Look at this customer review...OUCH!

[NorthernIllinoisPlumber]

I see it get discussed here, and have heard about it. Sounds to me like they should have camera'd first, then cleaned.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/339/RipOff0339191.htm

[stxrus]

OUCH!! is right. sounds to me like a bait & switch.

curious to know what the $99 cleaning was good for. it smell of scam to me :ThumbsDown:

steve

[FINER9998]

the customer's next call should be to the local small claims court where the plumber can explain to a judge or arbitrator why his $99 special doesn't apply to old plumbing.

[cpw]

the customer's next call should be to the local small claims court where the plumber can explain to a judge or arbitrator why his $99 special doesn't apply to old plumbing.
At the point the customer was quoted $980, would have been a good point to tell the plumber to leave and call someone else. No one is a winner when a lawsuit is involved.

[plumberscrack]

"Yes, that's right ma'am, the job is complete. Pay me $980.00 and your sewer should be clear by morning" :outtahere:

:eek:

[JeffH]

There are folks around here that advertise drain cleaning for $49.00, another one states "Starting at $29.00". I've had more than one Customer state that they have called these folks only to get a song & dance of a thousand questions and a final price that would make any lawyer envious. But, like any scam artist, it only takes one beaten down Customer to make your day, so they just keep throw'n it out there.

[stxrus]

No one is a winner when a lawsuit is involved.

what about the attorneys? :)

i agree. just had to get a gig in

steve

[PLUMBER RICK]

normally i side with the homeowner.

but is this lady an idiot or just clueless:eek:

since when do you wait for days to get a sewer cleaned and fork over 10 times the amount advertised.

and that's just the start.

she needs more help than any plumber can give her.

the plumber needs to refund all of her money and get a close up look at their business practices.

so there are no winners.

just a couple of real loser's.

sorry i'm hard on her, but how naive is she:rolleyes:

rick.

[NorthernIllinoisPlumber]

I was thinking the same thing. There are 1000's like her, I wonder if she did actually write the complaint herself, possibly a child of hers?. You see this happening with the older seniors all the time. They get scammed, kids find out, and complaint gets filed.

[DuckButter]

I hate agreeing with Rick:rolleyes:...but he's right about the fact that this gal comes off too much like she's innocent.

THIS is a case where I would side with the customer, yes, but I found myself wondering why she hadn't gotten a second opinion when quoted $980.

Also, her stating they only took an hour is suspect.

[toolaholic]

There are folks out there, that can't deal with everyday situations that most of Us have no problem with. These Guys are crooks. Hope they get sued. Bless Her

[rick1643]

"Yes, that's right ma'am, the job is complete. Pay me $980.00 and your sewer should be clear by morning" :outtahere:

:eek:

If the job was complete, why would it take till morning for the line to be clear???????:confused:

[JCsPlumbing]

EXACTLY. I don't care what you charge.... but you do the job to completion.

J.C.

[PLUMBER RICK]

You thief! You stole my words. This is exactly what I was going to say.

Jack

jack, remember i actually met you;)

i actually spoke to a new customer tonight, 5 minutes ago and pretty much told them this story.
they got a free camera inspection:rolleyes: with no video tape:eek:

along with an estimate of $8,000.:eek:

guess what?

for $340.00 they will get a real inspection with a tape and an honest opinion of what to do.

the other plumber already wanted to sell them a reline and scared them that the line will collapse and their opportunity will be lost. of course the salesman has called them a few times since 3 weeks ago.

the owner has lived there for many, many years and the stoppages are every 9 months.

fortunately my new customer is much smarter than this lady that was taken;)

how was vegas:confused:

rick.

[DuckButter]

Rick:D talks:confused: like:eek: this:cool:.

Jack, talks, like, this.

[spodelee]

Rick:D talks:confused: like:eek: this:cool:.

Jack, talks, like, this.

:rotflmao1:

Duck - you norwegian by chance? We have got to be related. Just think too many of the same thoughts. Scary.

[PLUMBER RICK]

We should meet with you and your wife for a breakfast, lunch, or dinner, in your area. First person, who talks about plumbing or the forum, pays the tab. So, bring your plastic.

Thank you very much.
Leonard

well, i guess i'll be paying,
as you already bought the sandwiches last time;)

still need to get back to alpine village.

they make a great soft serve. plus my "girlfriend" takes good care of me:D

rick.

[PLUMBER RICK]

I thought you didn't like to travel more than 5 mile? She must be beautiful!
Does you beautiful wife know? Call us when you go there.

Thank you very much.
Jack


5 miles is for work;)

fun is priceless.

joey gets a small cone and i get the large one:D

in a couple of weeks.

i need more led flashlights. wait till you see what these can light up.

he's been out of them for weeks now and the factory is in china:eek:

everyone i show them too wants one. i've gone through more than 20.

rick.

[gear junkie]

joey gets a small cone and i get the large one:D


TMI-don't care to know about your cone or Charlie's. hahahaha where I come up with this, I'll never know.

[NHMaster3015]

I love this thread. It should make it clear to lurking and unlurking diy'ers that we, on the whole are not a pack of jackles waiting for the next victim. When something smells, we're the first to say so.

[PLUMBER RICK]

TMI-don't care to know about your cone or Charlie's. hahahaha where I come up with this, I'll never know.

not from comedy central:rolleyes:

ben, the subject was soft serve ice cream cones.

not knockworst or brauts:D

rick.

[DuckButter]

I love this thread. It should make it clear to lurking and unlurking diy'ers that we, on the whole are not a pack of jackles waiting for the next victim. When something smells, we're the first to say so.

I second that.
To add, I very often moan n groan about my bad experiences, on this forum especially.

I tend to vent my troubles so to speak...most of those troubles are new customers whom I've never worked for.
My regulars are great, some even friends.

If every customer were as described in some of my posts, I'd have put down the tools a long time ago.

[NHMaster3015]

Doing good sor far, thanks Jack

[HouseOfAtlas]

Please clarify your statements, with facts if you have any.

"Never believe anything that you hear and believe only 2% of what you actually see"

If I was the monitor, of this forum, just like a newspaper, it would be mandatory, for members to be able to prove, and back up their statements, regarding other plumbers.

I advertised $29, for about ten years, and now I advertise $49. My price, does not make it evident, that I am a scam artist. If you, ever, find a customer, who tells you I charged even one penny more, than my advertised price, and you can prove this, I will pay you $1,000. Obviously, many customer need more than just a $49 job.

Even, if, you are not talking about me, I hear 1,000 time more complaints, about by business, from plumbers, than from my own customers.

Jack

Jack,

I do understand your business practices with the $49 drain cleaning but I'm just curious if you are doing the actual drain cleaning yourself or if your employees or a sub-contractor is doing them?