RELIABLE APPLIANCE SERVICE INC. Fradulent Dishwasher Repair Estimate of $298.00 Without Competent Diagnostic Inspection El Cajon, California

Technician based his original repair estimate on assumptions derived from my description of the problem which was the dishwasher would cycle but not drain and was appraised of the fact that the machine had frayed electrical wiring repaired. He described this as an electrical fault that mostly burned out the pump. He then attempted to remove the machine from its enclosure with some difficulty and decided replacement of the pump was necessary and wrote an estimate of $298.00 to perform this work. I explained to him that the dishwasher was an original appliance installed in my home and my desire not to replace it. So I accepted his estimate and paid half down even though I voiced my dislike for having to pay half up front, this was on Friday the day after Thanksgiving.

The following Monday, this same technician contacted me by telephone to assert an additional component would need to be replace and stated the repair cost would go up to $500 plus dollars. I declined the additional repair without some diagnostic results to support the proposed repairs and requested a full refund of my $150.00 down since no work was performed. The technician agreed to the refund and indicated my check would be returned since his firm did not execute the check until repairs were completed. Nine days later I contacted the vendor and was advised that I needed to submit a written request to their company for consideration by the owner, which I refused as the requirement was never stated to me and the firm performed no work.

 I challenge the assumptions of the technician that he made with no professional inspection or diagnostics performed to identify faults necessary to return the appliance to functional condition as well as felt an attempt was being made to extort addition cost since the increase for the repair was also based on conjecture. Further, I perceive the stringent refund policy to be an unfair business practice at the least and ultimately a means to defraud me of my down payment. As such, I have been Ripped Off.

 First I need to expose this appliance repair scam and secondly I want a refund without all of the bureaucracy necessary to garnish a refund that should be academic since an ethical business does not charge for and customers do not pay for work not performed. Since the fraud is currently below the limit for felony fraud my only recourse may be to attach interest to length of time my money is not refunded and swear out criminal compliant when the amount owed me reached the minimum required by law to take such action is achieved by law or alternatively report the circumstance to the Consumer Fraud division of the State Attorney Generals Office.