On July 19 2021, we arrived at our newly purchase home in Cathedral City, California, Upon arriving we turned on the air conditioner. After a few hours we discover the AC was not cooling our home down.

I called A1 Service Heroes and they sent someone out, arriving at about 9PM. After looking at the system they determined it was low on freon. The service tech told us that the price of freon for this unit was extremely expensive because of the limited supply, and high demand brought on because of Covid. I asked him how much and he stated it was almost $300 a pound. We were shocked at the price, I asked him if this was the going rate for this type of freon among other venders around the area and he indicated it was. Believing it was the going price for this freon I agreed for him to charge the unit. Our unit took 2.8 pounds at a price of $296 a pound for a total of $828.80 for just the freon. The service call was an additional $199.00.

Three days later I had Blair Heating and Air come out to give me an estimate to install a mini split system to augment our whole house AC system. When the tech queried me on the reason for the mini split system. I told hime the story of the service by A1. His response was one of shock at the price I was charged for the freon. He asked what type of freon my system used thinking it might be R22 the more expensive type of freon. He went out to check the unit and told me that our unit use R410a the less expensive kind and that Blair sold it all day long to non-maintenance contract customers for $45 a pound.

At this point I was extremely upset. I called A1 Service and asked to speak to a manager. The young lady on the phone ask me what it was regarding and I explained the situation. She told me she would reach out to a manager and someone would call me back. After several hours when no one had call me back, I went on their website and sent them a message stated the same information I had provide the young lady. As of September 22, I still have had no response from A1 Service.

On August 25th, I received a reimbursement check from our home warranty for
$ 46. I called them ask them why such a low reimbursement amount. They stated that the freon charge was extremely excessive and their contract amount for R410a is $20 a pound.

On September 23rd I again tried to reach out to someone of authority at A1 Service. I was told by a lady that she would email my concerns to a manager and that they would reach out to me “if the deemed it necessary.”

Why I certainly don’t mind paying the service charge for the call and don’t mind paying the going rate for R410a freon I think this company took advantage of an unknowing customers and the situation that they were in to gouge them by charging $296 pound for something that cost an average for them about $125 for 25 pounds. This by definition is fraud and deceitful.

Beware of this company as they will do anything to increase their bottomline.

Granger's

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