I have been nagging the landlord/maintenance people about this for about 2 weeks now. The first time I complained about it was after I came home from teaching in the evening and it was over 80F in my apartment (on an over 90F day). The next day, they came by and it was about 70F outside, so I wasn’t even using the HVAC system. I’m sure the guy went, “feels cold to me.” Which is true, on a cool day, it works “fine.”
However, I finally got them to come on a hot day, while I was home. The man measured the air coming out of the vent to be only 11F colder than the air at the return duct. I asked him what was the determination of whether the unit was “working” according to him, and he said, “I’d like to see at least 15F.” Of course, I looked it up and in reality it should be even more like 17-20F. Nevertheless, he agreed that there was a problem and that he would take care of it this week.
At the time, he said, “it isn’t that bad in here,” because it was around 76F on a 90F day. However, I pointed out to him that since I know it can’t keep up, overnight I have been running the A/C down to around 70F or less to get ahead. What particularly irks me is that their slowness in taking care of this directly affects how expensive my electric bill will be this month (and the coming months).
I continue to wait and bake.
UPDATE (06/26/09):
The fan died yesterday, and the compressor died too. But, they didn’t come until it was already 4pm.. and they said, “this is the best we can do:”
These two units could barely make my bedroom pleasant to be in, with the sun down. I’m supposed to survive two more 90F+ days with these..
UPDATE (07/08/09):
I called on Monday (07/06/09), to determine if any sort of rent concession would be made for the lack of A/C. After some argument about me being unreasonable since it has “not been hot” and that “we are doing everything that we can,” I told her that I only wanted a concession for the days it was over 90F, which are documented. She told me she had to talk to her supervisor, and that she would get back to me.
I was told that no such concession would be made. I had a long argument (10 minutes) about why it was obviously warranted, and I was told that my request was unreasonable. I merely asked for the 3 days which were excessively hot (above 90F), which were documented by phone calls and conversations with many, many employees of CFC, Inc. The manager told me that she had no idea the days I was speaking of and that I had a conversation with the head maintenance man, which never occurred. And the conclusion of that conversion (that I did not want to stay in the model apartment) was the extent of their compensation for the problem. I pointed out that if they had offered such an accommodation, then it was in fact an acknowledgment that it was excessively hot (despite her attempts to say it was never excessively hot in my apartment). I also pointed out to her that their own literature sets 85F as the maximum temperature I am allowed to leave my apartment to prevent property damage and I am on the hook for damages, however when its their fault, they make no accommodation. She had no response other than to keep saying, “I can’t make an accommodation for you” and that “Larry told me he offered you the model apartment and that your apartment was not hot.”
I gave up after 10 minutes and her agreeing to waive my late fees for waiting until the 6th to pay my rent. I confronted Larry (the maintenance man) about the accusation that I was lying about my situation and he insisted that he offered me the model apartment but that I declined because of my guitars.. to which I said, “I don’t recall that but you are right that my concern is about my property and not my personal comfort.” And I recounted my argument about the hypocrisy of the rules and procedures dictated by CFC, Inc. He merely said, “I don’t think I’ve heard anyone put it like that before..” I still don’t know when my A/C unit is coming in. I talk to the maintenance man directly and he yet again told me he needed to get back to me about it. Everybody keeps saying, “I’ll get back to you about it,” and never does. I told him, “well, the sooner it gets replaced, the sooner I’ll stop complaining.”
Quality customer service.
UPDATE (07/14/09):
As a matter of record, the unit was replaced today. They broke a ceiling tile and failed to take their portable A/C units back.
UPDATE (08/01/09):
I still have their portable A/C units..
Cumberland (2009.07)
