Repair Overcharge
I called Appliance Repair Linden, NJ in the Spring 2016 requesting a repair to a home GE refrigerator that stopped cooling. I scheduled an appointment and a technician from another company, Mega Appliance in the Bronx, NY, came to make the repair. The technician told me that the part – a small defroster - costs $350 and that labor would be $100. I thought the part price was expensive, but agreed because the refrigerator was not working for two days. The technician told me he had to go about 15 minutes away to obtain the part. He returned, defrosted the freezer, installed the part and I paid him over $480 with my credit card for part, labor and sales tax.
Later that day, feeling uneasy about what I was charged, I checked the price online for the defroster and found out it could be purchased new from numerous parts suppliers for anywhere between from $15 to $35.
A couple days later, I called Appliance Repair Linden to dispute the gross overcharge for the part. I was told the technician's manager would be contacting me to discuss the issue. Instead, I received a call from the technician and I explained that he overcharged me for the defroster. He told me that he obtained the part from a GE part manufacturer nearby and I asked for the manufacturer’s name, phone number and a copy of the part receipt. I also asked to speak with his manager. I informed the technician that if he did not provide the information, I would be filing a complaint for being overcharged. I was told a manager would call me. I never received any of the information I requested nor has a manager from Mega Appliance or Appliance Repair Linden contacted me.
I contacted my credit card company to dispute the overcharge and provided written proof and photos of the repair overcharge details.
Defroster Failure
I kept track of a thermometer in the refrigerator and it worked fine for a few days. However, the refrigerator began to have the same cooling issues and soon the temperature was 50 degrees F. This was indicative of a defective defroster part installed by Mega Appliance. I then performed the same procedure the technician did to defrost the freezer coils to get the refrigerator to cool properly.
New Defroster Purchase
Within a couple weeks of the initial install, the temperature was fluctuating and the refrigerator was still not operating properly so I purchased a new defroster on my own from a supplier near my house. I am not sure if this is the same place that Mega Appliance purchased the part, but I paid a a little over$47 for the exact same defroster. I installed it and the refrigerator has been working properly for three months.
I eventually was able to obtain a refund from my credit card company for the disputed charge. Appliance Repair and Mega Appliance grossly overcharged me for a defective part. Be very careful and check prices if you deal with them.
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