1 STAR -- A $49 OFFER TURNED INTO A $7,000+ INVOICE + FEES + DAMAGE…read more
What began as a $49 air-duct cleaning offer resulted in an invoice for more than $7,000, financing fees, an A/C repair, damaged vents, and multiple unresolved problems.
My home is new construction and primarily had a thin layer of construction dust and debris in the ductwork. The technician made the condition seem extremely urgent, and I felt pressured to make an expensive decision immediately instead of having time to research my options.
I repeatedly told him I could not afford the recommended air-purification system and was willing to wait and pay cash later. Instead, I was encouraged to open a Synchrony Professional Services credit card and have everything installed that day.
The financing was not adequately explained. I was not clearly informed beforehand of $600+ in fees, including $525.02 and $69 on my invoice plus a $29 Synchrony activation fee that pushed the card over its limit. I am also paying 8% interest. Promotional financing was not available for the initial transaction. Had I understood these costs, I would have waited and paid cash as I originally said I wanted to.
The technician also told me the installed air-purification system would completely eliminate cooking odors traveling throughout my home. That has not been my experience. He told me I could get rid of the individual air purifiers I use in rooms for my infant and my two-year-old with asthma. I am not comfortable doing that, especially because I was promised before-and-after air-quality testing that never happened.
I later found what appears to be a newer model with an installation kit at Home Depot for around $500. Had I not felt pressured to decide immediately, I could have researched the equipment, compared prices, and discussed installation with an electrician for a fraction of what I ultimately paid.
After the cleaning, my one-year-old A/C would not turn back on. Apex could not return until later that afternoon on an approximately 90-degree day. With an infant in the home, I was not willing to wait without working A/C. I paid $200 for an independent HVAC technician to repair the problem after Apex left with the system not working.
The cleanup was also unacceptable. I found nails, screws, and even broken glass around areas where vents had been removed. I had to clean underneath the vents and vacuum everything myself. With a two-year-old crawling and playing in these areas, this was extremely concerning.
Three large return vents were damaged and warped from the way they were screwed back into place. Some vents were not cleaned at all.
I specifically requested a duct-camera inspection, but the technician arrived without a duct camera and used his cell phone in select areas. I also requested before-and-after air-quality testing and received neither. After the cleaning, I began finding pieces of fiberglass insulation coming through the vents.
I contacted customer service approximately three weeks ago, and these concerns remain unresolved. One of the charges pushed the Apex-financed credit card over its limit, yet I have essentially been told that the fee is my responsibility. This is particularly frustrating because I specifically said BEFORE agreeing to the system that I could not afford it and wanted to wait.
I started with a $49 cleaning offer for construction dust in a new home. I ended up with a $7,000+ invoice, $600+ in financing-related fees, 8% interest, a $200 HVAC repair, three damaged return vents, missed vents, sharp debris left behind, no promised air-quality testing, no comprehensive duct-camera inspection, fiberglass coming through my vents, and an expensive system that has not performed as represented to me.
The most frustrating part is that I was willing to wait. Had the complete financing costs been disclosed and had I been given time to research the equipment, I would have made a very different decision.
Customers spending thousands of dollars deserve complete pricing and financing information before agreeing to the work, time to research their options without feeling pressured into an immediate purchase, and a home that is left clean and safe afterward.
Based on my experience, I do not recommend Apex.