Anyone who purchases any warranty from RepairTech, DO not do this. I have been battling with them for over the last month to get at least a phone call from them.
I started to call them on 12-01-08 to get my annual cleaning of my camera done. The type of camera I have needs a once a year cleaning of the senors. I numerous times and the line was busy. Out of frustration, I call the company that I purchased my camera from, SunShine Electronics, and they gave me their RepairTech's Rep, Nicole's email.
I composed the following letter to her:
I purchased a Cannon Rebel XTI Camera on 10-30-07 from Sunshine Electronics (Invoice 418959) and purchased a 5 year extended warranty on it through your company. I registered the warranty within the 30 day time frame. This warranty was explained to me that it would cover maintence on this camera, such as cleaning the sensors once a year and if I should god forbid drop the camera. Luckly I have not dropped it. But, the sensors do need cleaning. I have been trying to reach your company on the 1-800 line and it is constantly busy. So, I called Sunshine Electronics, where I purchased my camera and they referred me to you. Before I started this process of contacting your company I referred to your website for authorized dealers to call on and to set up a cleaning job and do a check up on my camera.
Your site listed the following:
RONSTRONICS
2451 BUHNE ST
EUREKA, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-1810
I called this business and the wonderful woman, who answered the phone explained to me that they only do tv; microwaves; etc. NOT cameras. I explained the warranty and the company that it was from and she stated that they have not such a contract. I gave her your web address and how to look up on your site who are authorized providers. She stated she will look into this and will be calling this company. She was not a very happy person regarding this situation.
My camera model number is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Serial Number: CCCCCCCCCCCCC
Please refference the attached Jpeg file number: q4
My membership number for my Warranty is MMMMMMMMMMM
Please refference the attached Jpeg file Number q3
When I purchased this warranty SunShine Electronics guarranteed me that there was a local dealer in my area, who could work on my camera and your web site offered a substandarded option that doesn't work on cameras. Here are the only 2 business in my area that actually works on cameras.
Please feel free to refference the yellow pages for Eureka, Humboldt County California online.
Swanlund's Camera (They are also the authorized Cannon Dealer in this county)
527 F St
Eureka, Ca 95501
707-442-4522
www.swanlunds.com
-OR-
Ritz Cameras
3300 Broadway
Bayshore Mall
Eureka, Ca
95501
707-445-0547
Attached Jpeg q1 is a copy of my orgnial invoice from Sunshine Electronics. Jpeg Q2 second line from the bottom shows the price I paid for this 5 year warranty.
What I would like is my camera to be serviced by a local provider as promised.
Thank You for your time,
Erica ****
I didn't receive a response from her. So, I kept calling and even got a chance to leave a voice mail message that was never returned. I kept calling SunShine Electronics with the issues about contacting them due to they might have a better way of contacting them. I forwarded the emails to them and they started calling. On 12-04-08 I filed a complaint with the BBB in New Jersey. I tried throughout the month of December 2008 from time to time tried to call RepairTech and all I got was a busy signal.
I would also call Sunshine Electronics and let them know. They would even email them. They had no other phone numbers for them, just email addresses. Today I got an email from the BBB stating that they had to close my case due to RepairTech did not respond to their letters. They referred me to Middlesex County Dept of Consumer Affairs. As of today I am completing and compiling a complaint.
Today I thought I would give it one more try to get a hold of RepairTech. Their new number 908-372-0767 was yet again busy. So, I called SunShine Electronics and spoke to my steadfast guy. He emailed them yet again. This man is nice and is sure tired of hearing my voice. His company is talking about dropping this company warranty program due to my complaints. Anyways, he tells me to sit tight and they should call within an hour.
After an hour, I call him back and tell him, they are blowing smoke up someone's you know what. He emails them again and tells me that he got a quick response back, while talking to me. Someone will call me me soon. I can not sit around the house for the rest of the afternoon waiting for a call, I leave and go pick up my child from school. When I get home, my boyfriend tells me that someone called and he plays the message.
Since I am hard of hearing and the man spoke fast, he wrote it down for me. The message was from Joseph Saieda, 201-675-5004, President of RepairTech. I call him back. Now mind you, I am calling him long distance from California. After we greet each other, he puts me on hold for approx 4 minutes, that is just running up my phone bill. When he comes back he starts talking fast and I explain that I am hard of hearing. Could he please slow down due to I am having a hard time. Does he slow down? NOPE!!!
I ask him if he has read the above email. He stated he just skimmed it. I stated that my camera needs the annual cleaning, including the sensor. He stated that they don't cover the sensor. I asked why? He could not give me a straight answer. I explained that per the website and the warranty paperwork does not specific state this. I also explained that the USB port has some damage and I would like it fixed. I explained that per the website that the closest service center in my area does not do cameras.
So, I want another provider in my area. He stated that I can send my camera to Miami, Florida to his service center. I stated that is not what his company website stated. He stated that the website is not always correct. I stated my camera is not going out of state and will stay locally. I don't trust this company as far as I can throw it. He stated that I can go local; but, if it is over the cost of his service center cost, then that will eat up my warranty and that could cancel my warranty. This I didn't understand and he would not explain it completely.
I stated that since we are not agreeing with the terms, then I would like my warranty refunded. He stated I would have to call SunShine Electronics for the refund. I stated that they said he will need to refund it, not them. I offered to have it pro-rated one year. He stated he can do that with an unknown surcharge. I said absolutely not.
At this point he got on some tirade that I could not understand, I asked him please slow down. He then put me on hold and hung up. 5 minutes later he called back and I refused to speak to him due to I was too angry about the conversation. My boyfriend was frusterated from speaking to this man and hung up on him.
To everyone out there, who is in the same boat as me, follow through with the Department of Consumer Affairs. Yes, this is frusterating; but, if we stand together, then we can make a difference and hopefully put this sham of a business out of business.
Ejensen1
Eureka, California
U.S.A.