Man in Bella Vista Claims to be Victim of Scam
By: Tyler Thomason
Updated: July 21, 2012
A controversial price for a cooldown...at least that's what Steve Blosser claims. He and his wife travel from Kansas to Northwest Arkansas from time to time - where they own a home.
This past Tuesday they arrived to a warm welcome -- a very warm welcome. Their A/C unit -- broken. They called up a repair service company... But say they got more than they bargained for.
"One of the things I like about Northwest Arkansas, is everybody is so nice and you just tend to trust people," says Steve Blosser, a homeowner in Bella Vista.
But when it comes to his A/C unit -- that's where Blosser feels his trust was violated.
"He said the bill was going to be 604 dollars and 80 cents, and I needed to pay it right away," Blosser says.
That was the cost, according to Jim's Old Fashion service in Bella Vista -- who Blosser hired to repair a broken air conditioner that was lacking pounds of freeon - charging a rate of about 60 dollars per pound.
"I had already mentioned to the technician that, ya know, the last time i bought freon -- it was only about 30 dollars," adds Blosser.Thirty dollars for a pound of freeon? Could it be true?
"No. I wish it was, but no," says Jim Edgington, owner of Jim's Old Fashion Service.
Edgington says he didn't overcharge. And according to him, you just can't find freeon for that cheap right now. Edgington has been in business for nearly 20 years -- with 95 percent of service calls coming from bella vista --
"Most of our business is done by referrals," adds Edgington.
And according to some in the biz -- that's the best thing to do when hiring professional help...
"Get to know somebody who has used them before, i always like to be referred," says Eric Schein, owner of Complete Comfort Heating and Cooling in Springdale.
Schein owns his own heat and air company in springdale -- and has a little advice for those who might come across a similar sticky situation.
"You know, if you really feel like you're being overcharged or the answer is something that you're kind of unsure about, always get a second opinion."
And although blosser finds this transaction unfair -- Jim Edgington clearly believes otherwise.
"I don't know why he didn't go to the company that originally installed the system, i sure would have," Edgington says.
What Jim Edgington was referring to there -- Steve Blosser did have his A/C unit under warranty -- however it was under warranty with a seperate company -- therefore, Jim's Old Fashion Service wasn't required to charge a lower price.
Something to think about especially this time of year -- not a bad idea to seek that second opinion -- just to be sure of things.
