Scare tactics from Service Providers
Across the past month, two of our regular house maintenance providers with whom we have contracted for years, one for HVAC and one for lawn maintenance, have each tried to scare us into signing up for additional services. The HVAC tech showed me photos of what he claimed was our filthy ductwork, telling me how they really should clean the ducts and clean and lubricate the furnace motor since these contribute to indoor air pollution and can trigger lung disease. 4,000. Well, I checked at the return air and the photos were not even our system. Not only was our system in good shape, but the price is more than double what that work, when actually needed, should cost.
Yesterday, the lawn services company pushed to upsell me on pest control services. I declined. His response was to explain how ticks carry Lyme Disease and how adding this service is essential. Well, we don’t have Lyme Disease carrying ticks in this entire region.
You may have already guessed it…yep…both companies were bought by Private Equity investors. The techs are being paid commissions for selling overpriced and unnecessary add-ons.