Appliance repair warning

Neighbors--

When our two-year-old dishwasher made whirring sounds and failed to empty, we asked Kitchen Aid for a factory-authorized service company. Among the firms they recommended was A&E Factory Service. A&E quoted a basic service fee of $65.

When the A&E serviceman came yesterday, he took off the base plate and found that the power cord cover had become loose and was lodged under the drain pump, causing the whirring and preventing complete draining.

The technician refastened the power cord cover and put back the base plate. This took LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. He then went to his lap-top to print out a bill for $127.

I protested, pointing out that agreed-upon service fee is $65. "That does not apply," he said. "The cost of labor is $127."

I paid, but called the company to protest a charge of $127 for less than 10 minutes of labor. "Sorry," I was told. " The technician followed company policy."

MY future policy will be NOT to use A&E Factory Service for appliance repair.

--Henry