Culligan Water Conditioning

Business does not disclose service fee for in-home evaluation at call to set appointment. No service fee disclosure upon entering the property.

I called up Culligan Water Systems in Sylmar on 2/4/2020 as we had purchased a house and noticed a Culligan Water System in the garage. I set an appointment with the representative for 2/10/2020. I requested a free evaluation of my system, I couldn't tell if it was operational or what maintenance issues would be required. On 2/10/2020 a technician comes to my residence I greet him and ask him basic questions on what the benefits are etc... I direct him in the garage he returns 20 mins and says we need a complete new unit. I said your kidding. The tech writes up a recommendation and asks for payment of $152. I said for what? He said there was a service charge of $152. I told him I was never told of any fee not did you mention it when I was asking questions. He said don't worry about it they will deduct it if you purchase a new water system. The tech was really pressing me to buy one they have financing if you can't afford it. I told him I was not paying the fee as there was no prior disclosure. He said don't worry about it and I felt very uncomfortable being lied to in my own home. He left and upon getting a bill in the mail 30 days later for $152 I called up and complained. I spoke with *** and she said she couldn't remove it from the bill but don't worry about it. I wrote an email to Culligan and asserted my dissastisfaction through there was no response. On May 6th I received another invoice and there were additional charges for paper statement delivery fee $2 and collection expense fee $5 added in addition to the $152. They keep adding $7/month. The current bill is now $178, which is 17% more than the service charge because of these ridiculous additional charges. My husband called up and spoke with *** the office manager and she kept telling me that we told you there was a $152 fee, we told you! This absolutely NOT TRUE because if I had known the would be a fee I NEVER would have authorized them to come to my home!!!!! The technician was being pretty forceful about saying just buy a new unit and we can give you $152 of! NO WAY!!!! This business is engaged is non-disclosure of fees, fraud, misrepresentation, unethical practices. ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THEY WERE UPFRONT AND DISCLOSED THE SERVICE FEES!