Solahart Installer - Bad Customer Service

[WireFree]

I had a Solahart geyser installed by PHI MAINTENANCE BATHROOM RENOVATIONS in November 2011. From the start of Winter the water from the geyser was not hot.

I called PHI as the geyser was still under warranty.

PHI sent their installer out. When he left he said that he had changed the thermostat and set the thermostat to 65 degrees celcius from 60 degrees.

I now get a invoice for a call out fee from them as the installer claims he did not replace the thermostat he only changed the temperature setting. The 5 degree change does not explain the big change in the water temperature. He surely changed something else.

I called the local Solahart importer, Select Energy, and spoke to Ray who contacted PHI. They gave him a different story about only re-setting the timer.

If this is the customer service for Solahart geysers then don't buy a Solahart geyser.

I also noticed that the is a organisation called SESSA - Sustainable Energy Society of South Africa - http://www.sessa.org.za.
They have an ombudsman Carel Ballack.
If you call them on the number 011 447 1073 no-one answers the Telkom line and the mailbox is full - http://www.sessa.org.za/contact
The telephone number for Carel at http://www.sessa.org.za/divisions/sw...-swh-ombudsman goes to a business school that does not know him.

It looks like the solar water energy industry is an entire fly by night operation milking the free publicity from Eskom.

PHI also does not list their company registration number and physical address on the invoices. I guess the intention is to avoid complaints to the National Consumer Commission.

[DrYes]

Wow looks like you really out for blood.

go to Hellopeter dude.

[Koosi]

almost everything in this country is a fly by night operation

[Pietleeu]

Just a question.. The thermostat controls the electrical backup element.. If it is needed to such a degree that 60'C was not enough then I fear you might have too little storage... The reason why its not a problem in summer is probably because it gets to 70'C plus, and no backup is needed.

Thermostats are usually 3rd party accessories and does not form part of the solar system as a brand. So even though the thermostat might be faulty or substandard (electrical components usually also only have a 1 year guarantee vs the 5 or 10 of the system) the solar system is still a top notch system.

The Installer should have let you known though that if there is not a fault with the system a call out shall apply. Often times its just a matter of adjusting a timer, which can be done by yourself too.