But they can also literally be a life-saver during our summer heat waves and worth every penny.
When a retired New Jersey couple paid tens of thousands of dollars for their new A/C unit they expected to live the cool life.
Instead, they got a steaming hot lemon.
When they couldn't get it fixed or their money back they called 7 On Your Side.
A mid-summer summer scorcher was not the time for the AC to have a meltdown at their Ocean County house, but conk out it did.
Leaving Larry and Anne Herring of Whiting, New Jersey, frying like fish in their own home.
"We didn't even put our stove on. We didn't eat anything cooked," Larry said.
It was measuring 91 degrees inside in the middle of a brutal heat wave.
Tempers were also hot since they could not get their brand-new HVAC system repaired.
"They tried to fix it three times," Anne said. "Two hours the guys tried, can't fix. We have to order the part, we will be back Friday. Friday nothing."
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday it's broke again.
"Well, we couldn't sleep at night. You could not breathe," Larry said.
"That hot?" 7 On Your Side's Nina Pineda asked.
"Yes, it was, it was that hot. I could not breathe at all. I would wake up in the morning, and I was so weak. I'm 82 years old," Larry said.
"It was like living in a sauna," Anne said.
7 On Your Side helps couple cool down after HVAC repair issues
They're even more steamed after paying a really high price for the brand-new heating and cooling unit and water heater, total amount? $33,908.68.
"And it breaks within three months, yeah, yeah. Then they replace it. Seven days later, seven days then they fix it. Then it breaks three days, three days later," she said.
"That one broke, and were you? Did you ever question why this is so much?" Pineda said.
"Oh, every day, every day," Anne said.
"What did the company say?" Pineda asked.
"Well, we gave you a Lamborghini, no, Ferrari, a Ferrari, yeah. We gave you a Ferrari unit," Anne said.
That fancy Ferrari fixed and then replaced still wasn't at full speed. It was less luxury and more lemon.
"I said to my husband all bets are off now. This is crazy," Anne said.
They filed a complaint with the county and learned the HVAC company, guaranteed service, did not obtain permits for the work. The board of commissioners investigated the case as "elder fraud" and recommended a voluntary refund.
"And what was the settlement?" Pineda asked.
"$13,200," Anne said.
"And were they willing to give that to you?" Pineda asked.
"No, they totally ignored the letter right there," Anne said.
But Guaranteed Service did not ignore 7 On Your Side.
After 7 On Your Side got involved, both the owner and general manager of the company showed up here to the Herring's home.
The unit was actually replaced and said at Guaranteed Service they live and breathe by the principle that the customer is always right.
Not only was the entire unit replaced, the company owner put not one, but two checks in their hands.
$13,200, which was the original settlement request, plus a cool, additional $2,500 for having no A/C during the heat wave.
"Thanks to you guys. We got our check. We got our money. They stepped up to the plate," the Herrings said.
Guaranteed Service blamed the issue on a defective part, which took five days to arrive, saying it was clearly not acceptable. When we asked about the elder fraud accusation and why the unit they sold was so expensive, the owner wrote, "The Herrings were presented with a full range of HVAC system options, varying in efficiency levels and pricing. And they chose to move forward with the top-tier system available on the market."
Nonetheless, the company quickly issued those two checks for a total of $15,703.
The company added, "Our entire team is committed to making this right. We appreciate your outreach and your role in advocating for consumers."
"7 On Your Side is the best. If anyone has a problem or issue, don't even think about it. Just call," the Herrings said. "Thank you, thank you, Nina, and thank you!"
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