scribblescrabble
Jul 20, 2010, 12:44 PM
We rent two floors of a townhouse and are responsible for paying electricity costs. On May 15th, the A/C heating unit which cools our entire two-floor apartment went out and our landlord called a service provider to come repair it. (They were the same company which installed it.) The service technician came and looked at, saying he didn't have the correct part so he could fix the broken master board -- which would turn the A/C and fan on and off based on the temperature. He told us he would do a work-around and hook up the wiring so the A/C would work, but would leave the fan on. He would then return with the part (the master board of some sort). The technician did not return. In the meantime, we started feeling hot air coming from the vent After two and a half months of badgering our landlord, someone finally came back to replace the part and undo the work-around which had kept the fan running. The technician also said, "Gee, the heat's on as well. Let me turn it off!" So basically, our fan was running 24/7 for two and a half months -- during 3 heat waves -- and the heat had been left on so the A/C heating unit was working against itself. Our electricity bill -- which has been never more than $185 skyrocketed to $650. Can we sue the electrician company in small claims court since their improper repair resulted in more than $1000 in extra electric bills? If so, for what in specific? (Also, can we compel the landlord to give us copies of the repair bills since they paid for the repairman -- who did such a lousy job.)