Angie's List

Joewho

Opening an Angie's List bashing thread.
Anyone on the list? Know anyone on the list? Know any customers who use it?
Had any experiences with it?

I'm on it but sure don't put any eggs in that basket.

LennyV-NHSNOLA

It just opened up down here in N'Awlins. I'm not sure if I'm going to like it or not but I did use it recently to report an A/C-Heating contractor that tried to rip me off on my personal A/C-Heating system. I also filed complaints with the BBB, State Contractors Board and Parish (County) Code Enforcement office. The State Board says they can't do anything until I file suit and get a judgment. The BBB complaint is still ongoing and the guy is trying to say that he did not do the wiring... but nobody else was involved in the installation other than his company. This is wiring that is inside of the Air Handler and also the wiring from the junction box to the Air Handler. Another thing I learned is he was supposed to put in a power cut off or pull out box between the junction and the Air Handler, rather than just relying on the existing circuit breaker in the back bedroom closet.

This guy really p*ssed me off and refused to honor his work or warranty. My electrical wiring was melting inside of the Air Handler due to his crappy work.

I don't like reporting a fellow contractor but people can die with this kind of contractor out there. I realize the actual "company" did not do the work and they probably had a hack employee screwing things up but when I pointed it out to them that my wiring was melting, they sent someone out to look at it, then they told me I had to hire an electrician to fix it and then they wanted to charge me a $69.00 service call... after they just got paid thousands for a brand new A/C-Heating system that was just installed less than a year beforehand.... by them!

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Lenny V. - Come down and visit us in New Orleans and the 'burbs!

Joewho

Did you post in the hvac forum? With the installer and Co. both denying the wiring, sounds like something is up with that. They want extra? Are they not qualified? Or just being jerks?

The list isn't that strong in vegas either, but it's big in the midwest.
I'm not opposed because I've gotten top reviews (all 2 of them). But I'm hearing that it can be a bad thing.

LennyV-NHSNOLA

When I finally got the owner to return my call... but not until he started getting notice of all of my complaints... he had a really crappy attitude with me and stood by the "company line" that it was not their work. By this time, there were 20-30 other complaints since I live in a condo and I started notifying all of the other people who had their units replace after Hurricane Katrina. Now this company is trying to say that I'm not the customer and that the association was the customer and is trying to use that loophole to get my complaints dropped by the BBB, etc. So far, it's not working.

I heard back from Angie's List and all they asked me to do was take out the wording about the other 20-30 units that may be affected. They had no problem with my complaint but they said I cannot complain on behalf of the other people. That's fine with me as now many of them are filing their own complaints so now this bad company will have even more complaints to deal with.

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Lenny V. - Come down and visit us in New Orleans and the 'burbs!

Joewho

It's very possible that the HOA didn't want them to do the wiring, and not pay them for it.

LennyV-NHSNOLA

You may be right about the HOA board... they are a bunch of idiots... but, according to Code Enforcement, the customer (either me or HOA) does not have that option. The contractor is responsible for making sure the wiring, connections, etc., were correct and up to code before they installed the A/C-Heating systems and told people they were OK to use. Any one of these units could have caught fire possibly killing people. We have paid an electrician to come in and make the corrections required by Code Enforcement.

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Lenny V. - Come down and visit us in New Orleans and the 'burbs!

Humble Abode

I don't see how Angie's List could be a bad thing. Homeowners are the ones paying for it so you get honest reviews. I think it would be a good thing to get listed for a contractor. It exposes you to a new market.

Also your not allowed to "put any eggs in that basket."
Contractors cannot pay to have advertising with Angie's List.

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Just because some of us can read and write and do a little math, that doesn't mean we deserve to conquer the Universe. Kurt Vonnegut, (1922 - 2007) from the Novel 'Hocus Pocus'
The NAPP
Milwaukee Painting Contractor

Teetorbilt

Humble, have you ever dealt with HO's? Everybody in Port Clinton, OH would love me to death. The ones in Sunrise, FL would never have a good word even if I married their fat/ugly daughter and had a ton of kids.

IMHO, most I-net ratings aren't worth the pixels that produce them.

I'm just sure that there are sexy young girls in long forgotten towns just waiting for some old dude. I'm sure that you have seen the same stuff.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Joewho

As far as I know, contractors cannot get on the list unless a paying customer puts them on it. After that, you can advertise and they will call you to ask if you'll advertise. They've called me several times. That's how I found out I was on it.
You're subject to the customers perception, which may not be accurate, one way or the other.

I just did a bid for one, and lost. However, the customer was very pleased with the way I "busted it out" for her. Lots of accent walls and sheens. Oh well.