Vent cleaning scam? So disappointing! Has this happened to you too?

For a year, I drooled and hoped to one day get the whole house vent cleaning shop. I applied many times and this month I finally got it!

For $99.99 (or up to $180 reimbursement) the company was suppose to clean all the HVAC vents and ductwork. The crew showed up and one technician looked at my furnace (gas forced air and central air), then he told me it was too dirty. He refused to clean the vents. He said that for an additional charge, my furnace and coil could be cleaned and then proceed with the vent cleaning.

I asked how much for the extra service. As soon as he said, "It can get very expensive," I knew this was a scam. The tech went out to the truck and returned a moment later with the cleaning cost - $700 extra dollars!??!?! The estimate was about $350 for each unit (heat and cooling). I know how much a real furnace cleaning cost (about $100, not including the ductwork).

So, of course I could not get the cleaning done and I only received $20 as the report pay. Today, a co-worker told me he had the same company pull this shady scenario a few years ago (not related to a mystery shop).

This bait-and-switch routine must be common place. My question is: Has anyone actually had a vent cleaning for the advertised price?

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Dang! This sucks to hear. I was interested in this also.

That is so frustrating!

If this is the same company that does the Tile, carpet and grout cleaning, I had a cleaning done a few weeks ago. At the end, I was told that the vents could be cleaned for a whole whopping$798.89. I politely thanked him, paid for the carpet cleaning that I'm waiting to have reimbursed and had a nice day.

Is it a revealed shop? For some reason I thought it was from the same MSC that offered revealed carpet cleaning shops. I only allloed once and didn't get it but haven't seen one offered since.

Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do

I had my vents cleaned a few years ago for the advertised price. No extra padding costs. I do not recall the name of company that did it but it made a huge improvements on the dust and pollen levels.

@ShopSouthTexas wrote:

Is it a revealed shop? For some reason I thought it was from the same MSC that offered revealed carpet cleaning shops.

I wouldn't recommend revealing that you are a mystery shopper to shady characters unless you want to be decked.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2017 10:20AM by moosehoose.

moose, that made me laugh. Seriously, I laughed out loud.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Reminds me of my Computer shop where I end up owing 48.50 and my computer is not fixed....all these in home jobs seem to be scams.

Live consciously....

They sometimes claim your freon is low. IMHO too many of those companies attempt to provide services they are not qualified for. I pay a reputable A/C and Heating company to provide regular service and cleaning. Years ago a vent cleaner tried to pull that crap with my (now late) wife. I spoke to the tech over the phone and told them to leave the house. I called their office and informed them why I had the tech leave and let them know when I would be home, so my cash payment could be refunded for the incomplete and improperly performed cleaning. They used a 60hp wet vac to create the air flow, not the advertised 200hp high velocity flow. The dude showed up that evening stuttering mad, demanded I write a return receipt, which I did, then he handed me the cash and stomped off.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

I bought a groupon for $39 a few years ago and had all my ducts cleaned. They did try to offer additional services which I declined.

The Stuff you learn on here!!!!! Thanks everybody for sharing. I've never had one done but since I live in Arizona where we have Haboobs I have thought about having this done but will now be EXTRA careful about who I use.
Edited to correct Haboobs spelling.

What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2017 10:29PM by sassymmmm.

No home jobs for me....

What are Haboods?

I thought they were haboobs and they are dust storms.

I'm confused about being "decked." If the shop, which I have done, REQUIRES you to reveal yourself, but you found the employee to be shady, you would skip that part and just pay for the service out of pocket and abort entire thing? I scheduled the carpet cleaning when my husband would be home (military/ police officer) based on the things I read on this forum about revealed in-home shops. The guy who came was a super sweet college kid who was hard-working and friendly. You never know who will walk in the door when you hire a company, but to think they would hit anyone over an aspect of their job is quite scary. I know you were being funny, but the threat of violence against me in my home with my children watching doesn't make me laugh.

Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I thought they were haboobs and they are dust storms.

You're right, haboobs. I misspelled. And yes they are really bad dust storms. It comes from an Arabic word. In the Phoenix area, every July and August we get several of them. If you're interested check out this link:[www.youtube.com] It is really something.

What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.

My husband's cousin, aunt, and uncle live in Phoenix, my nephew lives in Dubai, my brother lived in Qatar for about a decade, and my sister was stationed in Afghanistan for 3 years. I know quite about them, though I have never seen one up close and personal (and am glad for it).

@ShopSouthTexas wrote:

I'm confused about being "decked." If the shop, which I have done, REQUIRES you to reveal yourself, but you found the employee to be shady, you would skip that part and just pay for the service out of pocket and abort entire thing?
.

These kinds of assignments need due dilligence. I wouldn't get in the situation of inviting a firm with a dubious reputation to where I lived. I only use national companies or trusted local firms.

Anyway, I'm not interested in these kinds of assignments. They sound like too much hassle.

When I see pest control shops I get concerned. My husband works for our state's department of Pest Control Management and he tell's me there are a few questionable companies out there who offer free "inspections" and then "find" problems. Watch out for these.

What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.

Even reputable companies can hire questionable employees. You see it in all trades and fields. The carpet cleaning I did was a franchise of a nationally known company. I felt comfortable with my husband home to get the work done but admittedly I'd also schedule one out of pocket with my husband home.

Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do

I stay away from these shops. I got a flyer from a local company once advertising $399 whole house duct cleaning. Called them up and then they claimed that it was only valid for homes with one air return and since my house has one in every room, that was extra. Claimed it was extra that I had a heat pump (it's an outside AC unit that basically runs in reverse in winter - not a big deal). It was extra that it's a 2 story house.....

When they told me my duct cleaning price would be $1599, I sent them on their merry way.

@JL-Baltimore wrote:

For a year, I drooled and hoped to one day get the whole house vent cleaning shop. I applied many times and this month I finally got it!

For $99.99 (or up to $180 reimbursement) the company was suppose to clean all the HVAC vents and ductwork. The crew showed up and one technician looked at my furnace (gas forced air and central air), then he told me it was too dirty. He refused to clean the vents. He said that for an additional charge, my furnace and coil could be cleaned and then proceed with the vent cleaning.

(...)

This bait-and-switch routine must be common place. My question is: Has anyone actually had a vent cleaning for the advertised price?

It could be that they are being mystery shopped to reveal this scam. You never know what the MSC or the client are actually looking for when you do a shop. I learned this the hard way getting a shop rejected once.

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Vent cleaning scam? So disappointing! Has this happened to you too?

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