Getting scammed (especially in your home) is an unfortunate and frustrating experience. However, appliance repair scams are completely avoidable if you are knowledgeable and know what to look for.
So without further ado, here is our advice on how to avoid falling victim to a scam.
How to Avoid Appliance Repair Scams
- Don’t pay first.
A repair technician who asks you for a payment before making the appliance repair is a major red flag. They may claim a payment is required upfront to pay for a part, but this should set off alarm bells. Bottomline, only pay for the work they have done. Otherwise, you may be out of a working appliance and money in the bank.
- Double check their qualifications and licensing.
Unfortunately, there are unqualified repair technicians who claim to be qualified and licenced. Several states required contractors to be licensed and/or bonded. Check with your local building department or consumer protection agency to find out about licensing requirements in your area. If your state or locality has licensing laws, make sure the contractor’s license is current.
Jon Baker, the owner of iFiX, has acquired several different certifications and authorizations of various projects, including RMGA (Questar Certification), EPA608 (Environmental Protection Agency), and various other factory training.
Research the company to ensure they’re an established company whose record and reputation speaks for itself. It’s also helpful to check their online reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Keep an eye out for words like “scam,” “fraud,” “complaint,” or “rip-off.”
- Ask for estimates so they don’t overestimate the repairs.
We recommend asking for several bids to ensure you’re getting a fair price. Don’t automatically choose to hire the lowest bidder. If there’s a major price difference, ask for an explanation to see what the reason is.
- Be wary if they increase the price along the way.
In this case, a repair technician tells you they’re capable of fixing your broken appliance at a certain price only to tell you that it requires double or triple the cost, parts, and labor. They’ll most likely try to pass off a simple repair as a more complicated one.
- Err of the side of caution if they pass off a complicated repair as “simple.”
Opposite of scam number 4, this scam involves a repair technician who tries to pass off a complicated repair as a simple one. You’ll end up paying for expensive labor and parts that weren’t necessary to begin with, which can burn a hole in your pocket and lead to even more appliance issues.
Get a Free, No-Obligation Second Opinion
Repairing appliances can be costly and time-consuming, so it’s important to get it right the first time around. Whether you’re experiencing a broken refrigerator, dishwasher, or washing machine, falling victim to a technician’s poor training, mistake, or outright fraud is frustrating. That’s why it’s beneficial to get a second opinion from an experienced appliance repair company.
At iFiX, we offer a convenient, no obligation, free second opinion on all appliance repairs. This allows you to tap into our years of knowledge and experience without breaking the bank. Our goal is to provide our customers with peace of mind by offering a fair and honest second opinion on appliance repairs in Northern Utah.
Whether it’s a simple repair or a major replacement, we offer a free second opinion for the following services:
- Dishwasher Repair
- Dryer Repair
- Freezer Repair
- Garbage Disposal Repair
- Ice Maker Repair
- Microwave Repair
- Oven, Stovetop, Range Repair
- Refrigerator Repair
- Trash Compactor Repair
- Vent Hood Repair
- Warming Drawer Repair
- Washing Machine Repair
- Wine Cooler Repair
Plus, we offer a 1-year parts and labor guarantee, so you’ll never have to worry about paying for the same service more than once within that time frame. You can rest assured that our staff of highly trained technicians will be there as soon as possible to help you quickly diagnose and repair your home appliances.
Why Choose iFiX For a Second Opinion
As a family-owned and operated appliance repair company, iFiX has local ties to Northern Utah and values working with our local customers. Our qualified appliance technicians can successfully service all makes and models of appliances, new and used. We do our best to give you top-notch repair with friendly customer service, and it shows in our online reviews.
Whether you’re looking for a second opinion because another appliance repair company isn’t meeting expectations or you’re paying too much, iFiX is here to help you. We offer:
- Professionally trained technicians
- Warranties
- Up front pricing
- No hidden charges
Regardless of how complicated or complex your appliance problem may be, you can always count on us to get the job done right, on time, and within budget. As professional appliance repair technicians, we only recommend what is necessary to get your appliances running efficiently.
Schedule a Second Opinion With iFiX
Before you commit to a costly repair, consider getting a second opinion. As your most-trusted option for appliance repair in Ogden and surrounding cities, iFiX will provide you with a second opinion at no cost with the competitors invoice in hand. Our highly trained technicians are licensed, bonded, and insured. Contact us today at 801-731-4349 to schedule an appointment
Hear What Our Customers Have to Say
We don’t rest on our laurels. We practice what we preach, so we wanted to let our work speak for itself by sharing a few testimonials.
“Jon was amazing. Knowledgeable, professional, and efficient. He fixed our drawer refrigerator quickly, and it did not cost an arm and a leg. While the refrigerator was cooling (to make sure it was fixed), he answered my 100 questions about all the other appliances I have in our recently purchased home. I would highly recommend IFIX and I will be using him again in the future.”
— Reviewed by Julia S. on Google
“I had an appointment scheduled for iFiX to repair a smoking dryer. Ultimately I decided to buy another used dryer from someone else. I called Jonathan to cancel my appointment, and he was super cool about it. He also gave me installation advice for the dryer I just bought, and how to ensure that it runs smoothly, and he made a recommendation on a different type of dryer that might work better for us in the future. Even AFTER I CANCELED the appointment. These dudes are the patron saints of appliances, and I will continue to utilize/recommend them in the future. (I also used them several months ago for help on fixing a freezer.)”
— Reviewed by Joshua B on Google
We Strive To Bring You The Best Service In The Industry
If we have recently helped service your appliance and you would like to leave us a review, please feel free. Our two main platforms for reviews are Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
One Response
You had a good point about getting multiple bids in order to make sure you have a fair price. No one wants to get a bad deal. Especially when it is for an important appliance that they need on a regular basis.