Video - Consumers Not Breathing Freely After Mold Removal

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Consumers Not Breathing Freely After Mold Removal

WFTV 9 Orlando

http://www.wftv.com/money/10844183/detail.html?rss=orlc & psp=money

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. -- A Melbourne woman claims a company that

promised to clean the air inside her house instead stuck her with a

big bill and dangerous mold.

Action 9 investigated an air duct cleaning company that has left

many consumers feeling misled.

In a consumer test, two men from Vacuvent spent about 90 minutes

inside a Merritt Island home.

The company had given Action 9 volunteer homeowners a $122 dollar

estimate to clean all the A.C. ducts with a giant vacuum cleaner.

But after arriving, the crew found a big problem.

" He called and said there's mold and it's all over the return, " said

the volunteer.

Florida Department of Financial Services Mold Guide (PDF Document)

That raised the cleaning cost to more than $500. It was to include

anti-bacteria sprays and a special filter.

The technicians told Action 9's Todd Ulrich the mold was inside one

vent and they used a towel to clean it. So there was no mold to show

when they were done.

" Can we have that rag to have it tested for mold? " Ulrich asked a

tech.

He answered, " No, you can't. "

But if they did find mold, would this company's treatments get rid

of it?

Three months earlier that same company and crew charged Carolanne

Higgins more than $1,100.

But within days, Carolanne says she knew the problem was still there.

" When the A.C. would kick on, I could smell a musty odor, " she said.

After she called Action 9, we had a home inspector open the main

duct work. He uncovered a huge mold bloom, that later tested as a

live colony.

Ulrich asked the inspector, " Did they do the job? "

He answered, " I would say no. It would have failed. "

Later Vacuvent's owner told Ulrich his techs should not have claimed

the process removes all mold since the chemical treatments are more

preventative.

He also said at the test house, it was a mistake for the techs to

say they found mold and then sell the extra services as mold removal.

Owner Bill Brogna said he has hundreds of satisfied customers and

he'll give Carolanne Higgins a refund.

There have been 18 complaints to the Better Business Bureau about

Vacuvent and the company responded to all of them.

Air duct cleaning can benefit folks with breathing problems but

techniques and costs can vary a great deal.