Billing Question and Vent re: Pool.

[DawnCt1]

I have had the same pool company open and close my pool for several years. This May I had a new filter installed when they opened the pool. It was a rainy week and when it finally stopped raining it was evident that a new connection they made was leaking in addition to the connection at the heater. I called them to come back. They reglued the new connection and hand tightened the heater connection, saying sometimes the pool closers loosen it. Two weeks later I received an additional bill for $84. I contend that the $1250 for the new filter and the pool opening should include any oversights they may have had from the opening and the installation. I called them back because the job was not adequate. I can accept that the glue doesn't set up in the rain, etc but when they left it shouldn't have leaked. I called service, questioned the bill. No one got back to me. I figured it was taken care of. A month later..another bill. I went in to the pool company to talk to "Denise". I was polite and "assumed" it was a "mistake". Denise was very abrupt, had to leave immediately, late to the day care center for her DS, etc". I dismissed her rudeness as having a parental bad hair day. She never got back to me. Again, I assumed she took care of it. Another bill comes today. I go in AGAIN. Denise is talking to the owner. I have to wait 15 minutes and yet there are no other customers in the store. She comes down and mentions that they had to tighten the heater connection. I point out that it wasn't the only leak, that it took 10 seconds, that I have paid in excess of $1500 since March for service and supplies and that it is unconscienable to nickel and dime customers for what should have been done properly in the first place. She then tells me that if they "gave things away they wouldn't have a business". At that point I got mad. I said, "Denise, I came in in a good mood and now I am angry. It is hot, my ice coffee is melting and I had to wait almost 15 minutes to talk to you", The best I am going to do is to pay half and that will be payment in full". She agreed. After she left the woman that runs the store portion said that I should come back and talk to "L" and tell her what happened. I like the people in the store. I think I will however because this company has two accounts that I referred to them. I think the 'boss' should know that she kept a customer waiting while she talked to him about something other than my situation. At this point its only $42 but then, I feel it is MY $42. Any thoughts?

 

[bicker]

Since you offered to pay the $42, by agreeing to pay half of the outstanding bill, you became obligated to pay it at that time. With regard to whether you ever owed the $84, it's academic now, but it is hard to know because there is probably some more information that we don't know, like what was the real cause of the secondary leak. If that leak was solely because of a bad installation, then that's one thing. However, the point was made that the secondary leak was caused by some damage, unrelated to the new filter, caused by the people who closed your pool last year. If that was the case, then you're getting off easy at $42.