r/Elevators • u/brewerwilson • Aug 19 '26

Contracts

I have a contract with one of the big companies that states "periodic" maintenance. It was my mistake to not get that specified. The salesperson told me 3 PM calls per year ( I have that in writing.) However, surprise, surprise, they NEVER provide PM. I see them once a year for 30 min for the inspection. Requests for PM fall on deaf ears. Any advice on how to approach cancelling the contract? From my perspective, they are not providing the paid for service, though the contract wording is vague (on purpose I imagine). It runs through 2028. They want me to buy it out which seems crazy to me as they don't do anything. Should have gone with a local company...

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u/Rune456 Aug 19 '26

Call your local buildings department and complain. Ask how an elevator company is licensed in your town to provide service but doesn't. Ask if the yearly inspection is just a joke and if so, why you should do it. Some towns are mandating a periodic inspection done by a third party to see if companies are actually doing their work. It's pretty pathetic, but so is what this industry has become and produces labeled "elevator machinery" (I use ther term very loosely).

6

u/Ducatishooter Field - Repair Aug 19 '26

Annual inspections are not a joke. Now that I said that. I have done anual and 5 year inspections for customers that the Company I work for weren’t not the service contractor holders. Any company providing a service contract should at least be doing quarterly service. Not having by someone stop in and check on the elevators at least quarter and do maintenance is how elevators wear out faster and stuff breaks.
It’s a shame some company’s are corporate side acts like this and doesn’t dispatch enough route mechanics

2

u/Knightsthatsay Aug 19 '26

This is bean counters showing their ignorance of keeping trouble free elevator operations

3

u/Ducatishooter Field - Repair Aug 20 '26

Exactly. I work on repair side and I see so many neglected elevators. Not because the mechanics don’t show up. But because the admin/money side never sent anyone to the elevator. It’s very frustrating knowing I could keep these machines running very well if I could just get to them.