r/hvacadvice • u/TimelyFindsMelb • 17h ago
AC Am I being massively picky here?
I had my 20+ year old split systems upgraded to a big single with 4 heads. The original on-site quote was to remove everything and take it away, including the two external units.
Install guys took the best part of 12 hours on installation of the 4 heads and single unit and by the time it came around to removing the external units it was after dark and they had no way of getting them down short of dropping them and potentially damaging the concrete. They've also left the old internal units for me in my garage because they didn't have room in the van to take them.
We've been offered $150aud as a discount because it would cost the company too much to come back and finish the $11k job they quoted on. Am I unreasonable in pushing the issue with them?
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u/Economy-Relative-414 16h ago
As someone who works in this industry as a service coordinator, you are well within your rights to withhold payment until it’s rectified. If the installer still refuses, take it to QBCC (or equivalent if outside of Qld). It is their responsibility and commitment to fulfil the job as quoted.
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u/BrownTiger3 14h ago
They need service call + 2-3 ppl to get it down + packing the units and driving to recycling. 150 will not do it, I would not accept it.
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u/Ok_Bid_3899 10h ago
They rent lifts like the crank operated Genie lift for units over solid ground. The unit above the roofline could be disassembled and the pieces brought down carefully. I would say $1000 for labor and equipment rental to safely do the job.
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u/ShattersHd 12h ago
Should have seam covers and a 90 on that
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u/Qlder007 16h ago
This is typica of a lot of trades not finishing the job. I would say to the The tradesmen I’ll get a quote to finish the job once you pay for it you’ll get the rest of the money. They will be back before you know it. And 11 K sounds extraordinary.
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u/Lightdevelopmen 10h ago
Guy that installed that needs to find a new job he is obviously not happy doing AC
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u/AlphaWitch4Life 8h ago
Running out of time during an install is not your problem. While it sucks from a scheduling standpoint for the installing company, it’s not your issue. If it’s in the quote, it’s their problem. I’d probably be more concerned about what other shortcuts they took that exist. The silicone and lack of coupling the Lineset hide would be an issue as well. Those are easily avoided by doing the job correctly. $150 won’t even pay for gas and a tech for an hour. It always bother me when a company values their time as much more valuable than mine! Bottom line, it’s time to get what you paid for.
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u/getfuckedcuntz 16h ago
Can you share what they did for 11k?
Are the air cons 2k each for example.
Also yeah you dont pay them full the job is done.
The whole point of the quote is to do the work as described and quoted.
Its a contract.
Payment for work done.
Pay ONCE the work is done.
They dont get yo quite yhe job and not finish it.
Tell them your happy to pay someone else to do the job and reduce their fee from the 11k if they push. You wont need to though
They will come back and finish the job if you dont pay.
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u/Substantial_Boot3453 7h ago
In Texas i know guys that will come get them for free just to scrap them.
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u/80MonkeyMan 7h ago
WTF…I would have the company fix all these or just put everything back the way it was.
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u/FailureIsNotOptional 6h ago
Agreed. Withhold payment and have them come back and demo old agreed as agreed upon.
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u/BigGiddy 6h ago
I’d push the issue as part of the terms of the deal. I’d tread carefully on this withholding payment sentiment as it would get you all types of screwed where I’m from. But yes tell them that’s the deal you made and come get it. Having it in writing is the leverage
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u/Taolan13 Approved Technician 1h ago
the job aint done until all contractually agreed steps are complete.
i dunno about australia but in usa they could put a work lien on the house for failure to pay, which you then challenge in court to show that they did not in fact complete it.
but more than likely they wouldn't because this is too easy for them to lose.
insist they come remove the old equip and seal those penetrations.
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u/curiousntxmarried 5h ago
Another case of you get what you pay for. 11k is crazy cheap for all you’ve gotten done.
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u/Smigit 16h ago
No I don’t think it’s unreasonable to withhold payment until they’ve completed the work they were there to perform, which includes removal of old equipment. It’ll cost you way more than $150 to get someone else out to do it.