United Duct Cleaning

They arrived to begin the process. Again, they found more reason to charge me more for additional services needed. He kept reminding me about how the end result was going to change my life in a healthier way. My daughter an I both deal with allergies and the anticipation of the positive results, especially guaranteed was inviting. Since his guarantee was so strong and his willingness to stand behind his services so convincing I gave the go ahead to do what was necessary. He advised that I wait 30 days before contacting him about my results and how noticeable they would be by that time. However, after 30 days we were still waking up congested and feeling miserable and still medicating our needs for that reason. I called him to report our experience and the run around began. I have since called numerous times with no return calls. Finally I spoke with a Tonya who advised she would return a call.. but did not. Then I spoke with a Sean.. and received the same runaround. I have attempted to work with them and finally had to advise that I was taking my concerns to the BBB and reporting them on Angie's List. It will probably be in my best interest to speak with my attorney as well. This is a scam of a business and they took me for a lot of money and refuse to stand behind what they promised they would. I since found through the BBB that they are also doing business as American Pure Air and I will note these comments there as well. Buyer beware.

During the vent cleaning preocess, UDC turned the furnace off. When they left, after about an hour or 90 minutes total, they turned the furnace back on, but of course, the house was very cold. Later that evening, it still felt colder than normal and I when I looked at the thermostat, it said "-AC." I reset the temperature in the house and went to bed. I keep my house temperature at 67 degrees. I did hear the furnace kick in here and there so I thought it was working. The next day, new years eve, it was very warm out and I was not home much. However, on Jan 1, it was colder, and although the furnace was turning on and off, it could not keep the house warm, getting down to 50 degrees. I noted the furnace was only running for about 4 minutes at a time. I called UDC and I was told they did nothing to damage the furnace and said "What do you expect me to do now?" I got another call from a different person at UDC and was told it was just a thermostat problem. I explained that it was not a thermostate problem and UDC insisted that I allow them to repair my furnace. I asked if they were licensed to repair furnaces and got a vague answer about having a heating technician. I told them I would have a reputable Heating and Air Company determine the problem. (None of the literature they gave me stated they did anything but vent cleaning and dryer vent cleaning.) The furnace, which was working just fine when UDC arrived, was not working properly when they left. However, since the furnace would run for about 4 minutes at a time and the temperature outside had warmed up, I didn't know the furnace wasn't fuctioning properly until about 36 hours later. I called two heating companies (from Angies List) on Jan. 1st, and hired Shamrock in Carol Stream to come to my home on Jan 1, 2011. The technician said it was not the thermostat but the endbell housing. Shamrock was able to order then part on Jan 3rd (due to the New Year Holiday), and did the repair on the same day. The repairs to my furnace after the damage caused by UDC was another $792.

I contracted the company to clean the air ducts for the price listed on the coupon. Immediately after they arrived I was told my ducts were so dirty that I needed the brush and sanitation which would cost more. I explained that the coupon guaranteed to clean all vents to eliminate mold, allergans, dust, etc. I was told that was not if the vents were dirty and the guarranty was for the sanitation not the cleaning. Keep in mind, there were four men tromping around the house, without booties on, getting dirt all over rugs, pulling out furniture and removing vent covers jamming shop vac hoses down into my vents. After saying no repeatedly and getting pressured again and again, each time the price went down, I finally just said okay. At one point he showed me a contract from the previous house that showed how much they had paid for the service. He told me, he would give me a great deal, because they had the sanitation fluid left over from that job. I was scared not to pay the extra, worrying what they might do if I said no. Then they brought a long tube, with a brush on the end and pushed it into the vents. My husband has since inspected the vents and said they didn't even take off all the vents. The worst was the deordorizing, which smells over the whole house and I have been sneezing ever since they left. I asked about the products and was told they were organic. I know I should have checked the labels, but felt ashamed of asking too many questions. When I again questioned the deordorizer he told me they used it in hospitals and it was organic. I said it smelled like chemicals to me and was told they were organic chemicals. I can't believe I was so stupid, but it shows you what happens when you are vulnerable. Please don't let anyone else succumb to this company's tactics.