The Great Water Heater Rental Scam
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- Mar 28th, 2024 8:34 am
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- SCORE+141
- MrFrugal1 [OP]
- Deal Addict
- Jan 2, 2012
- 4682 posts
- 3973 upvotes
- KINGSTON,ON
- mikek33
- Deal Addict
- Dec 19, 2009
- 1955 posts
- 2985 upvotes
- Ottawa
I'd like an answer to this as well.nesburf wrote: ↑ I just bought a house that closes May 15 and currently has a rental water heater through Enercare. I believe its a standard 50 gallon vented tank. House was built in 2010.
What is my best course of action to get out of the contract with minimal fees and purchase a new tank and have it installed without any disruption so I have hot water from day one?
I'm already living in my home but want out of our HWT rental contract (w/ Reliance) but want to minimize the disruption with access to hot water. Seems like you really have to be on the ball with timing for all of this.
Also, how much are people paying to have a new HWT installed? Our current HWT is being vented through the chimney (which apparently is an older practice) so we would need a hole drilled into the side of our house to vent out that way...which I assume will add to the complexity of the install. Just trying to get an idea for what this is all going to cost us.
Thanks!
- nesburf
- Jr. Member
- Feb 26, 2012
- 173 posts
- 17 upvotes
So I spoke with my lawyer and he basically said because I signed the purchase agreement knowing that the Water Heater was a rental (it was written in it), I automatically assume the contract. I would have had to make a deal with the previous owners to get them to terminate the contract, but they would have no incentive to do that and would likely want to be compensated for it.mikek33 wrote: ↑ I'd like an answer to this as well.
I'm already living in my home but want out of our HWT rental contract (w/ Reliance) but want to minimize the disruption with access to hot water. Seems like you really have to be on the ball with timing for all of this.
Also, how much are people paying to have a new HWT installed? Our current HWT is being vented through the chimney (which apparently is an older practice) so we would need a hole drilled into the side of our house to vent out that way...which I assume will add to the complexity of the install. Just trying to get an idea for what this is all going to cost us.
Thanks!
Basically my only options now are to fight with the rental company and try to not have to pay the full buyout fee.
- mikek33
- Deal Addict
- Dec 19, 2009
- 1955 posts
- 2985 upvotes
- Ottawa
I read somewhere in all of these threads on HWTs that if you don’t pay the first bill you aren’t opting into the contract. I don’t know he legal validity to those statements but may be worth investigating.nesburf wrote: ↑ So I spoke with my lawyer and he basically said because I signed the purchase agreement knowing that the Water Heater was a rental (it was written in it), I automatically assume the contract. I would have had to make a deal with the previous owners to get them to terminate the contract, but they would have no incentive to do that and would likely want to be compensated for it.
Basically my only options now are to fight with the rental company and try to not have to pay the full buyout fee.
- feels1
- Newbie
- Oct 28, 2011
- 67 posts
- 48 upvotes
- Aurora, Ontario
Enercare contract 50 gal power vent HWT. I moved into a house that has 7 yr old with $33/month charge. I called to find out the contract duration, and the rep said the contract terminated when the tank is unrepairable. So I asked whether can decrease the monthly rental charge as it is 7 yr old. The rep's supervisor passed the message that they can't reduce it, but can provides me other rental equipments and gives me discount on those. Lastly, the buyout price is the only option and cost ~ $800, which is about the buyout schedule price of a 6 yr old, so I asked why. The rep replied that they calculate up to the exact date of the tank, which installed in Oct.
This is the first time I heard that a contract doesn't has fix duration. The options is only when the tank is broken and totally unrepairable. I failed a complaint with Competition Bureau (http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/ ... 89T-7TDNA5) with file # R685921
This is the first time I heard that a contract doesn't has fix duration. The options is only when the tank is broken and totally unrepairable. I failed a complaint with Competition Bureau (http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/ ... 89T-7TDNA5) with file # R685921
- jrees
- Deal Addict
- Apr 24, 2007
- 2712 posts
- 1058 upvotes
- gbill2004
- Deal Addict
- Apr 18, 2013
- 4313 posts
- 2738 upvotes
- Canada
Nadia Mendola is hot!
- amiratish
- Deal Addict
- Sep 22, 2011
- 1906 posts
- 707 upvotes
- GTA
Crooks (Reliance) asking me for $400 early cancellation + $75 return fee
- gbill2004
- Deal Addict
- Apr 18, 2013
- 4313 posts
- 2738 upvotes
- Canada
How do you know she teaches business?crystallight wrote: ↑ She also teaches business and didn't know about water heater contracts?
- radeonboy
- Deal Expert
- Mar 22, 2004
- 16012 posts
- 7474 upvotes
- RFD
(Grade A) Lenovo Thinkcentre M715q Tiny PC – AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE 4C/8T, 8GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, WiFi, Win 11 Pro, with Radeon RX Vega 11 Graphics - $290 (Excellent BST Feedback and HeatWare BST feedback): https://www.heatware.com/u/26507/to))
- radeonboy
- Deal Expert
- Mar 22, 2004
- 16012 posts
- 7474 upvotes
- RFD
I have dealt with BBB a few years ago, they are indeed useless and a joke mediator between two parties. If no one is able to come to a solution they just close the case. BBB has been linked to corruption throughout the years if you Google it, basically the companies will pay them for a better rating.justanu wrote: ↑ Turns out that Better Business Bureau is as bad as Home Reliance Comfort - a bunch of crooks.
I have asked many times BBB to post my complaint and my review online, but the denied every time. BBB is hiding complaints and reviews on purpose.Even online and wikipedia states BBB is a scam too... Is there any justice in this story. Is there a class action suit against Reliance?
(Grade A) Lenovo Thinkcentre M715q Tiny PC – AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE 4C/8T, 8GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, WiFi, Win 11 Pro, with Radeon RX Vega 11 Graphics - $290 (Excellent BST Feedback and HeatWare BST feedback): https://www.heatware.com/u/26507/to))
- rendered22
- Member
- Jan 13, 2017
- 477 posts
- 314 upvotes
- Toronto
Guys, any advice how to get out of my rental water heater with Reliance? I never signed any contracts with them when I purchased my 2 month old (resale) home... apparently the original owners signed paper work when they took possession of the new home, which they sold the home to me 2 months later, but they didn't have any paperwork from reliance.... Not sure how to get out of this one without paying a penalty?
- jrees
- Deal Addict
- Apr 24, 2007
- 2712 posts
- 1058 upvotes
When you bought your home, did you tell the seller you didn't want it or did you agree to assume the rental as would be stated in your purchase agreement?
- rendered22
- Member
- Jan 13, 2017
- 477 posts
- 314 upvotes
- Toronto
- jrees
- Deal Addict
- Apr 24, 2007
- 2712 posts
- 1058 upvotes
That's what the seller was counting on, and it's probably included in the purchase agreement.rendered22 wrote: ↑ No It didn't even come up to be honest. I didn't think of it when we were negotiating.
- hierophant
- Deal Fanatic
- Feb 4, 2010
- 7156 posts
- 7138 upvotes
As already noted, it's probably in the purchase agreement, which your lawyer (and RE agent if you used one) should have gone over with you. All you can do is find out how long the contract is, how old the tank is and how much the buy out it is ....they have a tendency to over-inflate the price, and charge all sorts of fees.rendered22 wrote: ↑ No It didn't even come up to be honest. I didn't think of it when we were negotiating.
- Ohboiya
- Deal Addict
- Dec 18, 2004
- 3352 posts
- 245 upvotes
- Mississauga
I've got a Rheem Fury D RP50-45FV1 which I'm paying Enbridge (at least on my invoice) $19.20/month for. I'm pretty sure it's a direct vent.
The lease was entered into 2006 so I think it's ended.
What would you guys suggest? It's been perfectly fine except in the last six months, we've run out of hot water about a dozen times. We're a family of five with three kids who are under 10 years old. I just don't want to run out of hot water!
The lease was entered into 2006 so I think it's ended.
What would you guys suggest? It's been perfectly fine except in the last six months, we've run out of hot water about a dozen times. We're a family of five with three kids who are under 10 years old. I just don't want to run out of hot water!
- Guest923983831
- Deal Addict
- Jan 21, 2009
- 2507 posts
- 551 upvotes
- TO
I’m getting quotes for a hot water tank (power vent) for $2300 including installation. Anyone else getting quoted for less? This is a 50 gallon tank but I think this is outrageous!
- hierophant
- Deal Fanatic
- Feb 4, 2010
- 7156 posts
- 7138 upvotes
My 2 cents - since you're renting and not bound to a contract, I would find a new water heater that meets your needs, buy it outright and have someone install it for you - they may even return the old one to Reliance. That's pretty much what I did. I bought the WH from HVAC company who installed - they also updated the piping and return the old one to reliance "free of charge" (thought I'm sure they factored into the price). I would suggest not buying a cheaper one from a big box stores, they SEEM to have more issues.Ohboiya wrote: ↑ I've got a Rheem Fury D RP50-45FV1 which I'm paying Enbridge (at least on my invoice) $19.20/month for. I'm pretty sure it's a direct vent.
The lease was entered into 2006 so I think it's ended.
What would you guys suggest? It's been perfectly fine except in the last six months, we've run out of hot water about a dozen times. We're a family of five with three kids who are under 10 years old. I just don't want to run out of hot water!
- hierophant
- Deal Fanatic
- Feb 4, 2010
- 7156 posts
- 7138 upvotes
And why do you think it's outrageous? Not sure how you can expect compare prices with others when there are other determining factors to consider.
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