Mel's Appliance Service, 3811-A Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, fl
Complaint 7647 Details

On 2/18/11 Mel's Appliance technican made an estimate of $477.27 to repair the top element of an oven and to replace a magnetic gasket that he determined was causing ice formation in the freezer compartment of our Whirpool refidgerator. The gasket portion of the estimate was 268.57.

On 3/15 the repairs were made by the same technician that made the estimate and 477.27 was put on Mastercard.

Approximately 3 weeks later, I called Mel's Appliance and told them that ice was forming in the upper left side of the freezer compartment. They sent the same technian out, and he repositioned the magnetic gasket.

Approximately two weeks later, I called Mel's appliance and told them ice was still forming in the upper left side freezer compartment. At that time, I was told that Mel himself would come out. Two weeks later Mel came out and said that the gasket would have to be replaced.

I called Mastercard ,worrying that Mastercard would not put a dispute in after 90 days. They said that they could not dispute it while Mel was still trying to fix it, but said that I would have another 90 days after the repair was made to dispute it.

The new magnetic gasket came in and was installed on 6/21/11. One week later, I called Mel's appliance stating that ice was still forming in the upper left side freezer compartment. At this time Mel called A+ Action Appliance to come out and analyze the freezer problem. Their technician determined that another new magnetic gasket needed to be installed. He asked me where the ice originally formed, and I said in the middle of the refridgerator. He they said that the Magnetic gasket might not have been the problem. It may have been that the icemaker was stuck open. They ordered it and installed it on 7/1/11 adding silicone glue to hold the gasket even further.

We noticed within a week ice had started to form in the freezer compartment. We were on vacation, starting 7/11/11 to 7/25/11.
When we got back, a large chunk of ice fell out of the freezer compartment. We called Action Appliance and they would not address the problem(although the invoice they left with us guaranteed all work for 90 days). They said they had talked to Mel's Appliance and we would have to work it out with Mel's Appliance. I called Mel's and they said the problem was not the seal, and the freezer door would have to be replaced for $717.00 plus tax. I asked why in Feburary I wasn't told the door had to be replaced, and they said that the technician made a mistake. I then asked for my original 268.57 back because i wasn't going to put $717.00 into the refridgerator. They refused.

I then called Mastercard to refute the charges and at first told it was too late (beyond the original 90 days) I asked to talk to a supervisor and was told one would call me on 7/29/11 at 11 o'clock.
I didn't hear by noon so, I called again. I talked to another representative and they didn't have any account of the first conservation of the 11 o'clock callback time. They then said I would have to have a third company to come in and verify the door sealing problem and I would have to pay $89 for this, and send a report to them. I told them I was not going to do this so I am now waiting for another supervisor to call me on August 1st between 8am and 6pm.

Other facts

A+Action Appliance left the installation instructions behind as trash. I have saved them and read them. The instructions say that the door must be removed to reinstall the magnetic gasket. It also says care should be taken not to pull up on the gasket or the inner and outer freezer door will be seperated. Neither Mel's appliance nor A+Appliance removed the door(this is perhaps the reason I now need a new door, the inner and outer door were seperated and the door will not hold the magnetic seal)

Although both companies advertise that they repair Whirpool appliances in the yellow pages, Whirpool said they were not on the appliance approval list.

I would like as damages

$717.00- for door replacement
50.19 Taxes on above
268.57 My Master card charges for the original seal
$1035.76 Total