ARS RESCUE ROOTER ARS Heating and Cooling The blower on our heat pump was not working and we called ARS to check out the problem. Lafayette, Indiana

It's the lying that is so annoying, and the backpedaling when caught.

They told us we had corrosion inside our pipes caused by our water softening system (we do NOT have corrosion, another company confirmed this - as well as the sample pipe they dug out from under my bedroom, destroying the flooring).

They then wanted to do a whole house replumb for this non-existent problem (while the trench was open for the first one, offering us their first service *free* if we signed a contract for a $14000 work order) and they'd then throw in a *free* Halo water system.

Unethical sales, lying and unnecessary non-repairs - this is part of their nation wide business practice.

I may have already commented on this, but we had a similar experience.  With virtually no assessment, they told us the only way to find what was wrong was to spend $3000 to dig up the floor and a small section of pipe.

As it turnred out, they never camera-ed again - they just came up with an even higher estimate.

When it became clear they were lying about pipes themselves (and at one point took the length of pipe away so we couldn't see it), we called in two second opinions.

There was nothing wrong with any of the pipe - they dug it up for nothing.

Now, we're naive about plumbing and we've now had this kind of fiasco happen twice - but we're learning.  They did not do what they said on the estimate they were going to do - and they didn't fix the drain in the most inexpensive, necessary way. WHile they brag that they never do unnecessary work, in our experience, that's all they do.

We paid $40 to have it snaked tonight - we'll get a videotape to support our claim that the pipe was find, on Monday.

One of the local big-box stores was allowing this company to solicit customers with $99 clean-your-heating-system teaser.  Now I know that they always want to sell you additional service once they get in the door, but that was okay because I knew my boiler needed a couple of minor replacement parts.  No big deal.  What I didn't expect was the price-gouging the technician was willing to inflict.

I needed two air bleeder valves.  The technician said he had them and they cost $131 each JUST FOR THE PARTS ALONE.  These valves sell for under $10 at the local plumbing supply store.  I know because I called and checked while he went out to his truck.  Even online you can find them for less than $15!  I didn't even let him start to do any work and ushered him out of my house.  He wanted over $260 for two valves I'll pick up myself this afternoon for less than $20. 

Consumer beware -- these guys are rip-offs. 

I had a furnace inspection by ARS in the Denver area recently - see my report. They claim to be a vendor of choice for Home Depot. The technician lied to me about needing a new furnace, condemned it, and led me to believe I'd die if I used the furnace.  He tried to pressure me into signing a contract and getting an install the next morning. Fortunately, I had to scramble to find financing since I've been unemployed for 3 years and have almost no income. I had the sense to get a 2nd opinion and not sign the contract. Whew!!!

I paid for 2 subsequent inspections which confirmed that the ARS findings were bogus - I did NOT need a new furnace and there was NO CO danger. I just needed a new high-low switch for $45 instead of an overpriced new furnace for $3862. Other companies would charge $2500 for a furnace. By the way, Goodman brand furnaces are highly recommended by 2 vendors. They're high quality and lower price because they don't advertise a lot.

I filed a complaint about ARS on the Home Depot web site, and the manager of the local store called me 15 minutes later to apologize and the home office called 2 hours later. They got me a refund of the service charges, and gave me a $40 gift card. They also said they'd look into the company and decide whether to continue using them as a vendor or dropping them. They contacted the ARS home office. So if the ARS in your area is working through Home Depot, contact Home Depot with your complaint so maybe we can save others from ripoffs. There seems to be a nationwide trend with ARS based on the complaints I've seen here.

Good luck!

Question 1: May have not been offered in some cases manufacturer pays half and contractor pays half. This cuts into profits for contractor so maybe they decided they needed more profit on the job.

Question 2: Anything will be said to make you feel like it is the best. Would you have been excited if he was HONEST. Plus regardless of how well a furnace is rated it's only as good as the company installing it. That is the major thing you should research call friends, neighbors, relatives someone has surely met some of the good knowledgeable companies in your area.

Question 3: Sounds like he is being paid by commission, the most he could make off of you was to sell you a system. Less work, lack of diagnosing, and convincing you to buy leads to larger checks on pay day. I mean we wouldn't want him to actually take more time diagnosing, getting dirty, and doing what is financially better for the consumer would we?

Tip of the day find a company that doesn't pay commission to their employees. Reason being you will have better odds that they send you a competent technician that is honest and actually knows how a heating and cooling system works.