We Got Soaked by 151 Water Filtration consumer ripoff *Consumer Suggestion
In October of 2000 we purchased an AQL 50 Water Treatment system (this is a Rain Soft product) and 2 reverse osmosis units from 151 Water Filtration in Amarillo, Texas. We had very bad water and had been told not to drink it until we installed a filtration system. 151 sent out a Mr. Robert Lasky to look at our well and he assured us that they had just the system to take care of our problem.
One week later they sent a crew to install the system. Once the installation was complete they handed us a packet of papers and left. They didn't explain anything about the maintenance of the system and as it turns out there was no warranty information in the packet for the AQL 50 system. We knew right away that the system was not working properly but it took several months to get them to send someone to check it.
When they finally sent someone, he showed up without prior notice and no one was home. He did that the next 2 times he came out and he never fixed the problem.
In April of 2001 we requested that they just come and remove the system because they didn't seem to know how to make it work. Of course, they refused. We wrote to Aquion Partners which is the parent company of Rain Soft. The basically told us we would have to work it out with the distributor.
Mr. Lasky, with 151, finally agreed to come out and look at the system. Sure enough, he found that part of it was incorrectly installed and damaged and would have to be replaced. He left us a note stating that he would be back the following day. He never returned.
In the midst of all of this are numerous phone calls and messages that we had left that were never returned. This system cost us almost $6,000. Which we paid $1,000 down payment. At this point the AQL 50 system is not even hooked up and we can't get them to either make it work or remove it.
What really bothers me about this company is that this Mr. Lasky that came to our house initially, brought his wife and kids and just really worked the "family" thing on us. We've been lied to and at this point we are still paying for a system that is not even hooked up. Do we have any recourse at all other than a costly court battle?
Phyllis
Clayton, NM
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Yes there is something you can do. Don't pay another dime on that system.
#20
Wed, January 23, 2002
They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:
Their email: TheFraudChick@aol.com
Their name: The Fraud Chick
Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion
Rebuttal:
Phyllis,
Yes there is something you can do. Don't pay another dime on that system. Hopefully ALL you paid was $1,000.
I want you to send the distributor a carefully worded letter outlining what you did here in this report.
1. The chronological order of how things evolved. The system not working, no help from them all the way up to the last visit.
2. Express your dissatisfaction with the system and point out that you did not receive what was promised.
3. Give the salesman a 30-day time limit to remove the system from your house. (Do not touch it yourself or he will blame the problems on you)
4. Give a 30-day deadline on when you expect your $1,000 (or whatever you spent on the system).
If he does not comply and get the crappy system out of your house and give you back all of your money you will:
A. Take him to small claims IMMEDIATELY. You'll definitely win. Do this promptly after the 30-day deadline and be sure to ask for your court fees. Don't ask for lost wages because you won't get it.
B. Report him to the Attorney General's Office for deceptive practices and misrepresentation.
C. After the 30 days you will begin to charge him storage fees for the unit for every week it is left in your home (say $10 a week).
Do NOT let him put you off with more excuses or a wall of silence. Be determined and get your money back pronto!
I forgot to mention that the letter you send the salesman should be certified and that you should retain a copy for yourself.
Good Luck
The Fraud Chick