$250 seems minimal for what you will pay now or have already
Maybe we don't know the full story, but it seems like the $250 he needed would have been the better idea.

You certainly are right. We have already spend $400 but we have no idea how much more he may have charged along the way. We made a bad choice on installers but have decided to call Trane tomorrow and get a few recommended dealers for installing in our area. At this point, we just need to chalk our decision up to experience and get it repaired by a reputable installer. And on the positive side it's not August!

Hired a new AC contractor - world of difference! Replaced the air handler motor which he told us was under a manufacturer warranty with AS. He tested and could not find a freon leak. Told us perhaps something was not on tight but was corrected when the freon was refilled by another contractor. Just have to find the right contractor and sometimes we make bad choices. This one is a keeper and will be servicing and checking our units once or twice a year.