ComplaintsforTeam Rooter South Bay Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  11/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On Saturday 11/19/2022, Team Rooter South Bay Inc. dispatched a technician to my residence in order to clear a main sewer line blockage. The technician was on-site for multiple hours but was unable to clear the blockage. The technician stated that a video inspection was required to further diagnose the problem, but that he did not have the necessary equipment and would return the next day with a video inspection technician. The next morning a second technician arrived and a video inspection was allegedly performed. After the inspection, the technician claimed that there was a failure in a section of the main sewer line and repairs would require excavation. The technician provided a written estimate for repairs totaling more than ****** Rather than proceed with the repairs, I arranged for an alternative company to evaluate the blockage. Technicians from the alternate company arrived later that day and cleared the blockage within 20 minutes. The technician from the alternate company stated that there was nothing unusual about the blockage. A trivial internet search reveals that exaggerating the problem of a blocked main sewer line in order to perform unnecessary, costly, and profitable repairs is a common practice within the industry.

  Business response

  02/01/2023

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2023/01/10) */ Contact Name and Title: **************** Contact Phone:*********** Contact Email: ******************* Mr *****, We appreciate your feedback. We pride ourselves with giving a permanent solution to all our clients. We did not charge a trip fee and since we did not clear the line we did not charge a penny. Obviously there is problem in your line or else you would not have a blockage. The estimate was given in good faith and reasonably priced given the current market conditions. I did notice that whoever cleared your line, did not provide a camera inspection, so essentially you still do not know the condition of your pipe and chances are this will continue until you are ready for the permanent solution that we have offered. I hope you have a great day. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2023/01/22) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) While it is possible that there is an ongoing problem with the main line that requires the permanent solution that was quoted, Team Rooter provides no evidence that this is the case. Further, Team Rooter claims "Obviously there is problem in your line or else you would not have a blockage". This statement is clearly false. The most common scenario is that something was flushed or rinsed down the drain lines that shouldn't have been. Assuming that Team Rooter truly believes their own statement, it follows that every main line blockage requires excavation and Team Rooter is systematically defrauding all customers who contact them with this issue. Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2023/01/27) */ With all due respect, I would not tell Mr. ***** how to do his job at his profession, since I am confident he is not a plumber and would not be making such statements. Just as an opportunity to teach Mr ***** about how sewer pipes work, there are 2 inch pipes inside the house and lead into 3 and 4 inch sewer lines outside. If an obstruction made it through the sink or the toilet and then into 2 inch pipes inside the house, it would not get plugged up inside a 4 inch pipe, unless there is a compromised pipe in the 4 inch pipe. I am sure if Mr. ***** did a camera inspection and would pay for the service, he would come to the same conclusion as we did. I truly hope when your line backs up again you can come back to this forum and apologies for your comments. Consumer Response /* (2000, 11, 2023/01/31) */ (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.) I have nothing more to add. You can close this case.

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