ECM - East Coast Mechanical ECM AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY GETS DEPOSIT DOESN'T DO WORK THEN KEEPS YOUR MONEY THEN WONT RETURN IT WHEN YOU ASK FOR IT BACK Boynton Beach, Florida

WOW very creative on East Coast Mechanics (ECM) they sent out a postcard practicly "giving away" mini type tune up for airconditioning units for discounted price of $59.90.  I have 3 airconditioning units.  Well the guy John came out (sweet as can be) went in the attic to get to air handlers.  He then told me how bad the units were and I told him one of the units were replaced but the other two were our original units which were over 20 yrs old.  He said I should replace ALL 3 units and how they had this "special" going on and he hung out at my house for almost 2 hours till he "wore" me down.  I did have problems with one A/C unit but he guaranteed me that I needed all 3 replaced. 

He wrote everything down in detail and even showed me how I was going to save "thousands" of dollars with his company.  I told him I would get back to him once I discussed with my husband.  John continued to call on a daily basis, sometimes even twice to three times a day.

After a few weeks of sometimes talking to John, sometimes not answering his calls, I gave in but told him my husband agreed but they would have to reduce the price.  He also told me at the time of quotes that there might be an "extra" charge to tear up some of the ceiling to get the air handler in on the upstairs unit.  I told him on our phone call that what ever needs to be done to get the air handler in, they would have to absorb the extra cost.  John checked with his "manager" and called me back saying everything included plus $400 extra off each unit from the original quoted prices.

John came by to take pictures and to the paperwork he said was needed to get the permits (so he says) oh and he also came by to pick up a deposit.  My husband gave him a $2220.00 deposit for a job that was going to be in total $12,288.00  for replacement of 2 units.  John came by October 6th which was a Tuesday and was going to have the job done on Friday October 9th.  I asked him about the permits and he said they were getting them prior to Friday. 

I called John on Thursday to tell him that my husband and I were going to have to pick up a car on the west coast of Florida, but that if the job could not be changed to Saturday or Monday, I would have my Dad sit at the house on Friday since we were leaving at 7am and they were not going to start the job till 9am.  I told him I would be back by 2pm and he said that was fine because the job would take 6 to 8 hours.

I had my Dad as planned at my home at 7am and my husband and I left.  ECM came like scheduled at 9am to begin the job.  My Dad called me said the guys are working already and brought the new air handlers in and will begin to install them.  I then received a call from John probably about an hour after that saying that they want me to pay for the job before the guys install the units.  I said I never heard of such a thing and he said that he was also surprised because they never do it that way.  He said the office manager called him.  Her name was Barbara.  I said I would be home in enough time to pay them when I get back as I was going to be home prior to 2pm but that I still thought a small portion of the money was going to be held till the job was completed in full which meant after it passed inspection.  John asked that I called Barbara at the office.  I first called my Dadto see if they were still in my house and he said yes and that the guy told him the air handler does not fit thru the opening and it is the wrong size.  My Dad said he had called the office to tell them.  I then called Barbara and she said I had to pay prior to them started.  She was very rude and I said that is not what I was told by John and John knew I was going to be out of town.  She said there was nothing she would do and she was "pulling" the guys off the job.  I told her I thought that even after installed they had to be inspected.  She hung up on me.  I called my Dad back and he told me the office called the guys and told them to remove the new handlers and to leave, which they did. 

I called John on his cell phone and told him what happened.  He apologized and I asked him if he could bring back my check that afternoon, and that I was calling Barbara to have my check.  I called Barbara and told her that my bank said they check cleared and that I wanted to have John bring to my house the check or I would come by the next day to pick it up.  She again was rude and told me she would get back to me.  I then continuouslyu called her and the front person once they knew it was me would switch me to her voice mail or tell me Barbara would call me back.  I left Barbara a voice mail on October 11th finally telling her I would be by at 1pm to pick up my check.  She called me to tell me it was not cut yet and that she would call me back that day to come pick it up.  I never got a call then the next day a lady called me from customer relations saying that the check would take at least 10 days for them to send it out and they will mail it.  I said that was not acceptable and that I needed that money to put down as a deposit for the airconditioning company that I contracted to do the one unit (which is all I needed to replace not the 3 units ECM told me I needed).  Then a lady even ruder than Barbara (which is hard to believe) a lady Pat(refused to give me her last name) who is the "head" of "customer relations" told me they would not allow me to come pick up the check.  I told her that is not fair for them to use my money.  The bank has it cleared and the funds are clear funds in their account.  I asked to speak to the owner Jose Remirez and she said no he would not take my call.  I told her I need the money as my air conditioning unit that cools my daughters's bedroom doesn't work at all (not sure what they did but the unit is not working now at all so maybe they disconnected it) and I have to give a deposit to the other company and I don't have another $1,000 even to put down as a deposit.  She refused to discuss it any further.  So here I am with a daughter who sleeps on the couch and another daughter in the guest room because there is no AC in their room now!!