Patriot Air Conditioning & Plumbing Eric - Service Technician Another Arizona Rip-Off HVAC Company Mesa, Arizona

Responded to a Home Advisors ad on the internet in order to shop companies for home improvement services, one being wanting my HVAC system checked and serviced. Received a call from Eric with Patriot AC, and in our conversation I explained to him what I was looking for, namely my HVAC system checked-out and serviced, but also mentioned that at one time the water pan had overflowed and is rusted to a point, which was of a concern to me. Among his input he stated they offered the 20 Point Inspection for $39.95, which was reasonable to me, so I scheduled an appointment.

Here is where the fun starts -

1. First he called from a different number to verify my address and get directions because his phone had died. No problem I thought, although it did raise an eyebrow.

2. When he arrived, made greetings and proceeded to the attic (I already had a ladder in place).

3. Once in the attic, I again stated my concerns about the pan in conversation thinking he was in the inspection process (bringing him a flashlight as well since he left his in his truck), to where he gave me a block of instruction about the water-catch pans and explaining about an overflow kill switch for $148.95 installed. I told him I would never do that. Now mind you, no inspection had taken place as yet.

4. Once out of the attic he proceeded to explain the kill switch by demonstrating the kit, of which I had already said no. In his block of instruction though, I did learn of another pipe I felt would do a better job if cut (which he did), and the particulars on how the system was the right size for my home.

5. Once complete, he asked me how I would like to pay? That's when I asked him 'what am I paying for?' He stated the service call (only), and had I wanted the 20 point inspection I could have scheduled that as well, but they are separate calls, of which I did not know. I explained to him the service-inspection was what I believed I had done in scheduling. However, this is where I realized I was being ripped-off, again, by another HVAC servicing company. For Patriot to send someone out to make a service call without inspections and misleading customers is abhorant.

6. In further conversations he stated things like 'if you want your coils cleaned, it'll be this much, or capacitors tested needing replacements will costs as well, etc, etc...', all points made without one inspection.

7. To add insult to injury, he told me how in my calling Home Advisors, companies like his pay for that information, which is then passed down to the customer. What...? And how I must have them confused with someone else per the conversations, which is not possible since Patriot was the only company that called whom I had scheduled with.

8. Yet the most uncomfortable part is his having my address written down, plus my driver's license reflecting the same address, yet getting the city wrong to where I had to correct him twice. Then he proceeded once I told him 'the buck stops here' and 'goodbye' after paying with his borderline argumentive attempts to justify the service call.

BLUF: 

- In the time Eric spent trying to sell me a kill switch he could have responsibly inspected my HVAC system, and possibly might have found a deficiency (ies). I use the word responsibly because if had I been afforded as such, thereby earning my trust, I would have requested for this company to act on recommendations made and/or to make needed repairs.

- But what I got instead was the exact opposite - all about milking the customer for every cent by separating services, to the customer's disadvantage. And because of that I for one will never call them again, nor will I ever recommend them to anyone, along with never using Home Advisors again as well.

- And since I still need my HVAC system properly inspected, I hope to find a truly responsible HVAC servicing company by using 'word of mouth' recommendations via friends and contacts instead. I highly recommend for those who read this to do the same.