AirTron Columbus, a division of Direct Energy Paid for a Maintenance plan only to have to pay for a Service call, which was necessary because I was "misinformed" on a prior maintenence check! Columbus Ohio

Airtron installed the airconditioner in my new home in 2007, so I bought a Maintenance plan which included two annual check-ups on furnace and air conditioner.  In May of 2016 the furnace wasn't heating and the air conditioner wasn't cooling, BUT the technician said I could only get ONE system checked.  He said " the air conditioner is blowing cold air, so I would just replace the thermostat" (even though I had told him it was 80 in the house and I couldn't get it cooler than 75 even with the system set at 65).  He fixed the heater, which had a bad fuse.

I found out later I could have paid the extra fee for the additional maintenance check, but he hadn't given me that option.  As it was, I was still upset that the last time somebody had been out, the pair of technicians had been going through my footlockers and stolen several items of military equipment, including the inventory sheet!

As you might be aware, May in central Ohio can be 80 during the day and drop to the upper 40's at night, as I am a disabled veteran with osteo- and rheumatoid-arthritis the cold can be pretty bad with the drastic changes in temperature, to explain why the furnance was my priority.

My maintenance plan with AirTron was also supposed to give me priority in scheduling and emergency call-outs.  On the 28th  of July I noticed my air conditioner ran 24 hrs straight and didn't seem to cool very well, then July 29th, it stopped altogether and there was a puddle on the basement floor.  As it was already almost midnight I called later on the 30th, to be told by the technician that he was prioritizing a pregnant lady over me and they couldn't get somebody to me until Monday.  Monday, August 1, I get a call from the scheduling department telling me I can't get a technician until TUESDAY! AND it is going to cost me a $75 Service Fee!!!

When the technician get there, he shows me the coils in the furnace have already frozen halfway up, but the top half isn't frozen, "showing the Puron is probably leaked out, and that there is most likely a leak as is is a closed system."  He then goes outside and puts a thermostat on the exterior unit to monitor that.  THEN he tells me it will cost and ADDITIONAL $210 to "test the system to determine where the leak is.  If the leak is in the coils it will cost $2100 to cut the damaged coil out and replace it."

I find out later from a more respectable person that the ENTIRE set of coils comes out, not just one, and that because it is already a Puron system, it can be flushed and refilled without replacing the exterior unit. 

Now, IF I had known that the issue was with the Air Conditioner sooner, I could have been saving for the coil repair.  I don't make $4700 a month, but telling me it is my thermostat?? Now I have been living with a broken airconditioner for the hottest month of the year because I already paid my bills this month and wasted money on Air Tron's worthless "maintenance plan" 

All companies charge a $75 service fee.  I didn't save a penny!  I sure didn't get priority scheduling!!  I only got ripped off repeatedly and lied to.  PLUS I got bids of $961 and $1500 for a $2100 coil replacement from other HVAC companies that are bonded and licensed.  I just can't afford to get the replaced because of my limited income.  If I hadn't wasted my time in May and known to save my money, I'd have repaired coils now.....