AC company convinced 103-year-old WWII vet to pay $24K, son says

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Steve Klein tried to protect his 103-year-old father from exploitation as Fred Klein's memory began to decline.

Steve took over his father's bank accounts, bills and power of attorney. He took him to visit high-quality assisted-living facilities.

But Fred — a former World War II pilot who flew more than 60 bombing runs over the South Pacific and swam competitively until he was a centenarian — refused to move out of the Tucson retirement community where he lives alone, drives his own golf cart and dates a former beauty queen.

So Steve — who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona — and a troop of Fred's friends try their best to keep an eye on him instead.

Things were going well until a few months ago, Steve said, when Fred decided to spruce up his 20-year-old home.

Fred called Orangutan Home Services, a repair company he had used for more than a decade, to inspect his air conditioning. He didn't remember to consult Steve.

The day of the inspection, Fred agreed to pay more than $24,000 to buy two new units and a 10-year labor warranty.

Without access to credit cards or checks, Fred took out a 12-year loan that Orangutan offered through a financing company. If he made the minimum payments, he would pay nearly $18,000 in interest, documents show.

"I don't want to leave (Steve and his brother) a pig in a poke. I want to leave them something that's in top shape," Fred said. "But when Steve got in on the act, things changed. I found out I had been not smart about this."

Steve said that he was furious when he learned about the purchase. He believes Orangutan took advantage of his father and overcharged him.

-more-

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ac-company-convinced-103-year-old-wwii-vet-to-pay-dollar24k-son-says/ar-AACAtJY?li=BBnbcA1

[rusty quoin]

1. He paid twice what 2 units installed are worth.

[LisaL]

3. Company settled for half the original price after son got involved.

[democratisphere]

2. I don't believe the contractor took advantage of Fred.

The finance company vary likely screwed Fred. Banksters.

[ripcord]

4. At $24,000 the contractor took advantage of Fred

Contractors also choose the finance companies they work with so they referred Fred to the predatory finance company, probably for a kickback. These things happen more frequently than most people beleve and seniors are a prime target.

[Kaleva]

5. Some companies make their money off the labor warranties.

A/C, a a rule, is very reliable and problem free for the most part. And the most common problems are easy to fix. Especially within the first 10 years of service life.

When I was in business, I never tried to sell a labor warranty or extended warranty as I felt the customer would not get his money's worth.

[democratisphere]

9. Not so. A better quality split A/C system sized for the much higher

temperatures of Tucson, AZ, with a 10 year labor warranty, could easily reach a price of $24,000.00. Since we don't have any information about the collective heat load, insulation, number of windows and other like information it is difficult to determine if Fred was screwed or not. Remember, the $24,000.00 is for 2 complete systems with a 10 year labor warranty. Never met an honest bankster yet.

[AZCat]

18. We use lots of heat pumps here in Arizona.

They are more expensive than just a standard air conditioner, but the basic rule I used to follow was about a grand per ton of capacity (maybe $1100 for a hp), and maybe a ton per 400 sq. ft. So 20-24 tons would be able to condition a house with >8,000 sq. ft. which, while not unheard of, is a pretty big house.

I think $24k sounds a bit overpriced, but as you say downthread we don't know enough of the specifics to be able to tell for sure.

[democratisphere]

19. Too many unknowns to know the equipment capacities and costs for certain.

Thanks for checking in with your knowledgeable actual experience in the Tuscon area. Much appreciated!

[AZCat]

20. You're welcome.

I figured I'd share what I know in case anybody is able to get a little more info on the case. It sounds like the contractor has a pretty bad reputation though already.

[bitterross]

10. Then I have a bridge I'd like to sell you.

Reasonable price. I can get you financing too.

[democratisphere]

15. Neither of US know the exact requirements for the installation

but I do know an installation in Tucson, AZ is going to require an oversized capacity unit due to the much higher sustained temperatures and the equipment should be top shelf because it will be running most of the time.

Checkout link:http://www.rssweather.com/climate/Arizona/Tucson/

[Kaleva]

6. I installed central air in my home last year for less then $2k

[mercuryblues]

7. I suspect this company will go downhill

When people in the area read about this.

1st they overcharged for the units. Then they sold a 103 year old man a 10 year warranty. Did extremely shoddy work. The kicker, when they found out the man did not have access to his accounts (the son had power of attorney over his finances) they sent him to a predatory lender, instead of contacting the son who had control over his accounts.

IOW the AC company knew he did not have the faculties to handle his finances yet they sent him to a lender. The company claimed if they had known he didn't have the faculties to enter into the contract, with financial responsibilities they would have called the son.

Who wants to bet that the AC company and lender didn't know that having a power of Attorney over someone's accounts didn't prevent loans taken out in that person's name?

[jmbar2]

8. In case you want to leave a review on YELP...

https://www.yelp.com/biz/orangutan-home-services-tempe-2

[ret5hd]

16. My god! No need to expend energy trashing that company! They have hundreds of bad revues going back

a long time!

[Fiendish Thingy]

11. Make the minimum payment, then when he dies

The heirs can tell Orangutan to fuck off.

[VOX]

12. Steve Klein's personal feedback on Orangutan's website:

This company should be severely punished for such shameful practices.

A case of blatant elder financial abuse perpetrated on my 102 year old father by Orangutan Home Services. Went to my father's home to repair one AC/heating unit on his roof top. Convinced him that he needed 2 brand new units. Signed him to a replacement contract at absolutely predatory pricing, including $4000 in extended warranties for a 102 year old man. Although he could have paid for the units easily with a check, Orangutan also had him sign a finance arrangement with GreenSky Financial. The terms of the financial arrangement were 12 years at 9.99% a year. If you do the arithmetic, that's $40,000 for a $24,000 system - that was shockingly overpriced at $24,000. A truly royal screwing for a helpless old man. Additionally, Orangutan did a terrible installation job. The Registrar of Contractors was called in and found the installation was found to be deficient in 13 different areas - and Orangutan had damaged the roof during the installation. My father can't handle his own business affairs - and Orangutan took complete advantage of him. Beware of Orangutan. They're extremely bad people.

[Adsos Letter]

14. They have a 1.5 stars scoring on Yelp.

Over 300 reviews “not yet approved” going back a couple of years. One star after one star reviews.

Sounds like the outfit has a well earned reputation for unethical business practices.

[azureblue]

17. elder financial abuse

most states have adult protective services that will file charges of EFA against the company and the finance service. Which means the cops are involved and they will issue a warrant. The son should go to the state about this. This is prosecutable. And once the APS has filed a report with the cops, then the son has something solid to sue the company and the finance company with.

[BHDem53]

13. A company named

after an orange creature bilking people out of money. Sounds familiar.

[Volaris]

21. A twelve year loan for a hundred and three year old....

SOMEBODYS banking on some serious medical advances, right there lol.

All jokes aside, this was some dirty shit and even at half, whoever put that signature line in front of that guy should be sued for twice their entire net worth.

If this keeps up, 21st century America will be defined in a hundred more years as the Grifter Age.

Heavens help us, we HAVE TO start putting these people in prison.

[coeur_de_lion]

22. Something similar happened to my Mom

But I stopped it before she went through with it. Thankfully she had the sense to ask me if it was a good deal before she signed anything.

She was offered a debt consolidation loan to pay off her credit cards. They said the interest was much lower than she was paying on her cards currently. They said 9%. She probably got a call from some unscrupulous phone salesman.

But when I ran the numbers by the time she finished paying off that loan it would have been more like a 24% interest rate.

And, credit card debt dies when you die -- or at least it did 19 years ago. Not sure what the law is now.

This guy had convinced her that if she didn't take his deal she would be saddling her children with her credit card debt. He was really good. When I spoke to him he was super persuasive. A great salesman.

People like that belong in jail.