the OP received; I just GOOGLED Blizzard and found another planted comment placed on Oct 20th in ALL CAPS - obviously the same poster. What a scammer you are Blizzard...
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 6:55 AM
seems to me this peson if fixated on blizzard , he not only posts items but he googles them as well. get a job or a life, either way you have to much time on your hands. i see that CAPITALS BOTHERS YOU SO I WILL FININSH THE REST THE SAME WAY. IN SCHOOL WERE YOU ATTACKED BY CAPITAL LETTERS, DID CAPITAL LETTERS DO ANYTHING TO YOU WHICH WAS INAPPROPRIATE, DID YOU TELL YOUR PARENTS. MCDONALD'S IS HIRING BUT NO GOOGLEING WHILE YOUR WORKING
Posted by: guest at December 9, 2007 9:27 PM
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