Couple's A/C deal left them steamed
Business' closing left them little recourse, then came surprise bill
HOLLYWOOD — Eddie and Lisa Bullard thought they were getting quite a deal this summer when a local company offered to sell them a new air-conditioning system for $1,000 less than the going rate.
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Lisa Bullard of Hollywood looks at the air conditioning unit she and her husband bought from now-defunct Atlantic Air Restoration Systems. A serial number check indicated it was a used unit, they said.
The Bullards didn't realize until it was too late that the unit was a used piece of junk, fried in a short-circuit and scavenged for parts. By that time, however, Mount Pleasant-based Atlantic Air Restoration Systems had already cashed their $8,500 check, the Hollywood couple said.
Eddie Bullard, a North Charleston police detective, said Atlantic Air owner Ed Pero initially promised to make things right but then abruptly shut down his company in September and disappeared.
The Bullards were left to join a long list of customers and workers upset with Pero, who has left a string of failed businesses and consumer complaints in his wake along the East Coast during the past decade.
But their story doesn't end there.
After shelling out another $4,500 for a second air-conditioning unit, the Bullards received yet another surprise over Christmas — a $1,059 bill from the Atlantic Air subcontractor who worked on their faulty unit before the company went belly-up.
"Just when we thought things had finally calmed down, we're back in it all over again," Lisa Bullard said.
The subcontractor, Dan Caddell of Cordesville, said he is simply trying to recoup his money after he was stiffed by Pero to the tune of $7,000 from various jobs. He installed registers, a thermostat, grills and other equipment in the Bullards' home and even paid $300 out of his own pocket to repair sheetrock damaged when a previous worker improperly put in two air ducts, he said.
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"I spent a lot of time out there," Caddell said. "I deserve my share for doing that work for them."
Caddell sees little hope of evergetting his money from Pero, whose whereabouts are unknown.
Pero, a registered sex offender, can no longer work as a contractor in South Carolina while state officials determine whether he lied on a licensing application about past criminal convictions.
Pero disconnected his phone and could not be reached for comment last week.
The Bullards said they feel for Caddell, who they consider a nice guy. But they don't intend on throwing good money after bad and covering a debt that is Atlantic Air's to pay.
"I feel sorry for him and all of the other people who have had to go through this," Eddie Bullard said. "He's just another victim of this company."
The Bullards kick themselves for paying Atlantic Air up front, but they were looking for bargains as they put a second-floor addition on their home.
They didn't count on the weeks of aggravation they went through with the first Atlantic Air installer or the budget-busting debacle with the air conditioner that forced them to scale back other planned improvements to their home.
They held out hope that they somehow could salvage the system until a check on the serial number revealed the supposedly new unit actually had come out of a Georgia home with its circuits fried, the Bullards said.
Even if they replaced all the missing parts, the manufacturer would no longer guarantee the unit with a warranty.
The main unit now sits idle on the back walkway to their home, dinged up and rusting with its wires and innards exposed. The Bullards don't know what to do with it at this point.
"Maybe we could still sell it for scrap," Lisa Bullard said with a shrug. "We could probably get a couple of dollars for the copper that's in it. But other than that, it's junk."
Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
firemike (anonymous) says...
Dan Caddell of Cordesville should be paid. Because Eddie and Lisa Bullard tried to cut a corner doesn't mean Dan Caddell should get stiffed. At the very least Dan should get $300 from the Bullards.
January 12, 2009 at 7:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldglory (anonymous) says...
What? This gentlemen, Mr. Caddell, was a subcontractor of the company these people paid, and you think he now becomes the Bullards' responsibility rather than Atlantic Air's responsbility? How does that work? He and these homeowners each contracted with Atlantic Air, and sadly they were both flim-flammed. Did I misunderstand? Mr. Caddell had a separate contract with the Bullards? Do I make the assumption that because SC doesn't have any laws with teeth that it's just a free-for-all when a company is bogus and goes under?
(I just absolutely detest doing business in SC because no one is protected by law from anything, it seems.)
January 12, 2009 at 7:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
What's that we used to hear from time to time, let the buyer beware?
January 12, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kerry (anonymous) says...
1)Why isn't the SC attorney general, Henry McMaster, calling on SLED to find Pero as well as the used car dealer in Summerville that ripped off so many citizens?
2)How did a person with such a shady background obtain a business license in this state?
Answers:
1)Henry has already been elected to a nice office in the "good old boy" system, therefore there is nothing else he has to do until the next election when he will begin campaigning to stay there. That is the only thing these SC politicians are good at - campaigning and getting themselves re-elected.
2)Apparently all you have to have is a Latin or foreign sounding last name to get a SC business license along with all the financial assistance the state can provide to start one.
January 12, 2009 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Thefutureisnow (anonymous) says...
Rip-off artists are everywhere!
January 12, 2009 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NativeSon (anonymous) says...
Yes, and many of those rip off artists are politicians!
January 12, 2009 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
I agree oldglory! I think it takes some real nerve of Mr. Caddell."I spent a lot of time out there," Caddell said. "I deserve my share for doing that work for them." Then seek out your former employer you idiot! This family was ripped off and isnt responsible for paying you.(which would really be paying him twice) They already paid for your services. How is it their fault that the money wasnt passed on to him? When I purchased my home I didnt dole out checks to the framer,the painter,the electrican,etc. It would be like after purchasing my home from the builder, the painter showing up asking for money b/c the builder didnt pay him. Absurd.
January 12, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
I would suggest that anyone needing to hire someone to do any major repairs to check with the Dept. of Consumer Affairs website. They have a list of all companies, as well as individuals, in the entire state of whom complaints have been filed against.
It's not foolproof, but it does offer some protection.
Also, it's not a bad idea to check with neighbors who have had similar repairs, and find out if they had any problems with the companies that they used.
Looking for the cheapest estimate doesn't always save you money as this couple learned.
January 12, 2009 at 10:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
How is the law interpreted in regards to subcontractors coming after homeowners?
I'm ignorant of such things and would really like to know.
I'm in agreement with coolbeans, unless I've entered into a contract with the subcontractor I don't see how I'm obligated to pay especially if I've already paid the Prime contractor.
January 12, 2009 at 11:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
islandbenzbc (anonymous) says...
You get what you pay for...
January 12, 2009 at 11:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
Not to mention, is there PROOF that Mr. Caldwell wasn't paid? How is anyone to know that Mr. Caldwell isn't taking advantage of the missing company and trying to get double paid? I'm telling ya, this guys got balls the size of China.
January 12, 2009 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Oldglory, I also hate doing business here or having anything done to my house by a company here. There is no accountability, no ethics, or even a smidgen of corporate responsibility. None. It may be buyer beware but nowadays the consumer should be demanding fair treatment. A combination of both.
I use companies by word of mouth from neighbors and friends. Using the BBB in addition to the SC site also provides another measure of protection for the consumer.
If the subcontractor was working for Atlantic and the job was billed by Atlantic than I would think the sub has to go after Atlantic. You can't fault the sub for wanting to recoup his expenses. I just hope they're going about it the right way.
With the economy tanking, there will be more of these fine folks trying to get your business. People looking for quality systems on the cheap will get what they pay for. I used to sell HVAC and some of those subs and contractors I wouldn't let take out the trash.
January 12, 2009 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gococks1985 (anonymous) says...
The contract was not with the Bullard's, it was with Atlantic Air. My guess is that the lien rights have expired and now they are just trying to recoup some of the money they lost. Unfortunately for the subcontractor, he can't legally go after the Bullard's for his money as there was no legally binding contract. He may as well write this one off on his taxes as a bad debt. The IRS will give him that back.
January 12, 2009 at 12:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyatwork (anonymous) says...
Back to the old saying "if it sounds to be good to be true it usually is". How can anyone cut a deal $1000.00 under every other A/C contractor...didnt it smell fishy?
January 12, 2009 at 1:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Larz13 (anonymous) says...
Seems like an awful lot ($8,500) to pay for an HVAC system. And this was the best deal that they could get?
I think that the contractor is SOL. It is unfortunate for him, as he sounds like an honorable guy from the article and he was hosed by the sex offender.
January 12, 2009 at 2:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandnateater (anonymous) says...
I was born and raised here. My grandfather taught me to not do business with yankees. They will rip you off. Pero was from NY. I believe that is a yankee!!
January 12, 2009 at 2:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
sandnateater- Wasn't that car dealing crook in Summerville from NY or NJ too ?
January 12, 2009 at 3:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Slick50 (anonymous) says...
Lemme see. Eddie Bullard, a North Charleston police detective,
bought an air conditioning unit from Ed Pero, a registered sex offender. Didn't see that coming.
January 13, 2009 at 5:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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