Instead of a review, let's call this a report card. In January a man knocked on my door. He was…read morethere from Service Genius to let me know that the LADWP and the South Coast AQMD "GO ZERO" program had amazing rebates I could take advantage of. With a $12,500 rebate from one, and a $3,000 rebate from the other, they would install a brand new, state of the art mini-split AC/Heat Pump system that ordinarily cost $15,900... FOR JUST $400!!
I told him I already owned a recently purchased $7,000 AC unit and had a working heater, so even if it was a great deal I didn't need it. He told me the mini-split system would lower my electric bills and my heater was over 10 years old and would need replacing soon anyway. I was still skeptical about the rebates, so I said no, thank you.
Days later, after I did some heavy research on my own and found everything he had told me about the rebates was legit, I asked him to come back to answer a few last questions. Even with all my vetting I told him I wouldn't sign a contract unless I was protected if, for any reason, I did not receive the rebates. He contacted a 2nd representative who came over to assure me I would be reimbursed if that happened. I RECORDED that conversation and filed it away... just in case.
They explained if I didn't have the funds to pay them up front (and who does) I could take out a loan from a company they made a deal with. Service Genius was paid the financed amount, and I owe GreenSky $15,900 with up to 12 months to pay with no finance charges. That's a frightening amount of debt for someone on a fixed income. But I was encouraged not to worry because they had done this dozens of times and their customers had always received their rebates. They were certain that after the installation and an inspection the following week from LADBS, I'd get a $12,500 check 2 to 3 weeks later to pay off the loan... easy peasy. They would even fill out all the paperwork and submit it for me. The $3,000 rebate would come even sooner. I agreed for them to go ahead. Today is Aug. 8. Here's where things stand:
1. In the 3rd week of Feb. Service Genius hauled away my new $7,000 AC unit and installed their newer system.
2. In March the system failed the first inspection.
3. In May I was told the GO ZERO $3,000 rebate program has been put on "pause" and to keep checking to see when it would be reinstated (if ever).
4. By the end of July, the LADBS inspector had made three trips here and the system still hasn't passed. It's been 6 months and I still have not received the $12,500 LADWP rebate or the $3,000 one.
Two weeks ago I became nervous and went back to check my paperwork. I discovered that what they had emailed me was a signed estimate, not the contract I remembered signing. I've called the office almost every day since then asking to speak with someone who has the authority to confirm that I would be protected if the system failed to qualify for the rebates. I was repeatedly told that someone would contact me. No one has yet, so I requested a copy of the signed contract from the person who answered the phone. I discovered that the written language does not say what I understood their representatives had promised me. Fortunately, that's the conversation I recorded in which those assurances were made verbally.
So far, this company's grade is a resounding F. I will update this review to report exactly what Service Genius does--or does not do--to get this system through inspection and obtain the rebates I was promised when I agreed to this purchase. As things stand today, I have financed $15,900 for a system I agreed to purchase because I was told my FINAL OUT-OF-POCKET COST would be $400. Until this is resolved and I can change their grade to an A, prospective customers should know exactly what has happened to me before agreeing to a similar rebate-financed installation.
