Kinetico water softner complaint

ComplaintsHome & GardenKinetico water softner

Complaint

0
Jean S
Country: United States
Hello, I had a water softner rep. come to my home and sell me a water softner with a 3 month trial, if I was not satisfied they would take the unit back and I would owe nothing. The cost of the unit was $ 2,900.00 I told them I would pay it in full at the end of the 3 months if it really made my clothes softer, use less laundry soap, shampoo etc. and my dishes and silverware would not have any more spots, not to mention I would get a free year's supply of cleaning and soap products.

After a few weeks I noticed the same spots, didn't use any less soap etc. and my family hated the "slimy" feeling we had when we took showers. I called them and requested for the unit to be removed as I never rec'd the free products, and it did not perform as I was told.

I did pay them $900.00 in full for the faucet and the purifier under my sink. I never rec'd phone calls back, I wrote them letters to remove it and I was not going to pay for it. A man from their company came out and added more salt to the unit (even though they said it would last 4 months, this was only a month later) and when I came home from work I found the hose running all over my yard!! I lost thousands of gallons of water and have the bill to prove it. I called them explaining why he came out and what happened with the hose, again they never called me back.

I continued sending letters, I had an Attorney write them as well as the better business beauro and they continue to have a collection company call me as they placed me in a finance company to pay for the unit at a high interest rate without my knowledge!! Now it went on my credit report saying I owe them over $ 3,400.00!!

The unit is still sitting there, we never used it as it was defective since the water hose just lays there and when it runs it drains the water out from my house since it is hooked into the main water valve not to mention even if it didn't drain the water it still did not do what he said it would do. I showed them in good faith by sending them the $900.00 since the water from the sink filter they installed actually did make a difference by paying for that.

This company is really a scam and I still am trying to get this removed
from my credit report as well as all the collection calls I receive daily, I just want them to take this unit back and be done with it. This was installed in May or June of 2006.

Comments

  • 0
    Customer Service
    | 2 replies
    Kinetico Incorporated welcomes the opportunity to review and mediate any concerns a home owner may have with their products and / or independently owned dealer at www.kinetico.com
    • 0
      Sheryl and David Leonard replies to Customer Service
      Kim, from the Clare office did a barter job with us for two units. He was very pushy when we told him we could not afford at the time. He offered us to barter. We built a conference room and two offices and a portable kit. Which worked off more than half of the two units.
      my husband had made four trips back to discuss the kitchen and the other four offices. Kim can not make up his mind what he wants. Cabin built, barn cleaned was not part of the barter agreement. Four more offices in an existing building along with a kit. Our hours would be at $50 an hour to go toward the purchase price of the two units.
      upon receipt of bill I have tried to contact Kim. This had been going on over a year. He has failed to return any calls or messages.
      When Kim tried to serve David, I contacted eco water to disconnect one of the systems and my dad and I delivered the unit back to him at the Clare office. Again Kim is not available. So I requested a receipt of return and took pics of the unit being returned and I took pics of the conference room and the offices.
      Now today he tries to serve David again. right now yous are ahead on us. We worked off more than half of both units and you got one unit back. What is your deal. Are you (Kim) but happy cause we refused to clean your barn. That was not part of the agreement.
      We were ready, right up to the point of returning the one unit to finish your kit and four offices. Kim is the person who has failed in this barter agreement. Also failed home depot agreement that they get commission for the leads of purchase s of water softeners.

      Sincerely,
      Sheryl Leonard
      9894295940
    • 0
      todd replies to Customer Service
      I have butt never called back
  • 0
    Jim
    After reading your story, I immediately sent an email to the salesman that was giving us a "free trial" to cancel the free trial.  We did buy the water filter, although I think $1400.00 is a lot for a water filter, it had better perform for a long time.
  • 0
    OCCA926
    | 5 replies
    The Kinetico softener was money well spent. Definitely on the pricey side but the value it has added to my home and my family's life is priceless.

    I'm glad I found these reviews after having the unit installed or else I would have researched other options.

    But Kinetico is the only non electrical softener on the market. The fact that I didn't need to call an electrician and rewire my house sealed the deal for me because I don't have a power outlet where my main water line is located.

    I empathize for the other people who had a bad experience because I would be really sour also if I paid what I paid and the system didn't work as expected.
    • 0
      Walt replies to OCCA926
      | 4 replies
      Rewire your whole house to add an outlet? Can you say "taken"?
      • 0
        benjammin replies to Walt
        | 3 replies
        wow, walt is right on!  how about a extention cord from the dollar store.  better than getting hosed by the kinetico dealer.  could have saved well over 1500.00 to plug it in.  nimrod!
        • 0
          Couldn'thelpit replies to benjammin
          Guess you didn't notice the information that the Kinetico units don't run on electricity??!  Now, who's the nimrod?
        • 0
          Water1969 replies to benjammin
          Bej you seem like you have a hard on for kinetico ? you claim you are in the bus... of what bashing... really your a distributor or owner of what product, are you a franchise owner ? again what product ? I am all for getting the truth out about faulty equipment and bad service... I havent read any solid references towards a product but I do see you all over here making claims against Kinetico expressly. I installed systems in the early and mid 90s for both Culligan and Eco Water systems and truth be known I worked on 1 ( one ) Kinetico system in all the time I was in the field, leads me to believe its a decent product... no electric, works off the flow of water, and a twin tank system allows clean soft water 24/7/365.... I went industrial and today I am a licensed Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator here in the state of Florida... I like to think I know what I am talking about. A dealer could hose a person, but not the equipment...
        • 0
          Thought you were in the business? replies to benjammin
          Uh...an extension cord?  I thought you were in the business and not a paid internet-poster trolling Kinetico threads.  Are you actually suggesting that someone run an extension cord rather than drop in a code-compliant box?
  • 0
    jefferson
    I replaced my Culligan 10 (Mark 89)years ago with a reconditioned kinetico C-51 (discontinued model that was nine years old when I bought it) and has worked flawlessly since without a single service call. It used about 1/3 the salt the Culligan did and I could tell when the shower water was soft and when it wasn't. The Kineticvo NEVER runs out of soft water.

    Every product and company has some issues but I am totally happy with Kinetico and will go that way again when i need one.
  • 0
    liz
    Have you had it installed? How it's working? I am searching for a softener and Kinetico is one of the companies I am interested in...
  • 0
    Katherine
    I just bought the K-5 system for under my kitchen sink, it costs 2900 and I bought it through Costco.  I am very pleased so far it is a reverse osmosis system for drinking water.  I hope I've done the right thing for my family.  I do feel confident in one way because if anything does go wrong, Costco is a reliable company who would support me if I needed to return it. If you purchase it through Costco you really can't go wrong.  I am just glad I'm not drinking large amounts of flouride anymore.
  • 0
    Marc-Andre
    Hi,
      I own a Kinetico dealer in Quebec, Canada and I can assure you that Kinetico head office will never let down any of their clients. Kinetico is very strict with their dealers. We need to give a perfect service that reflect the high quality products of Kinetico.

    If you have a problem with a Kinetico product and the dealer in your area is not giving you a the appropriate service. Contact head office, you can find all the information you need at www.kinetico.com

    PS: Sorry for my bad english, it's my second language.

    Good luck to all and congratulations to everyone that has a Kinetico system :)
  • 0
    Kathleen
    Would like more info, I'm in Las Vegas just had a kinetico guy at my house, husband wants to buy. Anymore info you can give would be helpful.
  • 0
    Kathleen
    Would like more info, I'm in Las Vegas just had a kinetico guy at my house, husband wants to buy. Anymore info you can give would be helpful.
  • 0
    Anna
    There are lots of Kinetico dealers out there, so you should research the product and the dealer separately!  Kinetico does screen who is allowed to sell and install their products, but sometimes there are people who just take advantage.  I work for a company that has been selling and installing Kinetico for 2 years and we have done nothing but clean up messes for the previous dealer in our area.  There is hardly a better product out there, but you never know about the specific company or installer until you do a little research on them as well. So I advise that you do your research on Kinetico products and the company selling and installing the product. If you have a problem after the fact you can contact the Kinetico headquarters to let them know your issue with a specific dealer.
  • 0
    Kim
    | 2 replies
    I am in the water treatment industry and am able to get different brands as a direct distributor buying from various manufacturers.  The Kinetico is very overpriced.  Their claim that you never run out of soft water is like the others is silly. A good water softener is not going to run out of water.  The fact that water softeners need electricity has very little to do with how much soft water you get.

    The electricity it uses is so little and only to regenerate it.  And if a system is sized properly and of a good quality, it only regenerates every 7 to 10 days, unlike Kineticos every 3 or 4 days...depending.

    It's all marketing and everyone tries to make claim that theirs is the best.

    Go with a direct distributor like www.AmericanWaterGirl.com and you can get whatever you want for half the price.
    • 0
      guy replies to Kim
      | 1 reply
      i am looking to start a water treatment company.
      which line of water filtration products do you recomend?
      • 0
        leo replies to guy
        i would like to retire iam 73  and in poor health  i have owned this business  for 34 years , if you are interested let me know. kinetico is my brand

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