Anytime Companies Would not honor quoted pricing, tried to increase price on day of job. West Palm Beach Florida
A few weeks ago I contacted my gas company, Florida Puclic Utilities about installing a Tankless hot water heater.
They have a special program and sent their contractor, Anytime Companies, Inc. to come to my home and assess the job and give me a price for anything that is over and above the normal cost of installation of the tankless hot water heater.
I settled on a 9.8 GPM indoor unit which was $372.00 more to FPU for the larger unit and I was quoted the total extra cost of installation as $200.00 for venting to the outside payable to Anytime Companies. Many times I asked Anytime Companies if the 3/4 inch gas line installation to the unit was included and I was reassured by everyone including the girl that called me with the quote, Ashley that everyting was included and there is no extra cost for the gas line.
Anytime Companies, took pictures, measurements and they were actually here about 90 minutes assessing the job and multiple times in talking to them I was told my only extra cost for installation is the $200.00 for venting.
Fast forward to today 7/22/2014, installation day and the technician arrives totally unprepared, no idea about the gas line and actually wanted more for the venting.
This is a typical Florida Ripoff contractor, that quotes a price, acts like they are reputable, then tries to back door you with extra charges on the day of the job thinking that since they are here you will just pay the extra money.
I even spoke with George, the owner of the company and he said he would not honor the pricing that was given to me as he doesn't work for free. (They are getting over $900 from Florida Public Utilities for the installation)
Please, if you ever need any plumbing or gas line work done in South Florida, learn from my mistake and don't even think of using Anytime Companies.
They really are a ripoff.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Anytime Companies, Inc.
RIVIERA BEACH,Florida,
Rebuttal
#3UPDATE Employee ..inside information
Wed, July 30, 2014
I researched the information given above and was able to find the customer. Our information is as follows:
We were contacted by the local gas company Florida Public Utilities to give an estimate for thier water heater finance program for this particular customer. On June 25, 2014 we made a site visit and surveyed the property. We suggested that the customer purchase a Noritz 11.11 Exterior unit, which is approximately 11 gallons per minute and is installed on the exterior of the home. The water heater finance program includes 10- linear feet of water lines and 10- linear feet of gas lines. The customer was informed that this particular installation qualified for the program and there would only be an additional $75 for drilling holes for the water lines and $250 for an electrician to hardwire the unit which is required per florida building code. We submitted this estimate in writing to the customer.
Upon following up with the customer he decided that he did not want the unit that we suggested and sized for his installation. The customer chose to go with the Rinnai 94 tankless heater and did not want to pay any extra fees for an electrician. The customer was then informed that if he wanted to do an interior installation (as our orginial estimate called for exterior) that he would have to pay for venting and was given an approximate cost. The customer was adamant with comparing the difference in installation fees and insisted we install the unit he wanted and the installation type he wanted; which was different from our original installation estimate. The estimator never gave a price for an additional gas line nor does he recall discussing installing a new line with the customer upon the original site visit (upon arrival for installation the customer requested a new 3/4" gas line be run from the meter to the interior tankless water heater which is approximately 30- linear feet and therefore not included in the water heater program the customer is participating in.) We in no way tried to rip this customer off, nor will we ever attempt to rip off any of our customers. We simply told him that the cost was not included and that he would have to pay extra for this. The approximate venting cost he was given is an estimated amount that is charged in a typical installation. As the customer changed both the installation type and unit type after the original site visit this was a unforseen issue and a miscommunication.
Jack F.
Palm Beach Gardens,Florida,
Florida Public Utilites Response to my Ripoff
#3Author of original report
Tue, July 22, 2014
After Anytime Company tried to rip me off today I called Gia at Florida Public Utilites. She handles the sales and set up of the installations for the products they sell.
She was apalled at the way I was treated, especially since they came to my home, knew exactly what was required for my installation, and would not honor the price they gave me.
She also is setting up an appointment with a different contractor for my installation. Hopefully they will no longer use Anytime Companies after my experience today.
Make sure if you are using FPU's special program to upgrade your appliances or water heater you ask for a different contractor than Anytime Companies, they have other companies you can use.
Also don't let the fact that Anytime Companies has Angie's List plastered all over their vehicles make you think they are reputable, they are not, anyone can buy stickers.