C & C Heating & Cooling, Inc.

(Today's date is 9-14-13) - More than a year ago, in mid-spring, one of the air conditioners in our former residence developed a hole in the evaporator coil. Another repair service identified the problem, but was extremely busy and not able to complete the job of changing the coils, changing the expansion valve (common practice in such needed repairs) and install a trap filter on the freon line (also common practice). --- Please note that in the 1980's, I worked with a heat & air service for at least two years and was trained in heat & air repair in a local trade school, which makes me knowledgeable concerning this event. --- I called C & C and explained the situation, giving him details of what was needed to complete this repair. I requested an estimate over the telephone. C & C owner [redacted] refused to offer a bid without as he put it (quote), "Dropping by to take a quick look". At no time did he indicate there would be any additional charge for "Dropping By". Two weeks went by as my wife and I suffered from the heat and had to sleep in a guest room, waiting for Mr. [redacted] to reply with an official bid. I called 2 or 3 times and finally made contact. Mr. [redacted] went into a spill about "how he didn't like the way the unit (installed only two years before by another H&A service and still under warranty for parts) was installed". I asked to what he referred. He rattled off an extensive list (8 or 9 things) that included rewiring, rerouting water lines (geothermal unit), reconstructing the floor, replacing the drain pan because he didn't like sheet metal pans and insisted upon installing a wet switch fail-safe switch in a new pan of his choice. Then he dropped the bomb that the cost for the entire job would be almost $2,000.00. The unit cost around $2,400 new. I informed him that I didn't want all the extras and would he please bid the job as I had requested. He refused. He stated he would insist upon doing all the things he had noted, or would not do the job at all. I thanked him for his time and informed him that he would not be doing the job. I contacted another local heat & air repair service who agreed to do what I had asked and the total bill was less than $600.00. The unit continues to run perfectly and we sold the house to a gentleman who is delighted with the unit's performance. Two to three months later, Mr. [redacted] sent us a bill for a "Service Call". At no time did I request a service call and at no time did Mr. [redacted] inform me that we would be billed a service fee for him to "Drop By". Please note that I informed the local Marshall County Chamber of Commerce Director of Mr. [redacted]'s actions and requested intervention at that time. It appeared that the Director was in fact a personal friend of [redacted]. I informed the supply company from whom I had purchased the geothermal unit originally and also ordered the replacement coil and expansion valve, hoping they would persuade Mr. [redacted] to not try to gouge me because he did not get the chance to pad this job. It appeared the supply company was much more concerned about pleasing one of their favorite regular customers ([redacted]) than helping to settling a dispute. I did not authorize C & C Heat & Air, Inc. to do any work on this unit. I did not agree to paying a service fee for Mr. [redacted] to "Drop by and take a look". At no time, did he tell me there would be any fee for him to present a bid for the job. --- I feel it is noteworthy for the Revdex.com to understand that in Marshall County KY, there are a few businesses who appear to think that if a person lives on, or near Kentucky Lake, or lives in a large home as we did at that time, those persons are fair game to be gouged with padded trumped up charges for services. In the 8 years we lived in Marshall County, we were scammed, or attempted to have been scammed in scenarios such as I have presented here, by local businesses who just fabricate a bill, or double up the charges and expect customers to pay these inflated bogus bills. --- Mr. [redacted] misrepresented himself, attempted to pad this job, sent me a bill that has no substance and continues to pursue harassment by involving an attorney who has threatened all kinds of harm if we do not pay for this bogus service bill. I will be glad to see Mr. [redacted] in court and have opportunity to present these details to the local judge, invite the press and let all my friends in Marshall County know just how low a person Mr. [redacted] is. However, I would prefer that Mr. [redacted] drop this ugly game of his and consider the facts as I have presented. If he continues to pursue this course of legal action, I will be forced to counter sue for harassment and damages to our reputation. --- I come from a business family with dozens of grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins who have been in multiple businesses in Western Kentucky for more than 100 years. Not one of my family that I know of has ever gouged a customer in this manner, including myself and my wife, after retiring last year from 17 years in the bed & breakfast business. In addition, I have 20 years in restaurant business and operated a side business of home improvement for 30 years. I never padded a bill, nor gouged my customers. Mr. [redacted] has no personal integrity and I will not pay this false bill. Thank you for intervening if you will and I hope for rapid conclusion to this farce.