Vortex Whirlpool Systems

Buyer Beware

7/25/2014 we purchased a swim spa at the State Fair in Sacramento. The salesman Terry raved so much about Catalina Spas warranty and so he convinced us to purchase a 19.3 Relay model costing us 27,476.25. Ever since we owned it we had many issues with it. The blowers come on and won't turn off unless you shut off all power. The lifter cover came crashing down on Father’s Day almost injuring my 3 year old Nephew. At first we were dealing with Vortex whirlpool Systems distributor Hot Tub Super Center. Then the nightmare began. Hot Tub Super Center located in Rocklin, Calif. on Granite drive started to blame us for the lifter cover falling. For over six weeks they tried to make us pay for labor charges and parts telling us we sat on it causing it to fall. Why would we pay over 27,000 dollars just to ruin it? So I just about had it after 6 weeks of dealing with them so I told my husband to call to the manufacturer Vortex Whirlpool Systems and find out what the specs were of the lifter cover. We found out that it was never built to spec. This thing ways around 200 pounds and it could have killed my 3 year old Nephew if it fell on him. So when we went back to Hot Tub Super Center and told them we know it wasn't built to spec oh they had a sudden change of tune. They admitted in a letter to us that they didn't install it correctly! 6 weeks arguing with them over that! They will try anything to make you pay for labor so therefore getting out of their warranty! It didn't get fixed right away! It was around five months later before it was fixed! Jason did come out on 6/15/15 to look at the issue of the blower. Jason was there at our house for five minutes before he demanded a 99.00 trip fee and was gone! All he did was lecture me about cleaning out the filters and never once looked into the issues of the blowers going on. Jason never gave me a work order. In fact all three times Jason came out we never got a work order so we can sign proving they were here for one and for us to approve their work. Jason told my husband that they do everything paperless. By law a consumer should have an invoice regardless if it’s under warranty or not. You should have some sort of proof to what work was performed right? HTSC never gives out any invoices! When Jason came out the last and final time it got really heated. Jason had even more of a nasty attitude and was really *** towards me. I noticed that Jason was attempting to repair the lifter cover the exact same way as before so I confronted him on it. He then got really angry at me and got more verbal towards me. I had to call up my husband to get him involved at his work. My husband talked to Jason for a few minutes and once again Jason said they do everything paperless there. Can you say fraud? Jason finally agreed to put longer screws in but he didn't do anything and the lifter cover is still not built to the spec of the manufacturer. At the end Jason became really agitated when I asked for a invoice because he had brought over two extra side panels for us but before I was going to fork over 440.00 dollars I wanted a invoice so I know what I'm paying for. Jason told me that I'll just get a receipt when he gets good and ready to give me one and for me to fork over the money to him. I refused. He then got into my face yelling and screaming at me. I felt really nervous as I'm disabled with a spinal injury from a head on collision and couldn't defend myself in case he attacked me. So I ordered Jason off the property before I called the police on him. Shortly after the incident I wrote Chet Bloyd the manager there at HTSC and told him what had happened and I never want Jason on our property again. Chet Bloyd gave me an invoice through email only because I complained about it otherwise we would never have gotten one. On it were labor charges on it for 90.00! The product is under warranty! Can you say fraud? So Chet Bloyd told us he no longer wants to work with us and gave us a 3rd party Tropical Spa Fixtures that worked directly with Vortex Whirlpool Systems/Catalina Spas. John the technician from Vortex wrote to my husband about the blower issue telling him that Vortex told him that they WILL NOT COVER THE WARRANTY AND WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT! He also stated that we were going to be charged another trip fee for the same exact thing Jason came out for too! So we complained to Vortex. Vortex did nothing to help us! So we just had it and we filed complaints with the BBB and the Attorney General on both companies. Vortex of course didn't want the Attorney General to find out how deceptive they were so agreed in a response to come get our swim spa and that they will pay for an electrician to come remove it and give us back a full refund but it’s was up to HTSC their distributor to agree with the deal. HTSC which was written by Chet Bloyd's lying *** to the Attorney General was only to defame my good name. He told one lie after another even saying I called them on 10/1/15 to say that I told them there wasn't a problem with the swim spa! I never did that! Then Chet Bloyd told the Attorney General that I attacked his employee cutting his face and denting the truck with one of the panels Jason brought over. How is that possible? Ummm, I have a spinal injury from a head on collision, bulging disc, and arthritis in my hands and lower back, fibromyalgia and chronic pain. Chet Bloyd lied his good for nothing *** off about me. Since then we are still going with the BBB who is looking into both companies and has been for 3 months now. They said the fault lies with Vortex and they can't understand why Vortex wants to put the blame on their distributor when they have the authority to come pick up the spa as they mentioned in their response to the Attorney General. We are now seeking out a Consumer Attorney. We have no trust in Vortex or their distributer Hot Tub Super Center as they both lie their *** off and they will fraud you if given the chance. If anyone looks at the Hot Tub Super Center history for reviews they will find this "WARNING! DON'T PASS UP MY REVIEW! WARNING! DECEPTIVE COMPANY! DOESN'T HONOR WARRANTY! For Vortex it’s the same but their bad reviews are all over the place dating back to 2008 for not honoring their warranty. If I could save one person from going through the *** we are I will. Consumers deserve better than these two companies who will cheat you out of your warranty sticking you with trip fees, labor charges and parts! They don't get a one star rating for nothing and that's only because complaint sites don't have an option for zero stars!