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AC Warranty

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Hedgehog000

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? SC

I have a Trane AC unit that's 4.5 yrs old and has a 5 year warranty. The compressor's gone bad but when my service tech tried to get the part from Trane, Trane refused because the serial number of my unit matches the serial number of another unit a different reseller sold. I've provided them multiple receipts showing that I bought it from one of their resellers, complete with serial number, had it installed, provided pictures of the actual unit, etc. Trane refuses to do anything until they can contact the reseller that sold the duplicate serial number unit. Of course, that reseller isn't responding (according to Trane) even though I've been pestering Trane for more than 2 months. It's becoming clear that Trane is just going to leave this issue tied up in their complaints department until my AC breaksdown completely and I have to buy a whole new one.

So my questions are:
1. Should I sue in SC small claims court (replacing the unit will cost several thousand - so if I won or just got Trane to honor the warranty, it'd be worth it)?
2. Who do I sue? Trane is a subsidiary of Ingersoll Rand. Would I sue Trane or Ingersoll? And if Trane - how do I determine the legal name and address of a subsidiary?

Thanks
 


adjusterjack

Senior Member
1. Should I sue in SC small claims court
If you are asking if small claims court is an option as opposed to big claims court, yes, it is. SC small claims limit is $7500.

If you are asking should you sue, that is entirely up to you.

2. Who do I sue? Trane is a subsidiary of Ingersoll Rand. Would I sue Trane or Ingersoll? And if Trane - how do I determine the legal name and address of a subsidiary?
You look at the warranty paper that came with the AC. It will identify the company giving the warranty. If it's Trane or something else, then the warranty should have the full company name and location.

Once you confirm the correct defendant and complete name, you can check your Scty of State's website for the registered agent on whom you would serve the summons and complaint.
 

Hedgehog000

Junior Member
You look at the warranty paper that came with the AC. It will identify the company giving the warranty. If it's Trane or something else, then the warranty should have the full company name and location.

Once you confirm the correct defendant and complete name, you can check your Scty of State's website for the registered agent on whom you would serve the summons and complaint.
Thanks, unfortunately, the warranty just says Trane Limited Warranty Customer Service Number 1-855-260-2975 then below that it has Ameristar Heating and Cooling (Ameristar is made by Trane) in big font. No address or other name information.

I did look in the SC Sec of State website and both Trane US Inc and Trane International Inc are listed. There doesn't seem to be an Ameristar listed that's an AC company. So I'm thinking Trane US Inc. would be the right choice? The agent is something called Corporation Service Company out of Columbia, SC.
 

adjusterjack

Senior Member
I think Ameristar is just a product name.

My guess is that Trane US Inc would be the proper company to sue.

The registered agent should have a South Carolina address for the process service.
 

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