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Just got burned dropping $400 on a rush boiler replacement contract
Had a water heater fail last month in Chicago and signed a contractor's standard form without reading the hidden arbitration clause and 50% cancellation fee. Ended up paying $200 extra when the job got delayed and they charged me for the wasted truck roll. Anyone else ever get stuck by a vague 'mobilization fee' or cancellation clause in an emergency service contract?
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zaranelson8d ago
My plumber in Evanston slipped a $150 "emergency fuel surcharge" into my contract last February... didn't catch it until I was already halfway through paying. Ended up calling the city's consumer protection office and they helped me negotiate half of it off after I showed them the fine print was a different font size than the main text. Now I keep a list of three vetted repair guys and always ask for a written estimate with all possible fees listed before they even start the truck. Sucks you had to learn this way but at least now you know to photograph every page of a contract before you sign it.
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