What's best to do in this situation?

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:26 am

I have a dilemma and wonder how best to handle it.

Background - my 5 year old refrigerator became less cold recently, to the point where I moved the setting to max cool, which made no noticeable difference. Freezer is still running as cold as ever w/temp adjustment set at mid-range. Checked Angieslist for top rated appliance service people and, after talking to the first guy I called, who seemed very knowlegable and had outstanding reputation on Angieslist, decided to have him come out and diagnose. He assured me that if he wasn't sure he could fix it, he'd walk away and not charge me a dime. He checked it out and came back with "bad news" - I needed a new evaporator coil, damper mechanism, and temperature sensor, for a grand total of $375. He collected $79 diagnostic fee and said it would be applied toward the cost of repair if I chose to have him repair it. Since the fridge cost over $1000 new, I decided to go ahead with the repair. A couple days later he showed up (2 hours late) for the repair, did the work, took my $296 check, and left (with everything he removed from my refrigerator still sitting on my countertops - not cool, but I chalked it up as a surprisingly sloppy oversight).

Over the next couple days (this past weekend) I found the refrigerator still had the same problem, still not cold, even set on max. Called the guy yesterday/Monday morning, and he admitted he didn't replace the temperature sensor as that part apparently didn't show up with the other parts. Of course, this really pissed me off as he charged me the full quoted parts & service fee, which he had told me included this sensor & service to replace it. His defense was that one of the other parts turned out to be more expensive than he expected. He said he'd get the sensor immediately and replace it for no additional charge. At this point, I got very concerned and stopped payment on the $296 check.

I would prefer to stop dealing with this guy entirely and both call it a loss - he has time and parts invested in the job, and I'm out the $79 diagnostic fee. But I'm sure he's not going to walk away from it, as he'll want to collect the remaining ($296) balance. Our last discussion (yesterday afternoon) was that he was going to order the sensor and should have it within a day or two - he's supposed to call me when it arrives in order to schedule the install. Given what's happened so far, I'm honestly not convinced this will fix my problem, as he's already installed several parts that made no difference.

Any suggestions/recommendations?

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:34 am

Can you tell the parts left on your counter were definitely from your fridge, or was it just for a good show?

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:52 am

No, he didn't leave any parts. To clarify, when he "completed" the repairs and left, he erroneously left out all the food/drinks he had removed from the top shelf of my refrigerator out on my countertop. Luckily, my sitter noticed it fairly quickly and put everything back in the fridge before it was ruined.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:56 am

Michael Westerfield wrote:

Can you tell the parts left on your counter were definitely from your fridge, or was it just for a good show?

That's a good point Michael. I see this as a bad situation, but the guy isn't going to file a lawsuit over a $300. I would explain to him that it's in his best interest and yours that you part ways and he can keep the diagnostic fee. You'll leave no feedback (which is better than negative feedback) and that way you can apply the $296 towards a new fridge.

If he doesn't see it the same way, tell him that he can come replace the sensor and after a few days if it does the trick, you'll send him a check to pay for the $296. - AB

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:21 am

I can't say anything for sure Keith as I'm no refridgerator repairman, but here is what happened with ours.

We bought a brand new one from Lowes when we moved into our new house. Two weeks later we had the same symptoms you had. Lowes uses a local shop to do their repairs and sent a guy within a day.

The guy showed up, said he had just fixed the same model with the same problem, and he had the part in the truck. He said if the freezer is cold and the fridge isn't, the fan that transfers the cold air from one side to the other isn't working. Sure enough he replaced the fan and it worked fine.

Fast forward one week and the problem was back. The same guy came out, and told us Lowes doesn't pay for the same repair twice, but the good news is they would give us a totally new unit. Problem solved and it didn't cost us a dime.

In your situation, I guess all of those parts could have been necessary, but the guy that fixed ours seemed to indicate there is only one cooling unit (the one that keeps the freezer cold) and it just transfers a certain amount to the fridge portion via a fan.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:04 am

what brand and model is the fridge?

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:18 am

I've got nothing to add on how to deal with the repairman, but VK is right. We had this problem with our fridge. It turned out we had blocked the fan with a box of baking soda.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:23 am

We had a simple issue with our Garage GE. The high humidity caused the coils to completely ice over and no cool are was making it from the freezer to the fridge. A good 12 hour thaw fixed the issue and no issues since.

I think on most new fridges use the one cooler unit and faned air like VK says.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:35 am

Keith Quistorff wrote:

I would prefer to stop dealing with this guy entirely and both call it a loss - he has time and parts invested in the job, and I'm out the $79 diagnostic fee.

Let that be your plan and expectation. Chances are, if the guy is willing to blantantly lie like that, chances are he'll do it again.

However, I'd give it a whirl and see how bad he needs your business as Aaron said. Explain that a stopped check is no fun for you either and you like to give him a shot to redeem himself with a delayed payment after he's earned your trust that the fridge is fixed.

Situations like this (I've lost a deposit to craigslister who wanted to cut corners on a tile job to keep the price low) make me wish I had time to learn to fix EVERYTHING in term of appliance and home repair. Too bad it doesn't work that way.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:47 am

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Michael Westerfield wrote:

Can you tell the parts left on your counter were definitely from your fridge, or was it just for a good show?

That's a good point Michael. I see this as a bad situation, but the guy isn't going to file a lawsuit over a $300. I would explain to him that it's in his best interest and yours that you part ways and he can keep the diagnostic fee. You'll leave no feedback (which is better than negative feedback) and that way you can apply the $296 towards a new fridge.

If he doesn't see it the same way, tell him that he can come replace the sensor and after a few days if it does the trick, you'll send him a check to pay for the $296. - AB

If you want to be really nice, ask to pay his cost for the parts he replaced (if he can produce an invoice) sans the diagnostic fee.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Keith Quistorff wrote:

Freezer is still running as cold as ever w/temp adjustment set at mid-range.

Keith Quistorff wrote:

"bad news" - I needed a new evaporator coil, damper mechanism, and temperature sensor

Damper and temp sensor I can see causing the problem, but new evap coil? Did he explain why? Sounds like he's trying to rip you off.

Others have said "fan" but I think it's the damper or temp sensor. Is it open? blocked closed? It's a really simple system. It's a hole between the fridge and freezer with a flapper to control how much "really cold" air goes into the fridge. If it's stuck closed see if you can open it up or jam a screwdriver in there, see what happens to the temp.

Now on actual advice ... I would offer to pay him actual parts and labor for the damper and temp sensor, after verifying it fixes the problem, and not pay for the evap coil unless he can provide some proof it was faulty (which it was not, as your freezer was ice cold).

Additional advice -- I recommend spending some time understanding how a fridge works!

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:29 pm

FYI for DYI folks:

Many appliance parts (and lawnmower, etc.) are easily available for low prices on line. You have to Google multiple sources to get the best prices and it helps if you aren't in a hurry (not too likely with a refrig of course for the major stuff)

We have a 1986 vintage GE fridge that I just received some icemaker related simple parts for to help cleanup and prevent future cosmetic damage on the outside rear of the cabinet due to condensation where the hose enters the freezer compartment. I've also be able to get the plastic hinge cams that cause the doors to automatically close.

As mentioned, ice in various compartments can cause scary symptoms such as blocking defrost drain lines. Careful examination can ID the cause.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:33 pm

I would not trust him to work on it again. I agree with Mike on the probably solution, we have that issue with ours. It is your call on letting him keep just the diagnostic fee and that's it as the penalty for lying. If he puts up a big stink about that offer him his cost of the parts but only after having someone else fix it and tell you if those parts were actually correct.

Judge Wapner wouldn't allow the first solution, but the second one would probably hold water.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Also just googling the model of your fridge can pull up a lot of info on common problems and faults. When I moved into my house, the dishwasher was broken. Typing in the model number allowed me to find that the water inlet valve went bad on them. $25 and a 15 minute install later and it was working again.

I had a problem with my washing machine, and a quick search online allowed me to find the factory service manual with step by step instructions to re-install the wash tub bellows as well as to repalce the shock absorbers for around $35.

My dad had a problem with his power washer that I fixed in 45 minutes with just a screwdriver and a simple google search.

I agree with Matt, except for the not finding the time to do it. It generally is worth it, as the people who are in the business of repairing appliances aren't really bright enough to earn the wages they do. People are just scared to work on appliances, just like people who are scared to work on their own cars. The difference is, the tools to work on cars can sometimes be prohibitively expensive. With a basic toolset, you can fix pretty much any appliance thats fixable, just realize that not all of them are, and when it makes more sense to just throw it away and get a new one.

Sometimes you screw it up, and it costs more than paying someone to fix it, thats just life, but this rarely happens, you learn something frmo the experience, and it does save you money in the long run.

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:57 pm

I am a retard when it comes to stuff like this, BUT, repairclinic has walked me through a couple of things that have saved me hundreds of dollars. Parts are why more than exotic car prices but they have you by the short ones.

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