Share
PrintHelp Me Hank: Taken to the ‘Carpet’ Cleaners
George and Viola Phelps after 57 years of marriage have their lives pretty well figured out. They bring out their his and hers Santas for the holidays, they wear their his and hers clown suits to entertain at nursing homes, evenings -- they settle in his and hers armchairs to watch a little TV or look at photo albums of the family.
So when Granddaughter Melissa gave Viola birthday money and said "splurge", she of course decided to buy something for both of them -- dinner out? Extra presents? Fancy food? Nope.
Viola Phelps
"I said to him, I think I’ll get my rug cleaned, that'll be nice for the holidays."
It seemed right, the nubby gray and white pile was looking pretty black and when they saw an ad promising clean rugs for $59 bucks, they made the call. The rug guy arrived and for about ten minutes, the Phelps say, he sprayed something on the rug and then brought in a vacuum like machine. When he has done -- Viola was not pleased.
Viola Phelps
"I looked at him, ‘I don’t like it, I just don’t like it.’"
The carpet cleaner went on the defense.
Viola Phelps
"He said it was dirty before, I said of course it was dirty, that’s why I called for them to come clean it."
He told the couple, "pay me" -- they did -- and "call me tomorrow if you're still unhappy." And the next day, the rug looked worse.
George Phelps
"You should have seen it then, it looked like a wet dishrag."
But when they called the carpet cleaner back, they had the rug pulled out from under them.
Viola Phelps
"He said ‘we're a busy, we're busy.’ I said, ‘well I'm busy waiting.’"
George had a theory of his own.
George Phelps
"They figured this way, ‘well, these people are old, the heck with them. We'll get his money and run.’"
That’s when Granddaughter Mellissa made a call of her own.
"Channel 7, ‘Help Me Hank’."
We called the carpet company and suggested a solution, come clean the carpet to the Phelps’ satisfaction or just refund the couples money.
Hank
"They'll be happy either way…"
And soon after this check arrived with a kind of nasty note saying the dirty rug was the Phelps’ fault, but George and Viola didn't really care... Maybe the money will go for a his and hers new rug.
Viola Phelps
"Yep, when we can afford it."
Consumer experts will tell you, if you're offered what seems like a spectacularly low price for carpet cleaning, you may wind up spectacularly unhappy... It’s a definite "do your homework" situation. If you’re fighting a consumer battle, maybe I can help!