I needed a minor repair on my refrigerator ice maker: a broken flap in the dispenser chute. I called Continental, having used them before on my Viking stove, which service was acceptable, though not great. On the phone, the clerk said there would be an $85 dollar service charge plus parts. A service man came out, looked at the door, said I needed a new flap (as I had told the clerk), and said the part would have to be ordered. I gave the man a check for $125--$85 for service, $40 down payment on a part that was expected to cost $79. Today the service man came by and took about 30 minutes to install the part and then asked for a check for $185.72, meaning the total would be $310.72. I said that I thought that that amount was outrageous, that I wanted to check around to see what the going rate was for such a service call, and that I would not pay until I had done so, and that his company could bill me. The service man called in to his office, I said that I was very dissatisfied that no estimate other than the $85 service call and cost of part given over the phone had been given me, and nothing in writing, and that I expected to be billed, and that once I had received the bill and done my checking work, we would speak again. I reminded him that I had used Continental Appliance several times in the past and had lived in our house for twenty years, so he needn't worry that I was going to skip town or something. The man became quite abusive, threatening to send men out to remove the part if I did give his service man a check right then. I told him that he would do no such thing, that I did not like being threatened, and that if he persisted, I would end the conversation. He threatened me again, and I said that this conversation is over, and hung up. I then kicked the service man out of my house. I will post the final outcome of this incident, but right now, I wouldn't recommend these people. Perhaps they have changed management.
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