A.B. May Heating, A/C, Plumbing & Electrical

John E.

I suppose I will submit an older experience because it appears from some of the more recent reviews that this company has some serious ethical and accountability issues.

Sept of 2011 we purchased a new house in Johnson County KS. It came with a home warranty from AB May. In Spring of 2012, we had our AC unit serviced and we were sold a gold agreement. We had them come out on a few occasions for the standard $60 fee. The annual plan increased twice between 2012-2017.

They were always pushy on trying to up sell services after making a house call. For instance, they recommended buying a $60 bottle of drain cleaner to prevent clogs. Stating it was all natural. I've discovered I can spend $10, follow the directions and unclog all my drains whenever I want and I still have product to last another couple years. It was fifty fifty on the expertise level on what I expected and what I would receive. We gave a few 5 star work reviews but we also received our service fee back twice for poor performance.

So anytime you are giving a company hard earned money and expect good work then it's not difficult to wonder why half the time the work was good. It never dawned on me that if they screw up on simple fixes then perhaps they have little credibility on big issues.

For instance, we had a water softener installed. Come to find out it has power but that's it. A real plumber took a look at the device and said it's non-operable. They are great salesmen but horrible at installing water softener.

Then we had a furnace issue. They told us the gas line was leaking. Told us could get someone out that day cause it's an emergency but just 30 minutes earlier they said the furnace fan was inoperable and the part would take a few days. So after talking with their sales guy I declined to purchase a $9500 system. I had a real hvac guy come out and he said ""if you don't smell gas then you don't have a leak."" It was a ploy to get us to fear the worse and we realized AB May and it's owner are in the business to trick customers into believing the worst just to keep them in business. Turns out only the furnace blower switch was bad. We optioned to have a brand new system put in for $7500 by Patriot Heating/Cooling (Shawnee) and our top AC bill was only $175 last summer and our gas bill has averaged $110/mo during winter months.

That's not all. They signed my signature without my knowledge on two separate occasions. I asked the first time why it happened and the worker said because they have commercial accounts that they can't begin the work until they get a signature. I'd say those commercial accounts are too trusting. If AB May is lying to its private customers just imagine what their commercial accounts don't know!

The owner and I exchanged a few emails but the response each time was basically we condone dishonesty but we don't see what we did wrong but we will make it right if you tell us. Believe me I have stacks and stacks of documentation of how they lied, forged my signature and attempted to bait me into buying one of their whole systems. They like playing games but eventually they will lose.

Stay as far away as possible from this outfit. Did you know Berkshire Hathaway now has a partnership with this company?

Doug C.

I have been a AB May customer since 1998 when I was transferred from Kansas City to Europe in the US Navy, I left my family in Prairie Village Kansas and signed up for AB May service to ease the burden to my wife having to run a household. I have since retired from the Navy and we have kept AB May due to the great service we had been receiving, but in the last few years we have seen significant increases in our Gold Plan and reductions in skill sets of the technicians coming to our house. The most recent event was the straw that broke us. We called a plumber to look at a leaky toilet and discovered the High-end environmental toilet had a recall for parts. We were informed that the toilet needed these parts and AB May ordered them for us. We paid the $60 co-pay and was told to call back when the parts arrive. Upon parts arriving and plumber showing up, the plumber informed me that my Gold Plan would not cover the installation of the parts they ordered. I asked how much and was told $480. I asked the plumber to leave and I was not going to pay for a service I have already paid for. I was then told he understood, but needed to collect an additional $60 for showing up. Well I did not pay it. As KARMA normally shows it face, my renew for AB May just showed up within hours of the plumber leaving. Guess what...I tore up the renew and threw it in the trash. 20 years with a company and that is what happens when they forget why they have been around for so long.

Scrappy L.

A.B. May is great. I got quotes, and they weren't the cheapest, but they offered the most value for the money. I bought a new furnace and air conditioner condenser from them, and also hired them to replace a clogged mainline from the house to the city line. A lot of money, but high-quality work, sober workmen who show up on time and are respectful, and great service after the sale. (One drain tube on the furnace needed to be tightened down.)

Kirk B.

AB May charged over $600 for less than 2 hours of labor, and a few relatively inexpensive parts. I found their pricing to be inflated and unreasonable. The technician did quote the fixed price to me, and although shocked by the amount quoted, I used their services to avoid having to take additional time off work. The work performed was replacement of 2 small shutoff valves on furnace humidifiers and providing an annual furnace check for 2 furnaces- it took about 1 hour and 45 minutes (and I'm being generous on the time estimate). I will not be using their services going forward.

Jeffrey A.

Received our service visit for a furnace and a/c check on december 10. Seemed a little late for a contracted client on their top level plan that it took 4 weeks to get the appointment. Time frame for the appointment was 11-2. Tech showed up at 3. Work only took about an hour, Christian was basically friendly, said all was in working order and went on his way.

Wendy A.

I thought this big company would be a good pick to come out and check why my furnace wasn't working. The guy instantly tried to upsell me a service package, and told me it was routine maintenance. I had looked up probable causes online and knew to clean the flame sensor so I asked how much (besides the $89 diagnosis) $25 so I said go ahead. Takes sensor out and says oh it looks like this has already been cleaned. Not the problem, but wipes it down anyway. Then puts voltmeter on gas valve goes out to truck texts someone back and forth for a few minutes then says it's the gas valve. It's a 4yr old furnace. I asked how he knew that. He gets exasperated &says well I've been doing this for a while now. Part is under warranty but labor will be +$400. I'm kinda in a bind so I say ok but he doesn't have the part. He will emergency order it for the next day. I agree still have to pay $89 for diagnosis he actually tries to make me pay for cleaning the ""looks clean"" sensor but I don't agree. So he drops that. Next morning I have Neece Heating & Cooling come out (husband & wife local company) she quotes me $50 service $275 to replace gas valve if that's the problem & guy will have part on truck already. Guy gets there has it fixed in less than 10 minutes. Loose wire to the gas valve $50 total charge. Made my day. Canceled with A B May but got no response on getting a refund or much apology I'm sure they would have replaced the gas valve and charged over $400 never telling me there was no problem. New guy said they are more of a furnace seller than servicer. You can only get a refund from one guy and he's not there leave a voice mail, but don't expect to hear back.

Kolen K.

They are always late and can't fix anything right the first time. I think its a little ridiculous I payed $530 for them to ""fix"" my air conditioning, just for the next day to wake up it does not work. I called in the next day and I told them and they wanted me too pay more for them just to come back again. I think its some B.S. Never again A.B. May.

Cherlyn T.

Amazing service. My security company set up my Nest Thermostat. The security company had no clue what they were doing I was up at 1:30 in the morning when my heat wouldn't stop blowing even though my ac was on. It was 83 degrees in my house & 32 degrees outside.

I called A.B. May & they had a guy out the next morning.

Matt Sanchez with A.B.May came out & installed my NEST thermostat properly. He also cleaned my HVAC & adjusted my setting to save me the most money on my electric bill.
Now when I turn my AC on only cold air comes out. Thank goodness!! Do you have any idea how frustrating it was to sweat when it was 32 degrees outside. Lol
If you have a nest & a security company set it up call these people immediately. They know what they are doing.

Going to call next month to get a humidifier added on to my system which is much needed up here in the winter time. I had no idea how affordable a humidifier could be until Matt told me.

I

William D.

This company will definitely overcharge you. They will claim that they use ""national rates"" but what they do not tell you is that, if they repair three items in an hour, you will be charged as if they made 3 separate visits. You will be pressured to be part of the Gold program which will cost you $60/month. Your billing will be all lumped together. They will not tell you the cost of parts and the cost of labor - it will be a flat sum. I recommend that you go somewhere else.

Kurtis B.

This company is a complete SCAM! AB May came referred to me and I have had nothing but PROBLEMS with this company. They like to use the term ""NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED"". I have only had 2 service calls with them and both times they said the work wasn't covered because it was ""not properly installed"" by their terms. On the other hand I have the professional that installed our Jacuzzi tub saying it is, so it becomes a he say she say situation in terms of legality. Once I told them I needed this leak fixed no matter what (I HAVE WATER COMING THROUGH AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET) and I was going to pay out of pocket, I was then told they do not have time to do the job. I was then told that the owner was going to come by and take a look at it and I got ahold of the owner Craig Freeman and he knew nothing about this. So I not only was ""scammed"" but I was lied to. DO NOT BELIEVE THEM when they do their walk through service inspection! I had 2 items on report that were not working properly at the time of inspection (therefore they were not covered) But everything else would be covered. Both of my service calls had nothing to do with the 2 noted issues and they STILL DID NOT ONLY COVER IT BUT LEFT IT UNFIXED. I am waiting to here back from the owner to see if they are going to take care of this or if I am going to have to go the legal route. I am a business owner myself and this is just not right!!