Ambassador Pool salesman told us, in August 2009 when we bought our pool, that our payments would be $250/month for five years with financing provided by Wells Fargo. Ambassador Pools salesman explained the financing was a line of credit which if we did not use after the purchase of the pool, would function just like an installment loan--no worries. So $250/month for 5 years was the maximum for our budget. However, 6 months later our $250 payment skyrocketed to $425. Bottom line was we unknowingly purchased a pool with a credit card. Yes, the Wells Fargo financing was a Wells Fargo Splash Card, and Wells Fargo explained that because of Obama's credit card reform, they were allowed to jack up our interest rate into the stratosphere. This was NOT the $250/month for 5 years the Ambassador Pools salesman promised. We had to take money out of our retirment to pay off the balance to Wells Fargo. We could not take on a $425/month bill.

We purchased an above ground pool the last week of April and were assured it would be finished by Memorial Day.yeah right. Secured the necessary permits by mid May and begin calling the corporate office in MA about when we could expect the installation. Called either everyday or every other day only to repeatedly be told that someone would contact us later that day.this went on for over a week. They finally set a date for one of their crews to come out who then finally showed up a week later than scheduled. This crew then excavates the site and completes the job..about halfway.then proceeds to tell us that a) they "didnt have the right screws for the wall supports" and b) they "dont normally install this type of pool and another crew would be coming (the following week) to complete the install". Really??? Then why the heck were they dispatched here for the job? More angry phone calls made to corporate who claim they are sending their "best guy" to finish the job. We'll see...as of right now there is a half built pool sitting in the yard. Will update whenever it actually gets done. The product itself appears to be pretty nice but so far getting it up and running has not been.

Dave, the sales rep, was presented by the company as the "expert" who would conduct the "free lawn survey." When going over the contract price, we asked Dave (3 times) to explain typical after costs we could incur for additional needed land/support work. He assured us all three times that nothing beyond what was covered by the contract would be needed after the fact. We explained the importance of this being accurate because of our budget. If there would be significant costs beyond what was covered by the contract, we would have to wait for next year. Again, Dave was positive after surveying our yard that nothing other than what Ambassador provides in the contract would be needed. After the installation crew got started, and we could no longer cancel the contract, we were told that we will need a retaining wall, which is not covered by the contract, this year. After receiving an estimate, we discovered that this will be several $1000s more. We have asked Ambassador to cover 1/2 the cost, as we were mislead by their expert lawn surveyor as to what was needed. They have denied that request. Dave also stated that the reason that "BBB recommends" Ambassador Pools is because "we cover everything from start to finish." I have since learned from speaking with a BBB rep that saying this was unethical. The BBB rates Ambassador Pools, but does not recommend them. I do have supporting email docs that show the company confirming that they use this language all the time.