Curtis Total Service, Inc.

DO NOT USE, EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. See my comments.
I signed up for the service contract - 2 visits (1 for AC, 1 for heating system). We have 2 units so had to get 2 contracts. The 2 guys were knowledgeable and touched up a few things. Then came the shocker. They had to replace the capacitor on the outside unit. Their quote after the service contract 10% discount - $ 447. I should have stopped them right there, but would not know if there were other problems or if the system would work. They suggested changing the 40amp wiring contactor also. I said go ahead to avoid any future problems - $310 for that. I then went online and looked at prices for the capacitor and the contactor. Both were online for a total of $120. That was a shocker. I could see charging double and doing the repair for a total of $ 300. Even that would be too high. But charging $726 - that is totally unreasonable. Any honest company would do it for $300 total.
I should have told them to hold off so I could get quotes from other companies, but then they would not be able to see if that would fix the problem or if the rest of the system would work. They did do some other touch ups, answered my questions, and gave a slight discount. But $ 726 for 2 basic replacements, on top of the $550 service contract. That totals almost $1,300. And they will return to look at the heating system in a few months.
It was quality work, but almost triple what other companies would charge. Another company charged $180 to replace the motor on the outside unit, and Curtis charged me $726 for replacing a capacitor and contactor ? I am very unhappy and left a message on their Account voicemail. I now see the other reviews of their extremely high charges, which seem to be the norm for them. My neighbor recommended them, but I should have done my homework. Get quotes from different companies and don't be talked into spending a ridiculous amount of money for a basic repair. I cannot recommend Curtis.
Update: Just received a call back from Curtis. He was rude, demeaning, and kept giving a long-winded speech. I had to keep interrupting in order to say anything. And then he said I was being rude. Summing up his long winded speech - "You were given an estimate before the work was done" as law states. I should have declined the repair, which I could have easily done myself. But if they are there to check out the AC system and one of the parts of the system is not working and they are overcharging me for hundreds of dollars, do I just tell them no and ask them to leave ? How can the rest of the system be tested to find the problems. He bad-mouthed other companies saying they hire ex-cons, mns, and don’t know what they are doing. Not a respectful representative of a company.
I would not have this guy working the register at McDonalds or do anything that would have him interact with people. He did not want to listen. He kept trying to justify the cost of replacing 2 minor items that took about 15 minutes to replace. He was trying to explain of how costs are estimated, including licenses, trucks, equipment, and on and on. I responded that I and my family had a business. I respect business. But that does not justify ripping people off and unreasonably overcharging.
I responded that you would not expect to be charged $600 for a $100 hard drive or pay $2,000 for new tires. No response to that. I was losing my cool because I signed the paper, I paid, it was done. Nothing was going to change that and being spoken down to by a non-stop speech and no concern for the customer was not going to change anything. I said good-bye since it was apparent nothing would happen by both of us going back and forth. This guy went against every rule you hear about how to deal with people and customers. I will not be doing any business with Curtis in the future and will tell Everyone I know and in the immediate area about them. I want to warn others especially elderly people so they do not get ripped off.

Review: On 6/19/2014 I contact this company about seeing what was wrong with a cenral air condtioning unit at my home. At that time the company told me there would be $77.00 charge to come out and see what was wrong with the unit. The reapairman arrived about 5:30pm on the same day. He contacted me by phone at that time he ask how to turn the unit on & what the problem seemed to be. After telling him how to turn the unit on he informed me that it would cost another $99.00 to look at the unit and see what the problem was. At no point during me call to the co0mpany office did they state that the $77.00 charge was just to some one to drive to my home nor did they state that there would be any extra cost to tell me what needed to be fixed. I naturally understand that parts and labor to fix the unit would be above and beyound the $77.00 charge. I that point I told the repair man to leave and that I would not pay such an insane cost.

This morning someone (male) called me from Curtis company about what happened on the 19th. All he would say was we told you about the costs and that I was being turned over to a collection attorney for nonpayment of the $77.00 charge. I am not paying for someone to drive around and not even know how to turn the unit on, What kind of repair man do they hire?Desired Settlement: All I am asking for is that this company stop any type of legal or civil actions in this matter. I feel that they hid the costs by not being up front about them. Had I knowen the cast involved I would have NEVER allowed them to come to my home. I fell this is totally an ufair wway to rip the people off.

Business

Response:

This complaint does not even deserve a response. **. [redacted] has one thermostat hanging off his wall, and another mounted on the wall. When my tech called to ask why the thermostat is basically hanging off the wall and which one is the one he had hooked up to his ac, the customer gave him a hard time. Apparently he felt that we were supposed to perform a electrical diagnostic on his unit for no charge except the service fee that he was clearly quoted over the phone. He was also told that when the tech arrived he would let him know what other charges will apply.