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RainSoft review: Hidden fees 19

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12:00 am EDT
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When I purchased my Rain Soft home water filtration system back in 1999 I was never told that every 2-3 years someone would have to come out and "service the system". What they actually mean by that is charge you $84.95 to come out and take out the old tanks (new ones will cost you $99.95) and replace a filter under your sink ($85.00). When I purchased this system I thought it would only cost me the original $5,000 (approximately) and that was it, guaranteed for life. Yeah right. I made a service call because one of the tanks was leaking only to be told I should have been contacted 6 years ago (and every 2 years thereafter) to switch out tanks and then got all the other explanation. Of course their solution for the unanticipated costs were to take $41 off of the total of $291.34 to come out and fix their fault product. I don't recommend buying this product. It is very costly and then more cost to the buyer every 2 years, not to mention the salt you have to add to the tank about 1-2 times a month at an additional $10 cost. If you do decide to get this product, good luck, very costly, bulky and hidden fees.

19 comments
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MsDanni
Deerfield beach, US
Sep 25, 2023 6:07 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I just had the same exact issue to a T! Wow… they are still getting away with this! I can’t believe Home Depot sells this company to people!

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Love RainSoft
Denver, US
Apr 23, 2012 3:37 am EDT

I love my RainSoft system. It is the best water filter in the world. I love drinking clean water. I love bathing in clean water. I love washing my clothes in clean water. It has helped keep my home and appliances in good condition. My friends and family also have RainSoft in their homes and they all love it too. The free soaps have saved me way more than the cost of the RainSoft system.
I feel sorry for all of the people who turned a positive life changing experience into a negative.

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rlb00240
celabration, US
Jan 20, 2011 10:22 pm EST

Just so you all know you are paying $5000.00 for a $1000.00 worth of equipment( minus install). A basic wates sofener starts at $529.00. The rest is PROFIT. A good system should cost $1500.00 or less and yes the tanks need to regenerated about every 3 to 6 yrs. Buy from a local plumber supplyer and use a trusted plumber to do the generally easy install.

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vamphonephong
Rancho Cordova, US
May 10, 2010 5:37 pm EDT

As with many of you, I was almost suckered into buying an overpriced "luxury" equipment that we didn't really need.

This is my story:

I bought a brand new house, built March 2010. 2 weeks upon moving in (March 23 was move in date), I get a ring of the doorbell. Who is it? I wonder...Oh, it's a young man with a shirt that reads "Rainsoft." I'm thinking, as with all other door guys we have run into since I purchased the house, "I don't want your service, whatever it is." He proceeds and tells me that they are doing a free water test for all residents in my neighborhood and that the test will take no longer than 30 minutes, give or take depending on the amount of questions that was asked. I asked him what the hardness level of the water was in my neighborhood, since they did run the tests on multiple houses around me already. He wouldn't tell me - said that I'd need the water professional (who just happens to be his dad) to run the test and tell me himself. He also threw in a $25 gift certificate to Home Depot. My fiancee was drawn to the gift certificate so we agreed.

On the appointment date, my fiancee was at work. The "professional" told me that she must be home in order for us to get the gift certificate. I asked why and his response was that someone's husband murdered his wife for purchasing a system without his knowledge. Wow! I assured him that I wouldn't get murdered if I did decide to purchase, but he insisted that she was home anyway. I cleared my schedule for the presentation, which he was already late to.

Anywho, the next appointment, we were both home. He went through his normal presentation. I was actually surprised at how "dirty" my water was. Well, it wasn't actually dirty, the sales man just told me that it was dirty, and had the tests to prove it. Yeah, right...Half way into the presentation, I looked at the clock, as I was getting hungry. The presentation started at 6:30 and didn't end until about 10pm. My fiancee, was very impressed. I wanted to test his "holy" water with some of our detergents, but he wouldn't let me. Gee, I wonder why? Was the experiment rigged? If he was so confident about his water, why didn't he let me perform my own small experiment right? Well, anyways, I then decide to turn on my computer. He suddenly stopped what he was doing and asked my fiancee, "what is he doing?" And she told him, he's probably going to check out Rainsoft reviews to make sure you guys are the real deal before buying. He got offended, and so I didn't check it. If his product was so superior, what would he be so afraid of? Got me really thinking. My fiancee eventually signed on the dotted line. We were promised that if we could find another product for cheaper that does exactly what Rainsoft does, they would drop the price. Finally, after signing everything, he leaves my house. I had dinner at 10:30pm (I usually eat before 7pm...).

I have been busy at work, but decided to read my contract - 3 days after transaction to cancel. Hmmmmm...the sales guy didn't tell us this. Good thing I read this before on the second night going onto the third day as I would be in a ride that I didn't want to take. I proceed to go online and do some research and low and behold, I see all these negative reviews about this company, their sales tactics, their inability to explain to you the hidden fees involved with maintaining the system, which we were told is basically maintenance free, and a whole slew of negatives about Rainsoft.

My fiancee was still excited to finally be able to get soft water into our house. I, however, did not like the idea that I was going to be stuck with a lemon for the life of my home. I call the sales guy and told him to stop the delivery/installation guy. The sales guy had the audacity to tell me "Man, you are killing me [chuckles]...I'm going to lose 300 bucks." I tell him "wait a minute, you care more about your commission than my inability to pay for the piece of [censor] equipment that you hard sold me and my fiancee? Cancel it! I could care less that you didn't make your commission." I was going to lose $7000 and he was worried about a $300 commission. All I can say is wow, these guys are really from a different planet. They really are commission hungry. I'm sure he would've gotten such a bigger commission than just $300 bucks, but I wasn't going to go on his guilt trip.

An hour later, I got a call from the Fresno, CA B&D district manager, who through many phone calls, I got to discount the price of the whole home system for $3500. He wouldn't go lower, so I didn't go with it. I didn't want to deal with the headache of yearly service calls, which the sales guy totally left out of his presentation. Thanks to all the reviews I have read, I'm glad I did not throw away my money into a piece of crap system.

There is one positive thing I have to say about Rainsoft, however. They did open my eyes to why water stains my appliances. So after this ordeal, I still wanted a softener, but one from a more reputable company. I eventually called the local Kinetico company after doing a lot of research.

All in all, I learned a lot. I hope you all do some research before buying into Rainsoft. There are a lot of good softeners out there. I do have the money to spend, so I went with Kinetico, which is also on the expensive side (got my dechlorinator and Mach 2040 for $2500 installed), but there are also some less expensive, highly reputable softeners as well. Good luck all :)

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fasthoggen
San Diego, US
Mar 11, 2010 1:08 am EST

Hello Florida Resident,

I wished that I would have looked at your comment before tonight. Because Home Depot and Rain soft are still running this scam on people. I to was promised a gift card and the sales person didn't know anything about it. Thank goodness my wife and I didn't buy this scam. This is worse then the old days with the snake oil sales men. The sales man was talking to us like we were to little kids and we had to buy it right now. At $7000.00 I'm not making that decision tonight but he wouldn't take no for an answer. I don't buy anything without looking into it first . But he showed us pictures of people in our area I don't think they were.But now Rain Soft has my information I just hope they don't bug us. But after 2.5 hours we got him to leave. I can't believe that Home Depot supports this kind of company that sells product thats doesn't work. But thats my opinion after reading complains about this company.

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florida resident
Midway, US
Dec 05, 2009 5:25 am EST

First of all, I am absolutely disappointed that Home Depot would request that its customers sign up for a chance to win a shopping spree only to submit our personal information to companies whom they have partnered with to build their companies. Secondly, a Rainsoft representive contacted me stating that I was the winner of a $20.00 gift certificate at Home Depot, Macaronni Grill, or Chilli's. However, I was informed that in order to receive the gift, I would need to allow Rainsoft to conduct an in-home demonstration regarding their home filtration system. Although the representative presentation was well presented and informative, I was told that the presentation would last about 30 minutes. A 30 minute presentation lasted over 2 hours. In my opinion, Home Depot and Rainsoft started this process of being deceitful to its customers. I am so happy that I visited this site because the salesperson failed to inform my family during the presentation regarding the maintenance and cost to maintain this home filtration system. I was not informed about the salt that needed to be added periodically. And, I am happy to know that their service contract is not honorble. Since Home Depot felt the need to endorse this company, let them provide the service contractual agreement as they do their appliances. Finally, the Rainsoft represenative made me feel that I had the worse water. His presentation allowed me to question whether Talquin Electric Cooperation is supplying my family with adequate water supply. Finally, I thought that when I purchased my new Whirlpool Refrigerator with the filtering system, I was getting excellent water. However, according to Rainsoft, the water is still bad water. In other words, if you are not using their home filtration system, you are not drinking good water. Finally, at the end of the presentation, I was informed that I will receive my gift card in the mail. This is unacceptable because if I am willing to allow a stranger into my home and was promised a gift certificate, I should have received it at the end of the presentation to say the least. My recommendation to all future customers is to be proactive and inform any company who ask to come into your home to show a business card and do not make a decision on large purchases abruptly.

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AmberA
, US
Jun 26, 2009 12:08 am EDT

We were totally took by this company as well. High pressure sales which we stupidly bought in to. Asked if we could afford $34 a month for payments. Said we could and suddenly before the guy left I was paying $84 a month. Told it would be paid for in 4 years. 2 years into it and we hadn't made a dent. Figuring roughly the payment and interest the 4 years and we should have had it paid for was really more like 12 years! Don't even get me started on filters and other service. The first year they call say its time to change the filters $56 if they send and we do ourselves. They sent instructions alright I just needed an engineering degree to take it apart and do it. Charged me another $100 to have someone come do it. Not paying $150/year to change filters. Thing hasn't worked for awhile either. Called once, they came and said it was fine. Gee then why doesn't it use salt anymore then?

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cheryl
lee's summit, US
Jun 17, 2009 6:50 pm EDT

i purchased rainsoft in 1998 its paid off, but im getting calls from two different company's, they supposily sold to a different company, and both are saying they are the original company, im so confused and im thinking about not letting either one come back does anyone know anything about this?

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H20MAN
Tucson, US
May 05, 2009 5:06 pm EDT

So, when you purchase a car with a 4 year, 60, 000 mile warranty, you don't expect to pay for oil changes? RainSoft systems are made in a state-of-the-art facility in Chicago, not by God.

You need to add salt to the brine tank (with any manufacturer's system), filters required changing (that's why they're called filters), and any mechanical component is subject to wear and tear, and potential failure requiring replacement.

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Marta Gillette
, US
May 19, 2018 10:22 am EDT
Replying to comment of H20MAN

Yes, but the Rainco person came to my house yesterday and said all of that maintenance was covered under the warranty and the system didn't use salt (after I saw the word brine), which I thought was very confusing.
And there were no filters to change, no maintenance to do, and if there were, they would take care of it.
NOT. Thank goodness I didn't sign up.

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nicholas hammond
lithonia, US
Mar 23, 2009 8:29 pm EDT

i nicholas hammond agree dealer said i was in 5 year 141 plan but interst don, t match called dealer they inform me i was in program a needed not worry that is deal they have with amercian finco. amercian finco then jumped my daliy percentage rate. i have drain my saving and send all extra money i can and have sent over4000 dollars on a 7000 dollar system and still have a 4000 dollar owe and only had system 6 months

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Thunder Chaser Inc.
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Nov 08, 2008 12:52 pm EST

I found this site as I am looking for potential financing for customers. I am reasearching American finco to do financing for me in the corporation that I work for. I am trying to hold a neutral point of view. Were any of you given a contract denoting charges? I am also curious as to the Corporation that I am checking out has nothing to do with the work that is performed other than if I understand correctly, the merchant is required to get an approval from the customer before it is paid. I would be happy to hear about things that the company might do to their dealers.

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reggie
,
Aug 22, 2008 11:55 am EDT

I purchased a system via Rainsoft who had some jacked up crack addict to come to my home representing them. We wer totally mislead and just purchasing a house they got us in the wosrt way. Now my problem is with American Finco and their interest. I've made payments totaling at least $1000 and I have not seen my account decrease yet. From $141 per month they are only applying $12 dollars to the principle and pocketing the rest which they call interest. I told them I not making another payment until the reduce the interest rate.

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frm226
Port Charlotte, US
Jul 05, 2008 10:50 am EDT

I agree with everything that has been stated here. I paid off the system when I received the bill and they continue to charge a finanice fee even after I told them to close the account after the first check.I'm filing complaints with the BBB and the Attorney General for the State of Florida.

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Scooter
Lenexa, US
May 19, 2008 7:22 am EDT

Go after American Finco by filing a complaintRicardo with the Chicago area Better Business Bureau on American Finca as I did. Maybe if enough of us file comlaints, it will eventually stop them from ripping off their customers.
Terry Cushman

http://chicago.bbb.org

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Arnold
,
Apr 15, 2008 11:34 am EDT

American Finco Solution: I wrote a cancellation letter and paid off total amount on the bill from american finco. The next mont I had another bill $37.xx. So I called and they said it was for a finance charge. Im thinking I was not late on paying there bill but i still get a finance charge. So I mailed the amount of the finance charged and still before the due date with a 2nd cancellation notice. Here I am with another bill for .65 cents. I called again. They now said they will waive it. Wow. Sounds like a scam to me. How hard is it to cancel a credit card? This is why people go postal. Come on. Can't we all do bussiness without scamming the innocents of nice people.

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Ricardo Calidonio
,
Mar 28, 2008 7:36 pm EDT

I guess they got me too their finance company will rip off your pants if let them. fees for everything and i so sorry that i purchased this and do not recommend it to anyone.

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Michelle Williams
,
Dec 11, 2007 3:20 pm EST

I am in the same boat with everyone else on the rainsoft scam. I am still paying for my system, with American Finco which is another rip off all together. I am trying to get mine refinanced with someone else, because American Finco is SUCH A Rip OFF! I have no complaints on the system itself just by the way they come into your house and insist that you have terrible drinking water, when in reality it is all a gimmic to get you to purchase their system. I have two small children and wanted the safest drinking water for them to drink, so me and my husband signed up for it.

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MsDanni
Deerfield beach, US
Sep 25, 2023 6:08 pm EDT
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Same!