My fish rescue business is in danger. Can you help? - Page 5

Kelly68 · 04-26-2008, 10:46 PM

Thanks Patti. It does seem that way though, sorry as it is. My last donation came in on the 16th. Nothing since then. I just have to plug away and pray it will all work out in the end. We woke up today and our house was freezing. It took all day to get the furnace working. Every 15 minutes or so we would have to go down and turn off the switch on the furnace and reset the relay. It would fire up for about 10 minutes then blow the relay again. It has been like that all day. The only way we can keep it running more is keeping the cover off and the filter has to be removed. A brand new furnace and you have to play these games. Must have went downstairs over a dozen times today alone. It seems to be working right now, but I will bet it will be back out again soon. It will be a long night....it is so cold here right now and very windy. I have had it with this whole furnace mess. Monday YORK is getting a call from me. I am done being nice. Just wish I had an attorney making the threats not just myself. But seeing I cannot afford one I have to make due with what I have...me.

Anyhow, just had to vent about my crappy day. My fish depend on the heat from this so it is not good for them at all to have such a fluctuation in temperature. They can get stressed and get sick. More headaches.

eagleswingwis · 04-27-2008, 12:19 PM

Kelly...
It sounds like your furnice is just a need to have the setting redone... To me as a guess is the draft is to high and the possible motor speed needs to be reset...

Kelly68 · 04-27-2008, 10:28 PM

Thanks for the ideas. I do have one contractor willing to try and fix whatever is wrong with it but YORK has to give permission as it is not one of their dealers. I can't find a YORK guy to touch this mess this other YORK guy did. It was warmer today so it hasn't had to kick on at all today. This guy totally believes it is lack of cold air returns that is causing the majority of the problems.

**Kris10** · 04-28-2008, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly68

Just wish I had an attorney making the threats not just myself. But seeing I cannot afford one I have to make due with what I have...me.

Depending on your income, you may be eligible to get help from the Legal Aid Society. I know there's one in Milwaukee; there may be one in your area. If not, perhaps the Milwaukee branch could help you find someone.

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Inc.

pk · 04-28-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Thanks for the ideas. I do have one contractor willing to try and fix whatever is wrong with it but YORK has to give permission as it is not one of their dealers. I can't find a YORK guy to touch this mess this other YORK guy did.

Guess I don't understand...seems as if the company York would have to send one of their dealers out whether they want to come or not. Aren't they contracted by York to work on their furnaces?

Kelly68 · 04-28-2008, 10:21 PM

Well, that is what I would have thought. That is why I contacted the other two YORK dealers in the surrounding area who both said they wouldn't touch this mess and told me they felt sorry for me and good luck with the person who installed it. That is when one of them contacted the district reps for YORK who came in and told me that seeing this man got paid $9000 for this job, YORK wants him to personally to make it right, no matter what it takes. But this guy won't return my calls or acknowleged the fact I exist. It is a vicious circle.

And as for the legal aid thing. We don't qualify because they go by family income. Even though my husbands hours are reduced they still claim all income and my 20 year old still lives with us working partime and going to school full time.

This is such a mess. I did get a $5 dollar donation over the weekend.

But I also rescued 4 fish today. Monsters. One large Oscar, another smaller oscar that needs a lot of tender loving care to nurse him back to health. He is severely beat up and lots of wounds to treat. He looks awful, but on the plus side he did eat tonight for me. Plus a LARGE cichlid and a huge Green Severum. It has been a long day with only 4 hrs of sleep last night.

rudedog · 04-28-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly68

Thanks for the ideas. I do have one contractor willing to try and fix whatever is wrong with it but YORK has to give permission as it is not one of their dealers. I can't find a YORK guy to touch this mess this other YORK guy did. It was warmer today so it hasn't had to kick on at all today. This guy totally believes it is lack of cold air returns that is causing the majority of the problems.

lack of cold air returns?
did he replace a boiler? or just not connect the old returns?

Kelly68 · 04-28-2008, 11:09 PM

Rude, you hit it right on the nose. The one contractor willing to take on this mess and try to resolve this for me said all signs point to insufficient cold air returns. He never installed any, just ran off of one existing one. This guy told me the frost that was on my furnace when the central air was on when it first was installed gave him the first clue as I told him my furnace where the air comes in at was all frosted up. He said that tells him right away after install was the sign there was not proper cold air returns. When you pull the filter out you can hear the motor change speeds. that is another indication. Half the winter that is the only way I could get heat is to keep the filter out. That was this guys "fix it". Keep the filter out, keep the door off, keep the fan running 24/7. I do not know how many parts he has replaced on a brand new furnace. He opened up the only cold air return I had to make it bigger and this one can't keep up with it all. He is so frustrated that he hasn't returned my calls. I haven't heard from him in over a few months. The only way I could get heat this past Saturday was to take off the door to the furnace, pull the filter and keep flipping the furnace switch and hitting the relay button every half hr. Finally by like 8pm after working on it since 8 am.....the furnace finally decided to stay running. BUT...the door is still off and the filter is still out. What a joke this is.

In order to run more cold air returns, the ceiling has to ripped apart, and this is a finished basement now holding over 60 fish tanks. Any foreign objects that may fall into tanks may wipe out an entire tank. That is why no one wants to touch this. Do do this right, all 60 plus tanks should be removed, all the fish should be taken out, then the $25 a sheet fiberglass panels be torn out and all the insulation that is stapled needs to be removed, then run all the returns that should have been done in the first place. Then put insulation back, go buy more $25 a sheet panels, redue the mess...put back 60 tanks and all the fish. Can I cry yet?

rudedog · 04-29-2008, 04:42 PM

well hopefully this new guy can fix it easily enough.
that sounds like a lot of work to fix someone else's mistakes.

really wish I could find a way to get up there, the curiosity is killing me. It sounds like its wired wrong to me.
inquiring minds want to figure it out. LOL

I will be reading to see if this guy finds the solution.

Kelly68 · 04-29-2008, 05:59 PM

Well, this guy can't legally touch it yet, so it is still in the works. I talked to a different district YORK rep today from Madison on the phone today. He said they have been swamped. But he was not one of the reps that came here that day way back when. He is going to be calling a different rep closer to my area tomorrow and we will be having a three way conversation to discuss this whole mess. I am praying that some sort of solution or ideas can be given at that time.

I did also talk to a place in Madison today: Archibald Consumer Law Office

They do not handle my type of case either.

Kelly68 · 04-29-2008, 06:18 PM

BTW a nice person from North Carolina sent a $10 donation today.

My beat up Oscar is doing well today. He is active and eating good. Looking at him he looks awful, but I hope he pulls through.

Here is a picture of how beat up he is

His mouth was bleeding and everything when I got him. Lots of open wounds.

pk · 05-01-2008, 10:02 AM

Wow, just checked and saw that your post has 110 (111 with this one) replies and just under 3,000 views. So many people seem to care and so many have sent in donations to help. Sadly it sounds like your fish are still in need of a miracle to survive though.

What if we all send an email to the york company with the details of what you have gone through? Could you put up a few sample letters that people could cut and paste into an email and send? I would think the more negative responses this company receives the sooner they will wake up to your situation and see how they owe you a whole new furnace system.

Also, is there any fundraisers going on yet? If so, I would be interested in purchasing an item or ticket or whatever you have going to help.

Let us know.

Patti

Kelly68 · 05-01-2008, 10:22 AM

Patti....man Lauri has been my letter writer on this site. I haven't seen her on lately but I know she is dealing with some very personal family issues right now. A family member is very sick and I hope things are going ok for her as she has been so kind. So let me think of a letter or if you could help me come up with one for others to send would be wonderful too. I get very long winded and as Lauri told me, you have to grab the readers attention in the first paragraph to gain their attention.

This new YORK rep was supposed to have called me yesterday and did not. I will be placing a call back to him if I haven't heard anything by early afternoon. He knows the importance but he does not handle my area....a closer rep does and that who he was trying to contact for me.

As for a fundraiser. No. I know Greg has been talking about doing something, but he must be really busy and hasn't done anything yet to the best of my knowledge. I don't want to keep bugging him as he offered out of the kindness of his heart and I don't want to push in case he changed his mind. He said he had some college stuff left over and was going to post stuff on here to sell. If he is still interested please let either me or Patti know. Thanks!

Or if anyone else has any ideas, I would love to hear. I know people do care but I also know the economy is hurting everyone these days too. The two donations I did receive this week, one for $5 and one for $10 both said they couldn't offer much but hope everyone can see $5 or $10 can add up. The one who sent $5 was from NC and this is some of what she wrote to me:

"I hate how people seem to think and treat fish as disposable pets. I think you are doing a good thing, and I hope the 24 donations are from the last week, since your update was posted, and not in the whole time you've been doing this. I'm just sorry that I can't do more."

I did email her back of course and thanked her for her kind donation but told her that is the number of donations period. Any and all do add up. I can't give up hope. Not yet.

Kelly68 · 05-02-2008, 11:19 AM

Great News....Greg, being the wonderful man he is....is still planning on holding some type of fundraiser via the Bubbler. I cannot thank him enough for volunteering to do this for me and my cause. I know he knows this, but I needed to say it again.

As for YORK, they got another call from me today. The guy I talked to 3 days ago just stepped out lunch this other guy said, but he did say he has been talking to someone about my issues and he will make sure this guy calls me back when he returns from lunch. (fingers crosses with some better news)

It just sure would be nice to get this all behind me. Get caught up with the electric company so I don't have to be constantly looking over my shoulder. Plus knowing my bills are where they are SUPPOSED to be. Something I can afford per month so this don't happen again. Then I can concentrate on doing what I do best...helping others whether they have skin, fur or fins. I know most on here just know me from here, but what I would like others to know is my dreams job, Finned Friends and KARS......is only the tip of the iceberg for what I want to do with the remainder of my life. I have struggled as a child, growing up in some severe abuse situations....just to grow up and not be very well liked and picked on all the way through school. We moved constantly and I did not make friends easy. So I turned to animals for companionship and love. I have a bond like no other with these creatures. Plus, this made me a stronger person deep in my heart and I can empathize with others that have been where I was. My three kids are the world to me and they are growing up loved, happy and they feel on top of the world. I feel this business is just a stepping stone to something bigger. I can't explain it, but I know in my heart I was meant to do this. I am the pay it forward type of person. So many others need what I can give them, but I have to get through my own issues first to focus on others.

The Bubbler family I have made here....you have been so outstanding. Thank you for not allowing me to let my dreams die. And you have no idea how close that was.

Kelly

demon71 · 05-03-2008, 08:16 AM

Kelly,
I will get some items in the classifieds this weekend.
Check your private message and contact me.
Greg

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.

— Henry David Thoreau

demon71 · 05-03-2008, 11:41 AM

I have just added some item to the Bubbler classified. All proceeds from the sale of these items will be donated to Kelly to help catch up on the outstanding utility bills.
The items can be found under clothing. Look for the University of Lake Geneva items.
Greg
demon71

Kelly68 · 05-03-2008, 02:56 PM

Greg, this is wonderful. Thank you so much for offering to do this. I replied to your pm's and my logo is on the way via email. I have been trying to get stuff done, plus watching the live feed via online for the Apple Blossom Festival that my two kids are at marching at the parade in Virginia today. I can't be there and this is the only way I can see them.

pk · 05-08-2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

I have just added some item to the Bubbler classified. All proceeds from the sale of these items will be donated to Kelly to help catch up on the outstanding utility bills.
The items can be found under clothing. Look for the University of Lake Geneva items.
Greg
demon71

How wonderful that you are doing this to help Kelly and her fish.

Hope everone checks out the items and finds something to buy. Every little bit helps Kelly's cause.

Thanks!

pk

pk · 05-08-2008, 09:44 AM

To make it easy... links to the items:

University of Lake Geneva Butt Shorts - Free Wisconsin Classifieds - theBubbler

Sweatshirt - Free Wisconsin Classifieds - theBubbler

White Polo Shirt - Free Wisconsin Classifieds - theBubbler

Polo Shirt - Free Wisconsin Classifieds - theBubbler

All proceeds from the sale of these items will be used to assist Finned Friends Aquatic Rescue and Angel Fish Breeding.

Finned Friends Aquatic Rescue & Angelfish Breeding

demon71 · 05-10-2008, 06:07 PM

Kelly,
I like the items that you have selected in your new store at Cafe Press. http://www.cafepress.com/finnedfriends

This should help in your efforts to raise funds to overcome your high energy bills from the poor installation of your new York furnace. I hope that you can get that problem resolved soon and I hope the York people are paying attention. There as been a lot of bad PR for their company as a result of the problem that you have had with one of their authorized installers.

I will be placing an order this weekend for some items to help support Finned Friends. Finned Friends Aquatic Rescue & Angelfish Breeding

I look forward to checking the store as you add new items and logos. You have some great and fun ideas that everyone should like. Let me know when you add additional items.

This is a great way for you to raise funds and offer something in return.

Good luck.

Greg

Kelly68 · 05-11-2008, 09:52 PM

Thanks Greg for the link to the store and helping me get it figured out. I would still like your ideas in additional products if you don't mind?. As for the YORK issue, my installer along with a YORK rep was here for about two and a half hrs Friday. They had my furnace pretty well gutted out looking for some answers and to fix a technical bulletin that came out a few weeks ago. It still is not running right as the exhaust heat is running way too hot and that is a concern on why it overheats. The rep thought for sure the bulletin would have fixed the problem, but it didn't and he was very upset that he left without having the problem fixed. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday will bring more answers.

BTW, Greg is nice enough to have items that are listed up for sale on the Bubbler as a fundraiser for my rescue. I am averaging about two to three rescues per week this past month. The word is out that there is a rescue and that has brought lots of fish my way.

The items that are on CafePress, I only make a percentage off the sales. Not a big amount but hoping others will see it as a good thing. Donations have been scarce, far few and in between. I am hoping this will bring in a little more help. I hope people will check it out.

http://www.cafepress.com/finnedfriends

Thanks everyone.

Kelly68 · 05-12-2008, 01:30 PM

Well, as of 1pm today no call yet from anyone at YORK. Did I mention that everything they pulled out was "sealed" back in with silicone? Therefore if they have to go back in and replace the heating coil they will have to scrap all that stuff back off and reseal it again. All this on a brand new piece of equipment. This really bites! When they pulled out the main heating coil it had a lot of dirt and pet hair caked on the bottom of it which he said would cause a bit of a problem because it is not getting enough proper air to cool it down and we had to clean that off. Guess what that was caused from? Not running a filter to stop that from going through he said. And what did I say? Their installer told me to keep the filter out because that was the only way the furnace would stay running. So what was I supposed to do?!?!?!???? This just makes me so mad. After taking all that apart to most likely having to do it all over again, just bring me in a new machine. That is my solution. But nope. I have to jump through their hoops. I am just so frustrated. No one can even imagine how much this has messed with my trust of local contractors for one and my health and stress has been through the roof worrying day in and day out. Thanks for letting me vent.

demon71 · 05-12-2008, 01:56 PM

Kelly,
I sent an email to Johnson Controls today. Johnson is the parent company of York. If others will do the same then maybe Johnson will step up to the plate and resolve this issue. I think a new furnace would be the right thing to do as well as pay off the energy bills as well. Johnson can certainly afford it. I think the good PR that they might get out of helping you might help offset all of the bad PR that York is getting and will continue to get until the problem is solved.
Is there a lemon law for furnaces??? Anyone know???

Here is the link for Johnson.
Johnson Controls Inc. | Contact Us

Kelly68 · 05-12-2008, 01:58 PM

Thanks Greg. I hope others that have taken an active roll in this thread whether it being contributing actively in it or just reading it, will send YORK a piece of their mind. Who knows what kind of response this will get, but maybe having other angry people write them something that isn't a consumer will get more attention. I appreciate you doing this and adding the link here.

demon71 · 05-12-2008, 02:06 PM

Kelly,
Here are a couple of links to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
The second link is an online form that you can fill out.
The third link is a form that you can print and send in.
Filing a Complaint - Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection
File a Complaint Online - Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection
http://datcp.state.wi.us/cp/consumer...intForm301.pdf