Hidden cameras catch HVAC scam in action (Marketplace)
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- Опубликовано: 13 янв 2022
- We’re teaming up with Go Public to expose deceptive sales tactics being used to suck people into unfair HVAC contracts, years after some provincial governments banned door-to-door sales.
To read more: cbc.ca/1.6313723
#CBCMarketplace #HVAC #Contracts
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Watch the latest update to our HVAC investigation: ruclips.net/video/euOOpBmZsh4/видео.html
You do absolutely need to catch predatory practices by scumbags out there. But your reporter looking up cost of furnace and saying she over paid by what the price is online is predatory click bait! Homeowners are not paying just for the furnace you jerk the labor and all the other miscellaneous materials, and operating costs of running a business. Shame on this reporter for doing that.
I also love how people whom have never owned their own business and have only collected a pay check are the 1st people to say a contractor is over charging for something. You people are ignorant to the business world. Period.
I need help... please 🙏 give a contact number to talk about my problem.
I am a general Contractor, because of these scammers, the public is losing trust in all of us. Thank you for showing the truth.
Yes exactly me too I’m a contractor I always have a problem with people because of the other contractors they come and do the job and leave the job in the middle after taking the money and run away
@@don-cw1yz There are many snakes 🐍. You can get estimates from 3 snakes 🐍. You still have research the companies
Trades are hard and alot of competition How you go about it is up to the individual contractor. This water heater they are talking about is probably approching it warranty date. While a tank is under you are covered for a new one and just have to pay for the labor.
@@johnathandesimone9065 I wouldn't be calling your company
@@SarahR2D2 Why not?
These type of reporters do a GREAT service to the people. Thanks for doing this
Meanwhile in Ottawa. Any reports?
My uncle has suffered from dementia for over twenty years. About five years ago Green Ontario took advantage of his confused state and put in one of their water heaters. Just prior to the pandemic his ability to care for himself took a dramatic turn for the worse, and he had to be put in a care home. My mother has Power of Attorney, and the house in in her care.
After I watched this Marketplace video, I asked her to send me any information she had on the deal between my uncle and Green Ontario. I read it over.
Green Ontario has locked him into a deal where he is obligated to have them, and only them, inspect the water heater on a regular basis, only them do repairs if they feel it's needed (and of course they feel it's needed, even when it's really not). He's contracted to have their water heater and their service. And yes, *they've put a lien on his house.*
They're Vultures.
And that's an insult to vultures.
I'm so sorry this happened to you.
Talk with a lawyer, and mention the dementia, and bring medical diagnosis records from before the signature date on the water heater contract.
@@googiegress7459 just what I thought. It could be argued that he was not in good mental condition to analyze and sign the contract. Also, sue those motherfkrs!
@@googiegress7459Great advice.
That's absolutely grotesque. Could you not look to have the contract annulled due to your uncle's impaired mental state?
I hope it works out for you!
As an hvac tech I always show customers what is wrong with their units. It's how they know you arent scamming them and it's how ya keep customers around.
I make them watch me camera the heat exchanger and I over-explain it a painful amount lol
Same, nobody will ever call me a liar or a scammer and I defy anyone to be more thorough than me
I do the same I own an auto repair shop.
As an HVAC tech, it’s companies like this that make us all look bad. NEVER rent a furnace, or any other appliance. You’re getting ripped off. You’re better off to go to your bank and get a loan or line of credit. I feel so bad for these people.
my uncle used to be an central heating and air guy with degrees and such but just sleeps around all day doing nothing. then again we live in an apt with the gimpy window units they come with. his excuse for turning down work in that field is "im too old and weak to handle the physical labor anymore" but hes not... and those jobs make him 5xmore then my physically demanding retail jobs, I would even do all the physical work for him if he just took the job would be worth more my time to help him then it would to be stuck as a grunt labor guy working for places like macys/walmart.
I have never heard of renting a unit. That makes absolute no sense to me. So with that being said I can't really judge that part of the video.
@@papagenosbbq In Ontario, it's the norm. Blows my mind. Even looking over a normal contract, I'm like, dude, you can outright buy three water heaters for the price of a 10 year contract.
Wait, people rent furnaces?
Hi. Any idea the best way to break an agreement on a rental hot water tank. I am tired of paying that rental fee.
Putting a lien on someone's house without them knowing it is just wrong, and the law needs to be changed. These guys are just parasites.
If you read the contract it's in there that is why they say never sign anything without reading it.
To be honest, if they had tried scamming me like that i would call them up and ask them to remove the lien at once or face the consequences.
If they refused i would wait a suitable amount of time, and then i would find out where they lived, and make sure that they would regret it.
That car he showed, would probably not look great in the colors soot-black and ash-grey..
The government should mandate that contractors be honest. That should work. (:^/
@@JohnDoe-bd5sz yeah because that's how adults fix issues, by making threats on the internet and still no fixing the original problem, bravo sir bravo!!!
@@jinwock1999 So, how does that work? So you are saying if a lien is against a property then the furnace is cut off?
My mind is literally blown 🤯 HOW is this happening? I feel so incredibly bad for the trusting people that got swindled. I hope there’s a class action suit against these disgusting companies. Terrible.
Lol
5:30 Let's clear this statement up. Technically, Freon is a registered trademark brand of Chemours that refers to several chemicals typically used as refrigerants. However, the word Freon has become a generic term in the industry that refers to ANY type of refrigerant. A better term to use instead of Freon would be refrigerant. Practically all residential air conditioners use some type of refrigerant. So, technically her old and new units may or may not contain Freon, but they both contain some type of refrigerant (likely R-410a).
Yeah, technically Freon is R-22 and 410-A is Puron. Customers that don’t know anything always refer to refrigerant as coolant or freon.
There is no reason to replace a air conditioner that is working good just because of the refrigerant or aka Freon it uses because the government is already phasing out the replacement of the replacement and to be honest r22 works great and is much better than r410 especially if you live in a Hot climate
@tdobson888 an r22 system is going to cost you more in operation and is most likely out of warranty. A new 410A system will be higher efficiency, come with a new warranty, and will most likely qualify for energy rebates.
@@Smok3yR1der so other than smoke and mirrors there is really not much in energy saving between r22 and r410 dew in part to the extreme discharge head pressure from 410 especially on 90 plus heat days and the energy saving is not even close to being able to make up the difference in the price for a new unit and install. The best way to get energy saving is clean the condenser coil every spring it's the best bang for your buck. But anyone that tells a home owner that they need to change it out because it's not in warranty or it's old or the refrigerant is phased out is lying and as a matter of fact there is many drop in refrigerants that work great for a fraction of the cost of replacing the system as long as the equipment is in good shape oh yeah and by the way r410 is already starting to get phased out along with the other hfc refrigerants so unless someone really needs a new system there is no reason to replace and put in a 410 system .
@tdobson888 your information is correct but your conclusion is just plain wrong. First of all, people don't maintain their HVAC systems enough to keep it in good working order. Modern coils and ecm motors cool much more efficiently than older coils and psc motors. Also, it's not just the condenser that gets clogged, but, the evap, too. Fins get bent and damaged, coils get rusty and leak. Also, R22 is 1300 a jug and going up. The cost of keeping an R22 system around isn't justifiable. Unless you really think you're "sticking it to the man" by refusing to replace the only pockets you're lining are that of your electric company. And, yes, I have customers who have dropped their utility bills by replacing old equipment, mine included.
I LOVE the idea of public shaming, especially if you’re scamming people! But, what’s more frustrating is that government NOT stepping up to solve the issue.
One of Dougie's hashish buddies is probably related to the CEO guy so its all good with him
The Canadian government would rather go after pastors running church service then people scamming their own citizens sounds about right
No matter what any government does, in the end the final say is up to the consumers. People need to learn to protect themselves and not rely on corruptible government officials to think for them.
@@allthingsharbor yeah but alot of the times, there are unseen issues, things that are purposely hidden from customers and regardless if you want to suggest people pay more attention, it's not always possible to see hidden items in contracts such as this lein thing
we need the hall of shame newscaster here
THIS is journalism and what it should be.
Too bad they don't do this type of investigation into the BIG criminals in our Government. They will put on their journalist cap when its nobody important.
The GOVERNMENT is partially responsible...it is not protecting Canadians from these PREDATORS...Citizens MUST demand that politicians take action...These companies are using deception to rob people of serious amounts of money
Project Veritas does it and they get called criminals lol
@@namenome3680 and Julian Assange!
(project veritas is awesome)
Their are own by government.....this is far from journalism,this is entertainment
Been an hvac tech for a decade now, also a licensed contractor. I've heard some pretty terrible things these shady companies have done. I always tell people even if they don't go with me, to do thorough research into the company they do go with, and things to watch out for.
I’ve heard of people paying 8,000 to 15,000 for a furnace install, we don’t charge anywhere near that but it depends on the company, they’re not necessarily ripping you off if their price is high as long as they’re honest about it. Her googling the price of the furnace doesn’t mean jack, the unit cost 2,000 and you’re paying double plus labor and other parts, that’s what we do. Some companies charge more if they have more overhead
Yea people don’t seem to understand that the install is the majority of the price.
Yes some consumers don’t understand much especially what it takes to own and operate successful service business. If you want cheap have a handyman do it, if you want experience, knowledge, proper install, service when needed, and someone who will stand behind their work hire a reputable professional. That’s it!
If the change out is in a bad spot 8k doesn’t sound to bad
People don’t understand overhead costs for employees, insurance, etc. just because the furnace is 2k doesn’t mean the entire job should be 2k.
Was just about to post the same thing. It’s like, okay, but the furnace and install it yourself. Also, any legit furnace manufacturer is not going to honor a warranty for something that isn’t installed by a professional.
How is this guy Axil and people like him not in prison?
because most of the "laws" were made to protect the criminals.
Obviously the government approves of such actions. But the questions is, WHY ? What do they get out of it ?
@@new-knowledge8040 They get the taxes paid on it.
Someone up the the ladder is getting a cut….
That and permanently lose his license/certification.
I'm in the USA and this story was shocking for several reasons. First I am astounded that CAN laws don't protect consumers from these rental agreements. Second I have never seen someone rent their HVAC equipment. That just sounds so alien to me. Then to secure the loan with someone's house without paperwork is amazing. This is the type of stuff I expect from my government not yours.
Dude Canadian government is absolute trash.
Renting HVAC and water heaters seems absurd.
Hilarious when ppl think it's different. These are just humans. All gov across the board
@Christopher Jacobs Cake and rainbows, I would settle for affordable health care. But yeah I get what your saying.
In Ontario, it's the norm. Blows my mind. Even looking over a normal contract, I'm like, dude, you can outright buy three water heaters for the price of a 10 year contract.
I have been doing hvac work for almost 30 years whenever I find an issue I always bring the homeowner and physically show them the problem and explain it as it is their decision what they would like to do, I only offer guidance and advice I have even talked people over the phone on how to solve minor problems
Your a good man
You do this because you are a honest man and a good technician.
Stay honest because that's who Father God is. He hates liars. If you haven't experienced Him, ask Him to show you.
I simply treat it as if I were the homeowner and I was in their position! I appreciate the support!🙏
That’s how I do it. Never go out and try to sell the customer anything, show them what’s wrong, what’s realistic, and offer them options to bandaid, fix, or replace all for an amount that’s comfortable to them.
Guys who go out to just intentionally screw people make it harder for guys like us.
Bingo! The lady hit the nail on the head when she said now she has a suspicion of anyone selling anything. That should be anyone’s perception of salespeople. The unfortunate reality is that most sales people are deceptive to some degree. You can’t go wrong by assuming they are trying to rip you off, even if they’re not.
Scammers need to be held accountable and punishments need to be extreme to deter scammers. People need to be on alert always...scammers are everywhere!
its a free country and the law does not protect stupid's
@@kyorkdabbagh7759 definitely a scammer
@@rustyshackleford4984 no hes right were numb to danger and scammers
Yes you are vulnerable to scammers.
@@jonathanleclerc2788 no hes not. what about my grand parents? who are slowly losing cognitive function and can easily be manipulated and taken advantage of?
you are just unintelligent.
This "lien" loophole should already have been fixed after the first few complaints. The fact that this is still happening suggests to me that politicians want it to stay in place
The politicians want as much financial pressure as possible crushing the lower classes. The idea is that it keeps the public to distracted and stressed out to enforce any real change.
@Mike Fishing many politicians are committed to serving the special interests of their donors instead of their constituents. Obviously this is a ridiculous loophole in the law that's clearly harming homeowners. So you have to ask yourself, why won't they fix this problem and protect their constituents.....
Good old Dougie boy, did you forget Ontario is open for business phuck everything and everyone else!!
Hi from Ohio 🇺🇸 ...appriciate all the work this news crew puts into actually helping people solve problems/scams....it's a good reminder to us all...people like this are out there, and if it wasn't for news crews like this, they might never get caught
americans have a better way to deal with this
file a lawsuit
that is one day to make these vultures stop
In Texas HVAC cos. are licensed and insured. If someone is caught doing repairs or replacement unauthorized, they can go to jail. Sometimes customers are at fault trying to get a bargain...
Watching your share helped me warn a friend of an impending scam hvac repairman of installation this morning. thank you!
If a company has to come to you, it’s because nobody is going to them on their own and there’s probably a reason for that. You don’t see walmart going door to door trying to sell cereal.
Really? Roger's and bell come door to door constantly. No one goes to them for internet or cable?
Generally speaking.
exactly
Door to door sales can be an honorable profession and great for building/ marketing a business. It's a shame that scammers like this give everyone else a bad name.
@@senle7912 not anymore,
They’re bleeding customers
Alex Hermosa should be in jail. What a thief.
Hint: Don't rent appliances for your home! Do your research and buy them outright or find an institution that fill finance the items.
In the hvac field price doesn’t matter because yes your paying for the install, which includes Materials, Labor, Tools, Parts if needed and most importantly TIME meaning you get what you pay for and pay for what you get. You’re not paying for the price, you’re paying for the experience. 💯
With more experience, one should be able to do it faster and therefore cheaper, no?
Depends on what you think, sufficient or efficient? Skilled Labor isn’t Cheap and Cheap Labor Isn’t Skilled.
@@5jjtso, you want to punish skilled craftsman for being good at their job?
I worked for this company I had to leave after 2 weeks because I was shocked with the sales practices. The company’s name was Ontario Green Savings, they have offices in London, Toronto, and Ottawa Canada.
Scammers will continue scamming as long as there is no terminal consequences for scamming. Sometimes the victims have to act. Or just roll over and let the next person deal with it.
Not nice
I make sure I do a Google review on these scammer companies
@@SarahR2D2 or better. I found this Axel Hermosa guy on FB. Everyone should FB message this video to all his friends and family. Embarrass this scammer!
The real cure to this is good education, unfortunately that's also the cure for slimy politicians, so highly unlikely to happen ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Thank you for bringing this to light! It's important to know about these scama
scams or scams
I truly appreciate your organization taking the times to make these very illuminating stories. I hate government regulations but unfortunately people like these make it a necessity so they stop taking advantage of the uninformed person.
It's truly despicable the way these people companies operate and customers get horrifically taken advantage of.
This guy Axel is crazy.
Thank you MarketPlace for doing a great job helping people. Keep up the good work
Your welcome
Thanks for the tax money
thank you for protecting the earth goku
@@pleco101 I didn't know such thing exist, put a door bell on someone's property then name your price. how is that legal?
So did you master the ultra instinct yet ?
Keep up the good work guys. Thanks for your hard work
I’m so glad I seen this , some person was coming here today! Thank you !
This is why you stick with small independent HVAC companies and get referrals from friends or family who have already dealt with the company so you know it's people you can trust as there is lots of great HVAC companies out there as well.
Very well put and valid advice Sir!
before they came to her with this information karen would have recommended green ontario
You know they’re bad news when they won’t take No for an answer. Why does Ontario continue to let scammers continue to operate. Cancel the guys license or charge him if he doesn’t have one
Our premier is the biggest scammer ever. He loves a good grift
@@johnobrien1528 100%
I had to have my 22 year old water heater replaced a couple years ago. The contractor seemed pissed off when I told him I'd have to do some research when he told me it'd be $2k (me knowing a gas water heater is like $500+labor). A second opinion yielded the same... they explained a bit more though. Since my home is a ranch, it's essentially a natural gas water heater designed for mobile homes to prevent combustion gasses from leaking into the sleeping area in case of a clogged vent or something. They're 2-3x the cost. Don't regret double checking before taking their word for it though!
Make sure you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home!
@@bobboscarato1313 Thanks! I actually keep putting off buying a new carbon monoxide detector... I'll do that now !
Being informed is the key to being resistant to these kind of scams!
I totally blame government for not passing harsher penalties and long prison sentences for these crimes
Democrats now have made it legal to steal. If you have your stuff stollen or you get ripped off it is your fault by Democrats own track record.
This is the only honest reporting we have left. Keep it up marketplace.
Raising awareness about these scams is important, but also advocating for better policies to protect consumers as well. Truth be told, great investigation
Do you question a doctor who charges $10,000 for a minor visit?
These investigations are the reason I subscribed to this channel.
CBC marketplace is the best investigation show in Canada, in my opinion。
@@susanxyz I'm not even Canadian but I love the show
If only they investigated their employer..
I agree. Just subscribed.👍
@@KrolKaz nahh, that might be "inconvenient"🙄
I caught my elderly mother getting scammed by a roofing contractor charging her 2X the price. Even though I specifically told her not to sign anything when meeting with roofers the sales person was still able to get her to sign a contract. She was scared to tell me she signed something but I could tell in her voice that something was wrong. Luckily in the contract she had like 48 hours to back out and I was able to call them myself and get the contract voided.
Can't save stupidity.. it's unfortunate
The scammers love dealing/stealing from the elderly
Same thing happened to my Mom when I got home for lunch, she had my food ready but was very quiet. I asked her what was wrong. She pointed to the living room where a VERY fancy and elaborate vacuum cleaner stood with some 20 attachments. Only 2 of which are really needed.
We have a 48 hour law in our town and I called the *&%$#^. And I did use that language. I told him my uncle was a lawyer. You could hear him shift in his chair. Within the hour, My Mom got her money back and that Hoover was gone.
@@vanderumd11 It's not just stupidity. A lot of people don't realize how much your mind deteriorates as you age.
@@vanderumd11 Some people gets old and muddle
Great journalism and thanks for sharing. If anyone knows of an MP tackling this issue for more consumer protection please do share. Seems like a class action would get some support from the general public.
How can they add such general clauses for 15 years, and be so unreasonable? What do builders get out of it? It’s incredibly difficult to ask buyers to “read the contract” and walk away from a home because all homes have this clause, and the market is on fire.
Companies like this should be ashamed and face punitive consequences.
These guys are scammers, but that furnace does not *cost* $1800 to install. The total install with labour, materials, markups & taxes should be around $7000.
These scammers need jail time,or severe beatings or both.
man flower defloration
Beatings are better! Jail time is a club med! TV, three square meals a day!
Foreign sxammers... in germany same
Canadian people are far too nice. Once I found this out about my water heater, I'd suddenly feel the need to have them come to my basement and tell me what I can do with my furnace.
Always better to go to the place of business
Why isn't the police investigating this instead of journalists? People are being scammed, this is not just a news story. That guy and likely many more deserve prison for scamming innocent people.
they are 5:05
@Darkfarfetch ?
@Darkfarfetch lol coo coo for cocoa puffs eh?
They listed the charges the CEO is facing multiple times in the video.
If your water heater is 10 years old it makes total sense to replace it. I'm not even with them, But it's true that if you wait until it starts leaking, it can cause some damage.
This video has been very informative and I learned a lot in order to protect myself. Thank you for this.
Read the contracts and tell the salesman you will get back to him when you have time to read it. The number one job of a salesman is to take money from you for himself.
A salesman sells or he makes no money, dealing with a salesman with soft clean hands that has never seen actual work who will always sell you on things that make him money, Find the local guy that has a work tool truck, work clothes and work hands, then you know the price will not include sales commission or other hidden tactics to slick pretty boy salesmen.
I worked for an HVAC company in their call center and can tell you a few things about the scams they have going to get their technicians into your home. As a homeowner I also had an altercation with an HVAC person who wouldn't leave my house after he cut a hole in my ductwork when the problem was the thermostat. I had just had the furnace installed, it was brand new and this guy told me the problem was that I needed a new furnace. I laughed and told him to get out of my house. He wouldn't leave so I had to get my dog to make him leave. All the time he was walking down my hall he was yelling at me that I needed a new furnace, that I needed to listen to him. This is no way to treat people. When the bottom fell out of my water tank I was told that I needed to pay $180 dollars for a corner piece of pipe, which I knew was ridiculous. When they broke off a huge piece of my wall while replacing the tank, I complained to the company and paid nothing.
Replace dog with shotgun
Seems you have several problems beyond your furnace! lol.
Thanks for putting out videos like this
When the salesman shows up, wearing a giant flashy gold watch and flashy earrings. If you hire them, just remember, you're paying for that.
should see his car, 2019 Maclaren.
I'm an HVAC installer and I can say that you shouldn't ever rent anything inside of your house unless you will be moving in the next year or so. I would also say to use your local, neighborhood guy who has been around for a decade or more.
Which you recommend between boiler system vs electrical heating ?
@@alexcalderon5461 people are switching back to electrical again, since coming off electricity in the 1980s. It depends on your area and how the electrical price is. If your house is built with radiant electric heat in the ceilings or floor, which is much better than electric floorboards. I think most people would go for the boiler system if electrical prices are high or delivery is sketchy, which is happening in more places now unfortunately.
I have seen contractors put a lean on work performed because of refusal to pay from cheap homeowners
Shouldn't rent at all if you plan on moving within a year or two as well. You would have to buy it out for what the contract is worth so like $60/month for 15 years you do the math .
Always use local when shopping for HVAC equipment. I'm also shocked Reliance is never mentioned in these investigations. They are as greasy as anybody but always get away with it.
Thank you all for what you do to protect the public.
This is very common. I also wish more people would talk about poor install also. I had a new water heater installed and told the man the vent was an issue, he said nope and guess what the vent is backdrafting fumes into my home now I am working to fix with someone else. So not only are people scammed then poor installs follow and they could be dangerous and impact your health such as CO poisoning.
You wouldn't believe the $hit install at my nieces house by a so-called professional. The return duct was attached by one screw and a 2" sheet metal gap was filled with duct tape. The system was only two years old and had a refrigerant leak that "couldn't be fixed", so they shot some kind of "stop leak" into the system. There were many other problems with the install, as well.
Scams should be a felony. It’s not fair to pay 12k for 1.8k obsolete system.
It's fair when you agree to pay that much.
The thing is that “Ontario Green Savings” it is still on the market getting more victims…that’s scary! 😰😰
Is this the full episode? Is there another video? I recorded the episode on my PVR, but it glitched out after only 5mins, and so I found it on here but am not sure why it stopped after 22mins. Great episode so far! Gotta check to see if liens are as easy to apply here in BC too!
This is heartbreaking!
The episode needs a conclusion. Why aren't those douchey looking scammers in jail since you have them on camera? Useless Ontario government not doing its job.
what government you are talking about Ontario government is scammer too
If the Ontario Government is doing nothing, it can only mean that some persons inside of the structure is benefiting....either directly or through a family setup.
Are you sure the government is the right contact? In Germany, that would only be a matter for the public prosecutor.
lol South Park was right after all about the Canadian government working as a pay to win model.
@@kyorkdabbagh7759 hahaha
I own a small one man HVAC business here in North Texas. Out of approximately 800 service calls a year, I only see about 50 systems that really need to be replaced. Most have minor problems that are easily fixed. I have one customer that has a 1968 Lennox system that still works just fine. She's the original owner! The guys with the morning commercials are the ones to be afraid of.
Dang right. Was almost scammed to replace our heating system for a new one. It only needed a part replaced.
I still have in working order a Lennox system since 1998, fingers crossed it last another 5yrs. Lol
ive seen a 68 lennox, cool creme and red paint job and it worked fine
1968? That sounds like CAP. Refrigerant for a unit that old has long been phased out. With all the VOCs floating around that system has never had a leak? I don't believe you.
Right a 54 year old system that never leaked, what type of refrigerant is it and is it even still around.
Never rent anything that needs installing into your home. That was the first red flag.
I love your top ! The one with all the mandalas over it .gorgeous
Many years of Marketplace exposing scams and protecting consumers. Thanks for all the great work.
I work in the industry when she says it’s worth 1800$ that just the furnace not installed so no supplies or labor they should mention that
The lien is there to protect contractors that do work and don't get paid. If you sign something, you have to read it. Don't be lazy. I'm a contractor and I LOVE the people that have done their research, know what they want and how much it should cost. This story is good because it calls out contractors that try to talk you into something you didn't need.
It's weird to me that people rent their HVAC equipment. I've never heard of that before. In the US we bought all of ours.
Simply green home services is one of the worst.
Cbc has written many stories about them already. Its crazy there still in business.
Simply green home services is just one of many companies.
Well done MarketPlace, great job, please keep helping people understand the type of scams they may be facing.
Hvac contractor here. A 10 year old tank I tell people "save a bit every month, it will eventually go " but no way I'd say that they must replace it. The truth is we are not cheap, and neither are the materials so people are often suprised at the cost. So it's a good idea for any homeowner to put asside a bit every month cause a furnace will break, or need replacing, as will any mechanical device. But being informative and honest is a requirement if you are a service contractor, educate your customer and let them decide. In my over 25 years I can recall 3 occasions where I locked out a gas valve. One was a furnace with a huge hole in the heat exchanger, and the ambient atmosphere had dangerous co, another was a boiler with the same issue and one was a boiler that had a plugged exhaust and so was spilling out, that last one stayed in service after we replaced the ducting and the fried electronics ( locked out for the day while getting parts to repair.. a requirement legally ) . Never trust a "rental" water heater, furnace etc.. this is a red flag, professionals don't rent these, we install them
It’s unacceptable that someone can put a lien on something like that !! …
why scams like this is even remotley possible is utterly disgusting, there *NEED* to be legal sanctions against these scamers.
they need to arrest these people.
No, what needs to happen is they need to start getting executed, cut up and have their body parts thrown in the woods, that's how you stop this robbery.
Unfortunately the government and laws are disgusting also
I am from the US and heard about HVAC rentals from my friend in Toronto this past summer, and I was shocked. I've never heard of this concept before. When my HVAC unit died, I had to pay a one time amount + service costs to get it replaced. Seeing people pay thousands and having liens placed on their property for a simple install of a Nest doorbell seems insane.
It’s a wonder that they don’t find someone with a screwdriver shoved into his peeing device, in a alley etc.
@@earlestes8649 Nowadays, with nothing else being done, I think consumers may have to start hiring someone...
Ontario has no jobs. Desperate jobseekers get these jobs by seeing ads on craigslist etc. Govt is not bothered
honestly, I live on the west coast of Canada, and we did the same thing. Replace the damn thing with an one time fee and installation (750bucks taxes in for a boiler + install). I didn't even know there is rental for these, that is until one day someone knocked on my door looking like a gov contractor trying to enter my home to check my heater/boiler. Something in my gut feels off with this, because the gov I know never cares about people to actually to send out contractors, they are not that efficient period. Quickly researched and warned people i knew and dispelled a few disasters maybe.
I just got a paper from our power company today (!!!!!) offering a free nest, retail $130, for free, there's absolutely no way!!!
The lifespan of a gas water heater is 8-12 years depending on various factors. Suggesting replacing a 10 year old water heater is not outlandish.
Our Canadian laws are very weak to go after these people...GREAT SHOW
I had answered a job ad for a inbound call center, went in for an interview and they asked me to come back. Second day I show up and they tell us we are going for lunch, then drive us 1.5hrs away to go door to door to upgrade Hvac and water filtration. I felt kidnapped, stuck going door to door and watching this 'manager' force himself into people's homes.
We had the cops called us, continued knocking on doors after dark- it was messed up, I never went back.
It was exactly like this. This needs to be stopped.
Don't you have taxis, uber, Lyft in your area or a cellphone to call a friend to get a ride home. When they dropped you off for door to door sales didn't you figure out you were being screwed.
They basically kidnapped you. People need to know that if this happens, call the police and tell them you were told you’re going to lunch and you were kidnapped and driven 1.5 hours away.
Similar happened to me but selling internet, was told I would be doing reception work ended up being door to door.
@@LivsTanks lets sure and make 1000000000
Honestly just replacing the water tank yourself is like a million times easier and cheaper just did it the other day in our house. Doing things yourself is always best when possible
They could probably get away with that if it's electric but I wouldn't trust them with gas. These are the same people that are shocked they have to pay what they agreed to in a contract.
Why? U just turn the gas hose handle right on water tank’ make sure u get pipe dope to seal it up and spray soapy water to make sure no gas leaks
Disconnect 2 water lines and swap’ it’s so so simple’ no idea why these companies charge 600$ plus in labor
This really opened my eyes!! I am going to be so careful and tell my friends and family
I work in a luxury building and we have HVAC companies come to do work and many try to sell new HVAC’s instead of doing a basic $150.00 simple maintenance job, instead, they said they needed a new HVAC and some end up paying $6,000.
No different than how locksmiths work, instead of trying to pick the lock which would cost $60-$80 bucks, they insist the lock is good and cannot be picked and have to drill through the lock and replace it, not with a cheap lock, but a over priced cheap lock.
So, you pay $100 for the drilling, $250.00 for a new lock AND for labor which can be anywhere from $100-$150. The same with mechanics, you need a $150.00 job and they tell you you need $800 worth of work.
I have dealt with these scammers and it's basically extortion. Regulation needs to happen to not allow any upsells during HVAC service calls. Literally every time I have called Reliance home comfort for a service call I have gotten aggressive upsells. I have also recieved multiple aggressive calls from Ontario Green savings, the company covered in this show.
Yes and as a person you must know when to say no
Reliance offers cheap tune ups but honestly idk how much work they really do and they do make their money with upsells that’s how their able to keep those tune ups low. I’d charge about 100 for one while they charge 99 for 2. Lol
"Rent a furnace" if they want to rent you an appliance that's a red flag.
As someone looking to buy a house. This was great information.
I use to work for United propane we were told to leave a couple connections slightly loose so they leak slow to use more propane
A Home Depot affiliated consultant (from ARS Rescue Rooter) said I needed to replace my entire AC system and that it would cost north of 10,000$... instead we hired a local guy who only replaced the outside unit (the only part that ACTUALLY had a freon leak despite what the Home Depot salesman said), cleaned the inside coil, and improved insulation around the intake for a total of 2400$ including labor. HVAC companies are incredibly rapacious, always get at least 3 quotes on a job and do your research
Find a trustworthy mechanic, contractor and lawyer and only ever use them
@@bik3r230 through recommendations is the best way
I haven't advertised once
Sounds like a side job
You got ripped off if you only bought a condenser and not the evaporator too. You can't clean a freon 22 coil and use it on a high pressure R 410a condenser.
@@antonlavey5540 It's a fairly new mobile home with a special A frame coil the coil was in excellent shape and we got a good deal by cleaning it instead of replacing it because these particular coils were very hard to get at the time due to supply chain, there were no leaks in the coil. The condenser we bought is spec'd perfect for use with these modern mobile home coils, my father is a home builder and electrician so he's well aware of those concerns. The condenser was only 820$ from a local HVAC wholesaler as we have a contractor relationship with them. Given the timing that price was very good and the labor price was reasonable given the amount of hours they put into the job and the 4 quotes we got before hiring the final guy. I'm happy with the result, the efficiency has been great through the brutal Texas summer.
Had those vaulters in my home making ridiculous claims for savings and current equipment efficiencies, without any test or equipment. I just laughed. When I got subsequent followup phone calls, I just quoted the BBB warning and that gave a quick hangup by them. The reason why these people are not in prison is because our governance don't care, period.
Fleecing the flock is good for them
what happened to celendric water heaters the ones that fit in the corner of your garage?
Is it that easy to put a lien on a house in canada? You can just register on a website and put any dollar amount?
This is heartbreaking. People work so hard and for so long to be homeowners. First saving for the down payment, then paying the mortgages for a minimum for 20 to 30 years, while paying for the ever-increasing maintenance costs and expenses of home ownership: oil, gas, water, insurances, and taxes. Now, homeowners must add the expense of retaining a lawyer in keep predators like this business from stealing their most valued asset and/or sanctuary: their home. Should contracts with a Security Registration Clause have a mandatory 3 to 10 days review process for the customer, to provide customers time to read the contract and ask any questions before it is signed and enforced?
The CEO everyone.....disgusting
The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Saeed Moravvej Torbati of Ottawa, surrendered to police after investigators released a photograph of the man and a picture of a vehicle similar to the one the suspect would have been driving at the time of the collision.
A suspect wanted in a fatal hit-and-run in Scarborough last Thursday has surrendered to police, investigators confirm.
Police say a 56-year-old woman was trying to cross Markham Road near Nashdene Road at around 10 p.m. on March 31 when she was struck by a Mercedes.
is he in prison
What ?? He got what he deserved???
@@generationxdad so the CEO, is not even from canada. this company isnt even canadian
@@randomrazr The infamous 407 highway isn't owned by Canadians either.
@@Jeffnvz like by benchodeS?
Best luck in the world that you got that Axel guy to come for your inspection! Sooooo good!
Thanks for sharing
And that lady definitely had a 80% furnace and now she has a 90%. No way you're not saving on gas. The prices went up this year compared to last on utility so you can't compare. And I don't care if the furnace was $2 online nobody's installing it for that and warranty it. Plus it's rented. Finance a car and see what you end up paying in the end
I'm watching from Mexico and I am amazed on how tricky Canadian companies are. I've seen many Marketplace episodes, and I am SHOCKED.
Contacting business owner. About the water heater, when we see its 10+ years we RECOMMEND a new one before it bursts and you have no hot water and water all over the basement. Depending if they have a water softener or softer water from the city, water heater lasts 10-12 years. The whole "you have 6 days to get it replaced" is probably a lie.
These scammers are still calling and selling services. I've got the call today...why aren't police or govt doing anything???!!!?
CBC great show but how about a show showing how to best exit these contracts. You have identified the problem but not provided possible solutions. what can individuals do now if they are in a contract?
You have a 2 year window to take this complaint to the ministry of consumer affairs where they will lay charges against the company if you do not do it within the 2 year window you need to get a lawyer a good contract lawyer which will cost a few bucks.. There are also class action lawsuits.
@@marcosepe9956 thanks!
For the 12k lady, I also think smalls claim court is a possibility. She probably wouldn't get the full amount back, but most judges would intervene to some degree.
Also more questionably wouldn't breaching contract be fine here? The damages are likely going to cost significantly less than the contract (should talk to a lawyer first though).
The guy didn’t even put test instruments on it
You have 6 days or else
Exactly. How can he in good conscience say the furnace is ok without taking manifold pressure. Didn't see him check the heat exchanger either ...
Doubt this guy could read a tape measure.
I think people forget that 95% of the cost IS LABOR. Materials, very rarely, even approach 1/2 the cost we charge you.