Steam Action Carpet Cleaning

Review: I requested an estimate from Steam Action after a friend, who was having her carpets cleaned by them at the moment, asked them if they cleaned tile and grout. They quoted us $136.50 for tile/grout cleaning, and we decided to have carpets cleaned and stretched for a total of $476.64. I was advised by a construction professional to get a cleaning with a possible acid rinse to clean and therefore lighten the grout from its dark grey color to the light grey color that the tile originally was (it is light grey in the corners, closets, less traveled areas, etc). The representative stated we would not need the acid rinse to clean/lighten the grout. I waited a few days after the cleaning to be sure all the grout was dry, because it was not lighter, and had in fact turned a lighter reddish-brown color with rust-colored spots in areas like in the bathroom. They sent that representative to try to acid rinse a test area (a little less than a 1 yd x 1 yd spot), which did not lighten the grout to its original color. When I called to state that it had no effect on the grout's color, I was told that there was "no way" and it was "impossible" that getting the tile cleaned would change the color of the grout. When I stated that it had, in fact, turned from dark grey to a reddish-brown color and I asked about a refund, he stated that he had already spent about $130 in labor and in sending his representatives back out to my house to address the problem (which a reputable business should do when they get a complaint)and for the acid rinse test spot and that the grout must have been stained red in the past (we have lived here almost 4 years, the house is only 13-14 years old and has no signs of red grout) and that he could not guarantee what would happen to the grout after a cleaning! He did not want to refund the money I spent on the tile cleaning and instead stated he cleans 130 houses a week with no complaints and referred me to a grout cleaning company.Desired Settlement: I would like $136.50 refunded to me (total cost of tile/grout cleaning only) since I have to call another company to now stain the grout back to grey.

Consumer

Response:

This letter is to inform you that Steam Action Carpet Cleaning Co. has carried out to my satisfaction the resolution it proposed for my complaint, filed on 7/19/2013 3:12:15 PM and assigned ID 9630092.

[redacted] came to my home with [redacted] who is a tile/grout inspector. [redacted] believed that the grout had been incorrectly laid/washed originally and so the intended dark brown grout was turned to lightish pink/red/light brown. He also felt that the grout spots were from grease or oil stains. The only thing he found was some soap residue left over, which Steam Action came out and re-cleaned those light grey areas (what I thought was the correct, clean color of the grout), which basically cleaned up the soap residue.

Regards,