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PaulJ6
Posts: 990
Posted:
I'm irked:

My HOA had the smoke detector in my condo replaced. I was billed over $1k for the work. (I posted about this before, but now I have more facts.)

When I asked for a copy of the invoice, I was given (1) one invoice for labor and (2) an email from the repair company to the property manager, stating, "We used a smoke detector that we already had, so we didn't buy a new one. The owner should be billed $X." Since the smoke detector was old, no invoice was given for it.

The property manager then, over a week later, sent another invoice to me: an invoice for a new smoke detector. The invoice listed the same price as shown on the email specifying the charge for the old smoke detector.

So:

Problem #1: I was given an old smoke detector and was charged a brand-new price.

Problem #2: I was given a fake receipt, as though the smoke detector was newly bought, which isn't the case.

How mad would you be about this?
JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631
Posted:
The smoke coming from my ears would set off the 'new' smoke detector!
AugustinD
Posts: 5,144
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By PaulJ6 on 08/13/2019 2:20 PM
When I asked for a copy of the invoice, I was given (1) one invoice for labor and (2) an email from the repair company to the property manager, stating, "We used a smoke detector that we already had, so we didn't buy a new one.


I would want to know the date stamped on the smoke detector the repair company "already had." It's possible that the detector the company "already had" is a new one the company had laying around.
SueW6 (Michigan)
Posts: 814
Posted:
What was itemized in the labor costs?

Was there new wiring , etc.

You still don’t say how the $1,000 figure came to be.

SueW6 (Michigan)
Posts: 814
Posted:
A quick google lookup speaks about a 10 year sealed unit OR new hard wire installation is required in NY since April 2019. New CO and smoke alarms have been required for condos, too.
PaulJ6
Posts: 990
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By SueW6 on 08/13/2019 3:12 PM
What was itemized in the labor costs?

Was there new wiring , etc.

You still don’t say how the $1,000 figure came to be.


Thanks. In looking at the numerous invoices, it seems like I was billed for the smoke detectors plus labor PLUS labor again.

The model number of the smoke detector that I was billed for is over 2x what it costs online, and one of the invoices lists "Installation" on it--and then I was given another invoice for labor.

Total scam and idiocy.
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868
Posted:
I thought that was common practice in New York.
LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679
Posted:
Who was the invoice from? The Condo management company or the alarm tech company?

First smoke alarms have an expiration date, you have a right to inspect that smoke alarm. If they used "any old thing lying around" I would drop a dime on them to the NYC fire inspectors office in a hot second.

Second, call around to other alarm companies and compare quotes. unless your building is being upgraded to modern alarm components, I still don's see why s single smoke alarm replacement with installation would cost $1000.00

Lastly you need to call the company that installed the alarm and ask for a price quote.
PaulJ6
Posts: 990
Posted:
Thanks. The invoice was forwarded by the condo management company, but it's on the repair company's letterhead.

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