Complaint Review: Elite Gates (Eddie Albert & Sheila Albert) - Los Angeles California

Elite Gates of Los Angeles, an authorized dealer and repair service for LiftMaster products, was hired to repair our defective Elite Miracle 1 electric swing arm gate opener manufactured by Chamberlain/LiftMaster. They performed two service calls, one in December 2009, the second in March 2011. On the second visit, immediately following the repair service, we discovered that we had been overcharged on parts: $250 for two limit switches that sell for $19.99 each on their website. Upon learning of this overcharge, we looked up the records for the service call in 2009 and found that, once again, Elite Gates had overcharged us: $250 for a battery that sells for $59 on their website.

I immediately called Elite Gates to find out why they had charged us hundreds of dollars for parts that sell for tens of dollars on their website. In total, the repairs for the two visits exceeded the cost of a new unit. Elite Gates refused to answer my calls, placing me on hold for well over 10 minutes, so a stop payment was placed on the check for the services in March until the issue could be sorted out. Several weeks went by with no response, then Elite Gates suddenly came alive. However, they were not interested in explaining the charges instead, they began aggressively demanding that we pay up right away, or risk being hit with a mechanic's lien and "lengthy and tedious" legal proceedings.

Complaints have since been filed with several government and consumer protection agencies for investigation. Initially, Elite Gates claimed they do not "hide the price for which we sell them [parts] for online to do-it-yourselfers and wholesale dealers... the price you pay for parts at your home to solve the problem on the spot, have your gate working again and to have the repair warranted by us is not the price you'll pay online, wait to receive them by mail and install them yourself without warranty." What they didn't mention is that a service call fee of $145 had already been assessed for labor and installation. Parts fees are for parts (cost of materials) and service fees are for labor and installation just like the invoice shows.

Now, Elite Gates is telling investigators at the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) and State Contractors Licensing Board (CSLB) that the Elite Gates website offering the parts for sale does not belong to them, but a sister company. In fact, both websites are registered to United Marketing Group, Inc. dba Elite Gates. Elite Gates is claiming that their parts sales business is separate from their repair service, and therefore do not have to honor the prices posted on their website. Rather than taking initiative to resolve the problem, Elite Gates has hired a professional service to file a mechanic's lien against our property.

Even more reprehensible, is that Chamberlain, the manufacturer of the LiftMaster Elite Miracle One, has supported this authorized dealer's abusive behavior, saying, "we are not responsible for transactions between you and your local dealer as they are an independent company." Chamberlain informed me that they have NO minimum requirements or code of conduct for their dealers. In fact, LiftMaster continues to refer unsuspecting customers to this dealer through its authorized dealer locator feature on the LiftMaster website, despite several complaints from other customers about overcharging, among other issues.

Bottom line: If you are looking for gate repair service in Los Angeles, avoid Elite Gates.