I strongly recommend avoiding Comfort Wave for any service other than basic tune-ups! I own a…read moreduplex and arranged two work orders with Home Depot. One side was completed for $25.00, which included a detailed, complimentary diagnostic report with printouts and pictures, allowing me to consider future services.
On the other property where my elderly veteran father lives, the thermostat wasn't working, so I fixed it by changing the battery. The Tech heard me telling my dad I would change the battery and quickly informed me that diagnosing the issue would incur a $66 rework fee rather than just the Home Depot tune-up cost special for $25.00. However, at the end of the second service, I was charged a non-refundable $166.00 diagnostic fee. Comfort wave tech Sebastian explained that since the work ran past 5 PM, he couldn't give me a quote on the spot but would send one the next day.
The next day, the manager informed me that they needed to make a profit from the diagnosis because customers often go with other companies, and I see why customers would do this. The $66.00 service fee should have come with a diagnosis. I told the sales manager that the technician should have clearly communicated that there would be both a $66 charge and a $166.00 charge= $232 for the second property, not just making mention of the $66.00 service fee. I felt deceived since I was only informed of the charges at the "end of the service". If I had known up front, I would have declined to switch to Comfort Waves service. They do have one of the lowest service fees in Oklahoma; however, that is because they will force you at the end of the service with a random cost the homeowner knows nothing about. This is the new scam hustle. I should have only been charged $66.00 for the second property, which is fair. If the time had been before 5 pm, I would have been given quotes to decide to go with a possible repair, and wouldn't have known or been charged the ridiculous diagnostic fee of $166.00.
For the $25 service on one side, I received six attached quotes for potential future services with emailed pictures, costs, and diagrams in PDFs. To me, this should be considered part of the tune-up service, allowing customers to decide on any additional services. Again, the $66 service fee should have had the same follow-up service.
The quote for the circuit board replacement ended up being $692.00, which was $526.00 after deducting the $166.00 fee. I found this to be outrageous, especially when a local HVAC supplier told me the board costs between $175.00 and $220.00.
This experience made it clear that Comfort Wave is taking advantage of homeowners, the elderly, and women, especially. My second $25.00 Home Depot tune-up turned into a wasted $232.00.
Here to think them having a cancellation to get both my properties in was a blessing. Nope, it was a big red flag mistake. So, if you are going through Home Depot or Lowe's promotions with local HVAC companies, be fully aware that once you change from the promotional cost, they will scam you into crazy HVAC costs regardless of whether you get work done or not.