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Business Profile

Plumber

Auchinachie Plumbing & Heating

Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 20 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 9 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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Complaint status

Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:03/26/2025

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    ResolvedMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    On March 5, 2025, we purchased a new furnace from Felix R****** from Auchinachie Services in Binghamton, NY for $7,293. The furnace was installed on March 7, 2025. On the overnight of March 23, 2025 the furnace quit working properly. I called first thing Monday morning March24, 2025 to get someone out to fix it. The company did not have any technicians available until Tuesday March 25, 2025. Rashad F***** came to the house Tuesday morning. He replaced the computer board but that didn't make a difference. He said he didn't know what was the matter with it and would send out their master technician. James B**** arrived at 3:00pm He was unable to diagnose the problem. He was going to check with another technician and come back the next morning which would be Wednesday March 26, 2025.. It is now 3:30pm on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 , I just received a phone call from their office stating that someone would be out tomorrow (March 27, 2025) at 9:00 am. This Auchinachie company claims to have 24/7 service, we were also told at the time of the sale that they had multiple service technicians and service would readily be available. We chose this company because we thought we would receive excellent customer service and service would be quickly available. That has not been the case at all. We certainly overpaid for a furnace from this company that we thought was going to be a company that would take care of their customers and their products.

    Customer Answer

    Date: 03/28/2025

    Better Business Bureau: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.  We filed a complaint on March 26, 2025 with Auchinachie Services. Complaint # ********. This complaint has been resolved to our satisfaction. Please disregard our complaint. Thank you for your time and support. ****** ********  Regards, ****** ********  
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:03/03/2025

    Type:Order Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    In 2023, our furnace died. The only company that was willing to install a furnace on short notice was Auchinachie. We were given installation quotes for three high efficiency furnaces, and paid 10,920.00 to install one. There was some discussion of condensate protection and the chance of condensate freezing. We discussed building a room for the furnace to keep it warm. The installers said that would make it hard to service the furnace and advised against it. They also said they didn’t want to install a condensate pan. They were experts; we believed them. The summer after the installation, the ceiling under the furnace collapsed, and required nearly $10,000 to fix. The contractor we hired to repair the ceiling thought the cause was a leak from the condensate line. Given the possibility of poor installation, we chose not to have Auchinahie return, and contacted a more local contractor to evaluate the furnace. They determined that a drip pan was strongly recommended, and that the condensate line was not properly installed, and fixed those problems. This year it was determined that the secondary heat exchanger was leaking. The cause of this was that a high efficiency furnace was not well suited for installation in an unheated attic. We asked about the construction of a little room but the room would still need to be heated, and would make further work difficult. Instead, we replaced the furnace with a less efficient device. When we asked about being released from the financing contract, we were laughed at. I was told that someone would contact me to discuss options; no one has done so. If they had said “we can’t install this furnace here,” and given us reasons, we would have believed them, they were the experts. Instead, they installed a device which was always going to cause problems, without any of the mitigations which were recommended, and now refuse to let us out of the contract.

    Business Response

    Date: 03/28/2025

    Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We sincerely regret that you’ve experienced issues with your furnace installation and subsequent complications. We take all feedback seriously and want to address your concerns thoroughly.
    To provide some context, our team installed your furnace on March 1, 2023. During our discussions, we explained that building an enclosure for the furnace was necessary to prevent condensate freezing. This was not optional, it needed to be done by you or another party, as it was outlined in the contract. Unfortunately, it appears that the enclosure was not built as required.
    We also understand from your complaint that the problem with the ceiling collapse was attributed to a leak. After reviewing the situation, we note that you contacted another contractor who identified a leak. However, based on the details we have, we were not made aware of this issue until until now..
    Furthermore, when you contacted us on February 17, 2023, to discuss the replacement of the unit, we were not informed of any ongoing issues until the problems with the furnace were well beyond the initial installation period. We would have gladly addressed these concerns if we had been made aware earlier, as we value the opportunity to resolve any issues.
    Unfortunately, the installation of the furnace was carried out according to the agreed-upon terms, which included the understanding that the enclosure was to be built to protect the unit. As the enclosure was not constructed, and another contractor took out the furnace we installed and replaced it without us knowing, we are unable to offer a resolution regarding the removal from the financing contract.


    Best regards,

    ****** ***********


    Customer Answer

    Date: 04/02/2025

    Better Business Bureau:

    I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
    It was Auchinachie technicians - the same guys who installed the furnace - who stated that they didn't think a "little room" was a good idea, and would make maintaining the furnace more difficult in the future. It was those technicians who, when we asked about condensate mitigation - also in the contract - who said they didn't think we needed it, and told us that there was "nothing wrong" with the furnace. Finally, it was the same technicians who refused to remove the old furnace from the attic - also in the contract! - a task which took another group less than 5 minutes, resulted in no damage or injury, and was possible to accomplish through the access port which we had constructed specifically for the work on the furnace. 

    Regards,

    **** *******




    Business Response

    Date: 04/09/2025

    While reviewing our records, I saw that you called to ask about installing a neutralizer condensate pump, based on a recommendation from your septic company. Here are the notes from our return visit on March 1, 2023:
    Spoke with the customer about adding a neutralizer condensate pump to the condensate line. We explained that it shouldn't be installed until a room is built around the furnace to help retain heat, so the neutralizer won’t freeze. The customer agreed with our assessment. The drain line is properly pitched, if it wasn’t, the furnace would not operate correctly and would throw error codes or result in no heat calls.
    I originally overlooked this part of the visit, but after reviewing everything more closely, I want to point out that our signed contract clearly states that an enclosure needed to be built by the homeowner or others to protect the furnace. That requirement was discussed prior to the install. When we returned a few weeks later and saw that the enclosure still hadn’t been built, we explained again that it was necessary, which is why we didn’t proceed with installing the neutralizer pump at that time.
    With all of this in mind, and based on the agreed-upon terms, we still aren’t able to make any changes to your financing.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/29/2025

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Furnace stopped working in September. They came in October, cleaned furnace, got it running and charged me apps $680 for “silver medal cleaning”, a product with a 1 year warranty. My furnace stopped working after 2 days. I had them come back and they told me it was in bad shape and needed to be replaced. The mother board would cost $5000, but might not fix the problem. They said I needed a new furnace, it would be $10,000. Conveniently, they had a salesman come to my house, telling me they could finance. I let them know I do not have a good credit score, and would likely not qualify for financing. I did not qualify for financing, asked them to shut off gas to furnace, they said they did shut it off and then left me to figure it out my heat situation myself. I requested that they return my money as they appeared to be there solely for the purpose of making a sale and left me without any functional heat. The issues should have been brought up on the first visit, and they left the gas running in the furnace, when I asked them to turn it off. After repeated calls, my call was returned and the representative told me I didn’t understand, and it’s not their problem that I have bad credit or no heat. He said it was perfectly fine for the gas and pilot light to be on in a non-operational furnace, and that my problem was absolutely not their problem. This company is awful.

    Business Response

    Date: 02/18/2025

    When we arrived in October, the furnace was in poor condition due to unsanitary conditions. There was significant dirt, dust, and excrement in the unit because of the chicken in the cellar. We cleaned the furnace to the best of our ability, got it running, and left it working for over 2 days. Unfortunately, when we came back to test it again, additional mechanical failures were discovered that required further repair or replacement. This is not something we could have predicted from the first visit. We went above and beyond to get you heat, despite the financial situation you described. We have before and after pictures that show the lengths our technician went through to clean the furnace and get it running. The tech worked hard to ensure you had heat, given your circumstances. When we presented the option to replace the furnace, you chose to explore financing, which was then declined. At that point, we made a second visit to try to resolve your heat situation, but when we gave you the pricing, you declined to move forward. You’re requesting a refund, but that’s not going to happen. We did the work agreed upon—cleaning and getting the furnace to a functional state, which we did. The money you paid covered that work. You were informed of the need for additional repairs and options for replacement, but you chose not to proceed. It’s unreasonable to expect a refund for the work we completed. We’ve gone above and beyond to try to help, but it’s clear there’s a lack of understanding on your part about what was done. We are not in a position to refund for work already completed, and we won’t be revisiting that issue.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/16/2025

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Company came to diagnosed furnace issue, told us it was the control panel. They replaced it to find that it did not fix the problem. Then told us it was the heat exchanger and we needed a new furnace. We bought a new furnace from them, old furnace was removed by them with new control panel on it, to find that the new furnace had the same issues. Turns out it was the roof jack not positioned right. They repositioned the roof jack and new furnace started to work. We had paid for the new control panel that was never used and was taken with the old furnace. I have called 3-4 times in over a month asking for a refund on the control panel that we did not need or use or had. I was told each time that the install manager would call back but they have not called back and I am tired of the company not responding to my concerns. We are seeking a refund for a part that we do not have, that did not fix the problem, and that was not needed. We paid over $8,000 to this company and we are only seeking a refund for the portion of the control panel which was a charge of around $750. Part of this fee was for the installer to install the new part and make sure it was working, but the furnace did not work after it was installed.

    Business Response

    Date: 02/10/2025

    Dear Mr. ******,
    Thank you for sharing your concerns. We appreciate the opportunity to address the issues you’ve raised.
    When we first diagnosed your furnace, we found that the control board was not receiving power properly, and we presented the option to replace it, which you agreed to. After replacing the control board, the unit continued to shut down. At this point, due to the age and condition of the system, we discussed the option of a new furnace, and you chose to move forward with that replacement.
    Upon start-up of the new furnace, we identified an additional issue: the venting at the roof had been damaged by a roofing contractor. We adjusted, repaired, and attached  to the roof jack, which resolved the problem, and the new furnace began working properly.
    Regarding the control board, we acknowledge that it was not used after the new furnace was installed, and we understand your concern. Mike, our comfort Advisor, offered you a 5% discount for the service call as a “Customer Loyalty” gesture. We recognize that this situation has caused frustration, and we would like to resolve it promptly.
    The cost of the control board replacement was $635.26, and with the discount, the price you were charged for the replacement was $241.26. After reviewing your concerns, I will agree to credit you back $100 for the unused control board.
    Thank you again for your patience, and we hope this resolution is satisfactory. Please reach out to us directly if you have any further questions or concerns.
    Best regards,
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:09/25/2024

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    3 1/2 yrs ago, auchanachie put in a new duct system and a new central air conditioner. the duct system was not properly installed and did not resolve the problem. for the last 3 seasons i have used window ac units. auchanachie has sent technicians to look at the problem. everyone has given a different answer, from there is nothing wrong, it was not installed properly, it will never work, etc. i have called auchanachie several times and have spoken to jeff, he does not return my calls, or when he does he says that he will call me back. which he does not. i spent around sixteen thousand dollars on a repair that does not work. i feel that i have been patient, but 4 years is really terrible service. i hope you can help me with this situation. i did a complaint last year with bbb, but never was told of the results. thank you

    Business Response

    Date: 10/17/2024

    Dear BBB,I have received the complaint filed by ****** ******** and have thoroughly reviewed the matter with all employees involved. Here are the details:In 2021, we repaired ductwork under Laurie’s trailer that had been damaged by animals. The original system was made from an old duct board and flex duct. Two months after the repair, ****** inquired about installing AC to her furnace, which we completed. However, just two months later, the ductwork was again destroyed by animals. We provided a quote and specially ordered the necessary parts to reinstall the ductwork.A year and a half later, she contacted us about her AC not working, and we identified the problem as a thermostat issue. After jumping the thermostat to ensure everything was functioning properly, ****** decided to replace it herself. About a month later, when the AC wasn’t cooling correctly, we discovered that the flex duct connecting the main trunk line to the registers had been torn up by animals yet again. We provided a quote for the repairs, which she declined.Despite this, we returned multiple times, and as of a week and a half ago, we completed all the necessary repairs for the animal damage—at no cost to her.I believe my team has gone above and beyond addressing an issue that was outside the scope of our original work and beyond our control. It would have been appropriate for ****** to present all the facts in her complaint. All work is now complete, but if animals cause damage again, she will be responsible for the repair costs.If you have any further questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your time.Sincerely, Chris H******* General Manager
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:08/31/2024

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    ResolvedMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Bad customer service. Received a quote for heating system. Tried numerous times to contact them to make upgrades that we knew would cost additional money. No returned calls or emails. Normally wouldn’t care but have my mom here on hospice. We need a warm home

    Customer Answer

    Date: 09/06/2024

    The consumer contacted BBB by phone and indicated that the matter had been resolved.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:05/17/2024

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    My complaint is relatively simple. I called this company, when my furnace stopped giving heat. On April 26th, Rasheed and Matt arrived. DIAGNOSIS: Furnace needed a new igniter. They went to a store and came back with the new igniter. Matt installed the igniter. I was charged $590. 76;? Vwritevthem a check, paid in full ! They DID NOT give me a receipt and I neglected to ask for one ( shame on me and shame on them). An itemized statement for the customer should be automatic. I n thie past week, I have contacted them twice, politely asking for an itemized statement, to have for my records. Today, May 16, 2024, they emaiked a response telling me that they are a “flat rate” company and their “bookkeeping “ process DOES NOT allow them to give out receipts/ statements. I’ve NEVER heard of anything so ludicrous, lame and totally unacceptable. Even if someone were to use a paper and pencil, would be acceptable. All I’m asking is that the BBB have them comply with my request and give ne a statement !!!!….. Who ever heard if a legitimate company, worth their salt, that won’t give a customer an itemized receipt for services rendered !!???. Thir reasoning is TOTALLY unacceptable and makes ZERO sense !!

    Business Response

    Date: 05/20/2024

    Dear ****,I am in receipt of the complaint filed by ******** *****. I reviewed the complaint thoroughly with all my employees who were dealing with ********. Here is what I discovered about her complaint:According to our records, ******** called us at 9:02 am on April 26, 2024, for no heat. Rashad and Matt, two fully qualified technicians with many years of experience in resolving similar problems, were dispatched to her home at 9:25 pm that same day.Rashad and Matt arrived and investigated the reason why ********'s heating system was not working. Once they discovered the issue, they presented ******** with a proposal and pricing for the necessary repairs. At that time, ******** signed the proposal and authorized Auchinachie to proceed with the repair.I find it confusing that two week after the repair, she is requesting an itemized bill. If she was concerned about this, why didn’t she ask after receiving our proposal with the complete job price? If she had asked, we would have informed her that we are a flat-rate company, and our pricing procedure is one complete price. She could have rejected our proposal, and we would have moved on.In conclusion, we provided two professionally trained and educated technicians to perform the service she requested. These technicians provided a service that ******** signed off on. We charged her fairly and accordingly for the work completed during that call. We treated ******** in the same professional manner that we treat all our customers. We evaluated her problem, proposed the necessary work, and presented the pricing—all before any work was completed. At this time, we will not be restructuring our billing process or itemizing her bill. If you have any further comments or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me.Thank you.Sincerely,Chris H*******
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/10/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    On 4/1/24 I called Auchinachie to service a clogged drain and pipe with hairline fracture in it. They showed up and quoted me a price about 4800 for both jobs. As i was desperate with kids in the house and not able to use my sink I agreed to let them proceed. They addressed the pipe first, replacing 6ft of PVC and then made an attempt at the clog which failed. They offered to put holes in my foundation to continue the troubleshooting but I had to stop them there. When I asked for a refund they said they could take half off the charge for the clog which went from $980 to $490 for not clearing the clog but that was it. So I was then stuck with a 6ft piece of PVC that I could not even use. At this point I made several attempts to speak to someone to dispute my bill since I was in the exact same spot with a $4000 dollar bill now. Once the service manager got back from vacation and took two extra days to call me (I made over 10 phones calls to them) he said he could remove the charge for not clearing the drain, the $119 for them parking in the driveway, and 10% off the pipe install. With all this plus tax it still comes out to $2,916.00 for 6ft of pipe that a few days after all this had to be ripped out anyways. The pipe install was not the issue, ****-****** techs found I had a failed dry well and offered reasonable price to reroute my plumbing the right way to my septic. They did all this and finished the job in a matter of 3 days. So in the end the Auchinachie techs came to my house, new I was stuck with no water and upcharge a 6ft section of PVC, on top of that the service manager was completely unreasonable and refused to come any lower that $2916, at which point I had to get off the phone with him. I am unable to get an itemized list of how they came to this price because they are a "flat rate" company. So I dont understand how 6ft of PVC can cost $$2916?

    Business Response

    Date: 05/06/2024


    I am writing to address the complaint lodged by Mr. ****** ********. Upon receiving notification of the complaint, I personally reviewed the details of the case with all employees involved to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding Mr. ********'s service call.

    On the morning of April 1, 2024, Mr. ******** reached out to Auchinachie Services reporting a clogged drain and a burst pipe located in his basement. In response, we dispatched our highly skilled technicians, Chase and Andrew, both of whom possess extensive experience in handling similar plumbing issues, to Mr. ********’s residence at 2:30 PM the same day.

    Upon their arrival, it was observed that the situation was more complex than a standard clog. The 1.5-inch line had suffered multiple breaks and was temporarily secured with electrical tape, a solution insufficient for the demands of proper plumbing standards. To effectively clear the drain and ensure functional integrity going forward, it was imperative to first replace the compromised piping. Understanding the urgency and scope of the task, our technicians promptly provided Mr. ******** with a detailed proposal. The proposal, which Mr. ******** reviewed and approved, included the replacement of the damaged line and subsequent clearing of the drain at a total cost of $4,007.34.

    As the work commenced, Chase and Andrew faced significant challenges with the drain cleaning equipment due to unexpected complexities within the piping system. Their suspicions that the line might lead to a dry well prompted them to seek further clarification from Mr. ********, who confirmed that he was unaware of a dry well on his property. To resolve the issue comprehensively, our technicians suggested a minor demolition task to remove paneling that obscured the pipe's path. Unfortunately, Mr. ******** declined this approach, which halted any further diagnostic efforts and left significant uncertainties unresolved.

    Considering these events, our team made every effort to communicate effectively with Mr. ******** and address any residual concerns. My service manager, Tom, who was on vacation during the initial service call, personally reached out to Mr. ******** upon his return. Despite the services being partially completed due to the unforeseen circumstances and Mr. ********’s decisions, Tom offered a generous 33% discount on the overall bill, reducing the charge to reflect only the work that was definitively completed and to acknowledge the inconvenience experienced by Mr. ********.

    Further communication records show that Mr. ******** expressed gratitude for our willingness to adjust the billing and recognized the necessity of the work performed. This interaction suggested a mutual understanding and resolution had been reached.

    After reviewing Mr. ********’s letter to your organization, it is clear there was a misunderstanding regarding his property’s plumbing system, specifically the presence of a dry well, which was crucial to diagnosing and resolving the plumbing issues effectively. Had we been granted permission to remove the paneling and fully inspect the system, we believe the same conclusions reached by our competitor could have been drawn sooner.

    We at Auchinachie Services are committed to upholding the highest standards of customer service and integrity. We deeply regret any inconvenience Mr. ******** may have experienced and are eager to provide any additional information or clarification as needed to resolve this matter to everyone's satisfaction.

    Thank you for considering this response. We appreciate the opportunity to explain our side of the story and look forward to your guidance on any further steps required.

    Sincerely,
    Chris H*******
    Vice President  

    Customer Answer

    Date: 05/06/2024

    Better Business Bureau:

    I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

    To clarify your response, the pipe with the multiple breaks was not wear the clog resided. This was expressed to the technicians on site and I explained to them the clog resided further down the line as I showed them with my 15ft drain snake. The breaks in the pipe were a symptom of the clog over time.
    The proposal was agreed upon considering they would find out what was wrong and fix it. Part of the agreed price was that they would find the clog, however after they gave up with the drain snake the next suggestion was to remove paneling on the walls in the basement and drill into my foundation. Both the techs and I walked around the basement and outside area all around the foundation of the house. I declined this because I didn’t want a breach in my foundation, and they were going to increase the price another $1,800.
    The “generous” 33% discount was after I made multiple attempts to reach anyone in charge and that still left me with a $2,685 6ft piece of pvc which I find to be grossly over charged, not to mention I still could not use the pipe because the drain wasn’t fixed.
    I do understand I agreed to the price but that was on the condition the work would get done, which it didn’t. Your technicians failed to discover the drywell, that was done by ****-****** WITHOUT having to ruin the foundation to my house.
    I have also made multiple attempts to get an itemized bill for the work preformed which has been denied multiple times. I spoke with Tom again who offered to take the price to $2,300 however I still feel this is extreme price gouging for work that was not done.
    I would like Mr. H******* to provide an itemized bill for the work that was actually performed at my residence. I intend to file a complaint with the NYS Attorney Generals Office to further express my point if a more reasonable price for the work preformed cannot be reached. 

    Regards,

    **** ********




    Business Response

    Date: 05/20/2024



    I wanted to inform you that we have reached out to ****** again and successfully arrived at a fair resolution for both ****** and Auchinachie Services.

    As of today, there are no longer any disagreements between ****** and Auchinachie Services. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me by email or phone.

    Thank you for your time.

    Best regards
    Chris H*******
    Sr. Vice President
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:02/18/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    On February 15, 2024 I called Auchinache for an appointment to resolve an issue with slow drains at my house. “Technician” arrived that afternoon.. He “quickly” diagnosed the issue. He explained to me all the options for resolving the drain problem. He said that although I could do the least expensive option, $189, that if I wanted to be sure that all drains were clear that I would have to go with the option that was almost $1000. That would involve sulphuric acid drain cleaner down the kitchen sink and two passes with the snake down bathroom drain and replacing leaky pipe, if any. He also said that the sulphuric acid may “reveal” holes covered by buildup in the drains causing a few leaks. It did cause leaks. He replaced one pipe that showed a leak. But he said he would have to come back the next day to reroute a small section of pipe, because instead of replacing the other pipe that “revealed“ more leaks, rerouting was the best, and most expensive, option. Kind of thinking that the sulfuric acid did more harm than good. In addition to that he snaked the bathroom sink several times but that still remained clogged. He stated that he would come back the following day to finish for an additional $1000! At the end of the day I was out $965 and my drain problems were worse than they were before the tech started! The following morning, feeling like “I was being taken for a ride” I cancelled my appointment with Auchinachie and called a different service. The new service dispatched a technician to my house that afternoon and all my drain issues were resolved in a couple of hours at a fraction of the cost. That technician also revealed that the sulfuric acid did not in fact clear the drain! See photo.

    Business Response

    Date: 03/07/2024

    I am in receipt of the complaint filed by ******** ******.  I reviewed the complaint thoroughly with all my employees who were dealing with ********.   The following is what I discovered about his complaint.According to our records, we were called by ******** on February 15, 2024, for multiple drain lines that were blocked.  On that same day, we dispatched a technician (Jon) to address ********’s concerns.When Jon arrived, he assessed the issue and advised ******** on what needed to be completed.  Jon provided ******** options for the repair.  ******** chose the gold drain cleaning option which included a chemical drain cleaning.  Jon explained to ******** that the lines in question are galvanized piping.  Jon explained that there was a good chance the chemical would reveal faults in the piping (pin holes, rot, pipe deterioration).  He also expressed that there is a chance the pipe could be in good condition.  ********* understood and authorized us to proceed with this option.  Jon inserted the chemical in the areas of concern.  Fortunately, the chemical worked, and the lines were cleared.  Unfortunately, in the process of clearing the line, two holes were discovered.  Jon proceeded to provide options for the repair of these two holes.  ******** chose the band aid repair for these two holes.  After this repair was performed, Jon discovered another leak on the galvanized pipe.  Jon explained that he could patch the line in the same way but, there is a risk of more holes in this line.   Jon presented an option to replace the line permanently by replacing the galvanized line with a plastic line.   ******** said he would like to think overnight on which option they would like to do.  Jon thought he was going to go back to ********’s home the next day.  Jon attempted to clear the bathroom drain with the smaller drain cleaning equipment that he had on his truck.  Unfortunately, that failed but he knew he was coming back the next day.  He explained to ******** that he would bring the larger drain cleaning equipment tomorrow when he returns.  Jon spent 4 hours diligently working to solve his problems on his old, crumbling piping.******** called the next day and canceled the continued repairs to his system.  When ******** called, he explained that he was able to get a friend to help him do the work we proposed to him the previous day.  I’m glad that we were able to lay out exactly what needed to be completed for ******** and his friend to complete.    I want to remind ******** that we presented options for him to choose from.  ******** chose from the multiple options we gave him.  We spent four hours working on his decrepit system.  It is unfortunate that he has old piping that is disintegrating due to age.  In conclusion, after thoroughly reviewing all that took place at ********’s home, I feel my employees treated ******** with the utmost professionalism possible.  We arrived on the same day ******** called for service.  We provided a trained, knowledgeable technician, who performed a service that took over 4 hours to perform.  We educated ********* on how to fix the additional problems so ******** and his friend could repair it themselves.  Based on all the facts I just explained, at this time, we will not be offering any kind of refund.  We feel what ******** was charged for the service we provide was fair.  If you have any further comments or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me. Thank you.   Sincerely, Chris H*******Sr. Vice President           

    Customer Answer

    Date: 03/07/2024

    Better Business Bureau: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.No pipes were cleared as is plainly visible in the photo originally attached. Just more problems created and what would have been subsequently more money for them. The technician obviously didn’t have the proper “tools” to resolve any problem! Regards, ******** ******

    Business Response

    Date: 03/07/2024

    I am in receipt of ******** ****** response.  Regrettably, I disagree with his response.  Please let me explain why.******** is claiming that the line was not cleared, sadly, he is mistaken.  If we did not have flow in the kitchen line, how would we know the line is leaking?  Once we had the line cleared, we proceeded to test the line by running water through it, proving that it was cleared.  That is when we discovered the pin holes in the line.  The other issue, with the other line, claiming we didn’t have the correct machine.  I would like to remind ********; we were trying to clear that line as a courtesy.  That line needed a smaller drain cleaning machine to clean the line.  I was incorrect on the first letter where I claimed that he needed a larger machine for this task.    Unfortunately, ******** does not mention that we were trying to clear that line at no additional charge.  We explained the complete details to Johnathan, we expressed that we would tackle that line the next day when we returned with the smaller drain cleaning equipment.  ******** knew we were trying to do something nice for him and not charge him.  Ironically, he is now holding this over our heads.  Sadly, ******** is writing half-truths to get a refund.   Based on all the facts I just explained, we continue to stand by the original decision.  We will not be offering any refund at this time.  We continue to feel ******** was charged appropriately for the professional service we provided him.  If you have any further comments or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me. Thank you.   Sincerely, Chris H*******Sr. Vice President                     
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:12/11/2023

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Auchinachie came to our home to service our 1-year-old boiler; we paid $11,600 for the boiler plus $175 per year for warranty inspections and have followed the maintenance by Auchinachie. The service person came in August 2023 and claimed that the boiler was all set and going to run, but they put a camera in it and saw some calcium build-up on the exchange. They suggested a new water softener system to prolong the boiler's life. We followed that suggestion, paid $7300, and had one installed in September 2023. A week after the inspection, there was a chilly night, and we attempted to start the boiler to use up the propane in preparation for the fall and winter. The boiler did not turn on or spark as it should have after being inspected or began to warm the house. At the end of August, the same day we bought the water-softening system, a service person returned to the house for the boiler, claiming it was a transformer that was the problem. On September 11th, the same service person came back to install the transformer, and when he did, the boiler blew the transformer, breaking again. He said he was leaving to make a call and never came back. The next call back was for us to get an electrician here to prove that it wasn't our breaker box, which, again, we did. Forced us to pay $250 to an electrician when there was nothing wrong, just for them to finally order a wiring harness. We gave Auchinachie time, but as it got colder and we have two children and a pregnant woman in the house, my husband called every two weeks with the same response that the wiring harness was on backorder. After 3 months of them telling him no, they did not have the part, I then called on November 28th and got a response that they would call the warehouse and check with the distributor. I reminded them how much we had paid for all of the services and followed their suggestions. The receptionist said she would get back to me, and I have not heard from them since November 28th, 2023.

    Business Response

    Date: 12/12/2023

    *******, we are truly sorry for all the difficulties you've faced with your heating system. I can only imagine how challenging this period has been for you, especially with the cold weather and your family's needs.
    I want to assure you that we take your situation very seriously. Upon reviewing your case, we discovered some faults with your heating system. We promptly contacted our tech support for guidance and followed the recommended procedures to address these issues.
    It's important to note that some of the essential parts needed were unfortunately backordered, which contributed to the delay. However, upon my personal intervention, we expedited the process. I've instructed our team to locate the required parts and arrange for them to be shipped overnight.
    We deeply regret the inconvenience and length of time this has taken. Please know that we are committed to resolving this as quickly as possible and will do everything in our power to ensure your heating system is functioning efficiently again.
    Thank you for your patience and understanding. We are on top of this and will keep you updated every step of the way. Your comfort and satisfaction are our top priorities.

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