He paid $70 a month for an air filter for 4 years and never noticed a difference — until one mechanic discovered it was never even installed
Joe had been paying for a HEPA air filter since buying a furnace in 2022. 4 years later, a contractor discovered the filter had never been installed
Homeowners like the elderly Joe Kwiatkowski rely on construction contractors and installation engineers to manage the equipment in their homes. However, many like him lose thousands of dollars in deceptive contracts and fraudulent promises. Kwiatkowski, an Oshawa resident, bought a furnace in 2022 and got it installed behind a dresser in his house. The contractors told him that he needed to get an air cleaning system installed as an addition to purify the air. About four years later, an engineer told him that the system was never installed. The air in his house never got purified, and on top of it, he lost $3,700 in monthly subscription fees he had been paying for years. His latest interview, published by CTV News on July 31, 2026, was viewed by more than 19,000 people.
Hiding behind the furnace, a false contract
Four years ago, Kwiatkowski bought a new furnace under a 10-year contract signed with Sandpiper Energy Solutions. He was told that he needed to purchase an additional air cleaning system or a HEPA filter to clean the air, which he did. Every month since then, he has been paying $109.99 per month for the furnace and $70 for the HEPA air filter. Quite recently, however, shock gripped him as he found out that the system was never installed in the first place!
'There is no HEPA filter on it. Absolutely none'
“I think it was some kind of a promotion,” Kwiatkowski told the outlet. At the time, he needed a furnace, so he called the company. They checked it and told him, “Okay, we will replace the furnace.” Because the furnace sits behind a dresser in his home, Kwiatkowski said he rarely looked at it. He assumed the HEPA air-cleaning system had been installed as promised. It wasn't until technicians arrived to install a new air conditioner that they pointed out something surprising: there was no HEPA filter attached to the furnace at all. “There is no HEPA filter on it. Absolutely none,” he confirmed to CTV, nonplussed at the situation.
A difficult $3,700 refund
After adding up nearly four years of payments, Kwiatkowski realized he had spent about $3,700 on a HEPA filter that had never been installed. “They are taking money from my account for something I don’t have,” Kwiatkowski lamented. When CTV News reached out to Sandpiper, the company’s Resolution Manager said, “This matter has been resolved, and our client has been informed.” They immediately cancelled Kwiatkowski's contract and refunded him the $3,700. The homeowner thanked CTV for helping him get such a fast response. “Really, really thankful. CTV, you guys are the best,” he said.
Deceptive contracts
Home improvement scams and misleading home-service contracts can leave consumers paying for products or services they never receive. A 2024 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau study estimated that 20% of consumers lost money to a fraud or scam during the year, with victims losing an average of $2,790 before any recovery. The report also found that fraud can significantly damage financial well-being, making it harder for victims to keep up with bills and expenses. In Kwiatkowski's case, he recovered the $3,700 only after CTV News contacted the company on his behalf.
'Dude should be asking for credit card interest rates'
CTV News correspondent Pat Foran warned viewers to be aware while signing long-term contracts for rental equipment. Meanwhile, viewers were left confused, wondering whether Kwiatkowski was aware that HEPA filters need to be changed every few months and if he knew, why didn’t he pay attention to it. @Kelly-d7n6f commented, “Never get conned on monthly payments for furnaces or water heaters, total con job.” @KCC22211 said, “Dude should be asking for credit card interest rates on that $3700.”
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