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What should have been a straightforward home upgrade has turned into an ongoing nightmare for one family in Jacksonville, Florida.
The problem started when Bradley Byrd purchased a $3,500 fridge from Costco. The fridge came with a free appliance installation service, but he’s now facing an estimated $700,000 in damages due to a faulty water line installation.
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“They dropped the ball and are hoping that I foot the bill with my life savings for their bottom line,” Byrd told News4JAX.
His family is now living in a partially habitable home, without a fully functioning kitchen or bathroom. Many of their possessions were ruined, including furniture, electronics and musical instruments. The rest is in storage, which he’s also covering out of pocket.
A fridge installation gone wrong
Byrd’s new fridge was delivered on Dec. 2 and the installation appeared to go smoothly. But soon after, he discovered Costco’s third-party installer had incorrectly installed the water supply line — causing it to crack and eventually burst.
“When my daughter got home from school that day, she FaceTimes me and says, ‘Dad, the house is underwater,’” Byrd said .
The flooding caused damage to the home’s structure, and an air quality inspection revealed an abundance of mold, according to the News4JAX report. The best settlement offer he received from Costco and the third-party installer was for $175,000.
“I have spent about $300,000 on repairs, mitigation, third-party charges for reports and testing and to get our belongings moved out and into storage,” Byrd told News4JAX.
At the time of writing, Byrd was still seeking a resolution from Costco and the third-party installer — all while paying out of pocket to repair his home.
“Crickets from Costco and RXO,” Byrd wrote on his website, costcowaterdamage.com, on June 6.
Public adjusters say the repairs will cost upwards of $700,000.
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The risks of ‘free’ appliance installation
In some cases, “free” might cost more than you think. Many retailers offer free installation services as an incentive. But they can be outsourced to third-party contractors, so you should ask a few questions to ensure there are no hidden fees before going ahead.
And, like the Byrds, a botched installation could result in a broken appliance, property damage and limited accountability.
Before scheduling an appointment, ask the third-party installer whether they’re licensed and insured. In some states, third-party installers are required to be licensed if they’re performing certain types of work, such as plumbing.
Next, find out who is liable if things go wrong. Does the installer have liability insurance that covers damage caused by their negligence? How much liability coverage do they have? What is their process for handling claims? Who is responsible for repairs if damage occurs?
It’s best to get this in writing. If they’re uninsured, they may not be willing or able to pay for damages.
It’s also important to understand your homeowner’s policy before having any work done on your home, even if it seems as minor as a fridge installation.
Your policy may cover certain damages, but not others. And, even if your insurer pays for damages, they may not pay for subsequent repairs.
Insurance is an especially thorny issue in the face of more and more extreme weather — from flooding in Texas to wildfires in California and hurricanes in Florida. With insurance premiums on the rise, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, taking the time to find the perfect policy for you could be more important than ever.
If you’re not satisfied with your current policy, you can shop around for better terms with reputable insurers near you through OfficialHomeInsurance.com.
Here’s how it works: Just answer some questions about yourself and the property you’d like to insure, and OfficialHomeInsurance.com will comb through its database of over 200 providers and display the best deals for you.
Even better, this process is entirely free and takes under two minutes — all without impacting your credit score.
Finally, note that you don’t have to always wait for your current plan to expire if you’re planning on switching – just make sure to watch out for any cancellation fees.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
