ComplaintsforHarvey Baker Plumbing, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  05/18/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On Friday may 17th we called harvey baker to come unclog our kitchen sink. **** came out and snaked the pipe and told us everything was good. Unknown to us at the time **** had broken his snake cable in our pipe and didn't say anything to us about it. Two hours later our toilets, which we were having no problem with before, started backing up and not flushing. **** came out Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and temporarily unclogged it just to clog again in a few hours. Saturday afternoon **** verbally assured us that if we got the septic tank emptied our problems would be resolved. So Monday morning we got the septic tank pumped for $400. Our toilets were still backing up. Harvey baker sent another guy out who finally told us about the broken cable and charged us another $122.00. He unclogged our toilets for about three hours. They sent another guy out Tuesday to camera the house who basically told me that it was his coworker who left it in our pipes. He also said we shouldn't have been charged the day before either. He told us that the owner himself was coming out the next day to try to fix the problem. The next day the owner and two other people came and spent five hours removing the cable that his employee had broken in our pipe. Then he charged us $1500 for the work he did in fixing the problem that his employee caused. I've spoken with three other plumbers about the situation and they all agree that we've been shafted

  

  Business response

  05/21/2024

  To Whom it May ******** On May 10, 2024 we were called out for a kitchen sink line line backing up. Upon arrival our plumber attempted to clear the line. He charged the customer $200.00. That evening we got another call from the the customer that the line was backing up again. We went out the next day and found the kitchen line and the main sewer line backing up. Our plumber cleared the main sewer line said everything was now working but recommended that the customer have his septic tank pumped. On may 13, 2024 we received another call that everything was backing up again. This time we sent a different plumber who was able to clear the main sewer line but was unable to clear the kitchen line. He did find that the first plumber on the job got his cable stuck in the line and cut it without telling anyone. He did charge the customer $122.50 for the additional work done on the main sewer line that had not been previously charged. He then informed Harvey Baker that the original plumber on the job cut his cable in the kitchen line because it was stuck. Harvey then on May 14, 2024 sent one of our most seasoned plumbers to see what he could find out. since Harvey was out of the office due to his wife having surgery and was unavailable at that time himself. This new plumber was able to use the camera equipment to locate the cable that was in the kitchen line. However, he was unable to retrieve the cable. He informed Harvey so Harvey was able to go to the location on May 15, 2024 along with our field supervisor and a helper. Harvey was able to retrieve the cable. After he retrieved the cable they were able to camera the line to see what had caused the cable to get stuck in the line. It was determined that the kitchen line has a 10' section of pipe that the bottom of the pipe has rotted away. The cable getting stuck in the line was due to an unforeseen condition. It is also good to note that upon Harvey's arrival the Mother of the customer came out an informed him that this has been an ongoing condition for a couple of month and this information wasn't given to the original plumber on the job who may have approached the job differently.

  Having said that, we have had a conversation with the plumber that cut the cable and informed him that this is NOT something that we would ever do and he should immediately contact his supervisor. Also, The customer had a balance of $877.50 which they had asked us to write of which we did. We thought this situation had been resolved. I have that this customer is now a happy customer,'

  Customer response

  05/21/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  11/21/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I'm filling this on behalf of my 86yr old mother. When my mom noticed a small bubble on her kitchen ceiling, I punctured a small hole and drained about 1/4 cup of water. On 09/13/21, a plumber from this business came to repair a pipe in the ceiling and to replace the shut off valve outside of the house that I realized was also dripping when I went to shut off the water. After repairing the pipe, the plumber turned the water back on. My mom said water started pouring out of the ceiling and the plumber ran back outside and turned it off. He told her it was 130 degrees in the attic and it should dry. A couple weeks later we noticed the ceiling warping approximately 3 ft from where I punctured the bubble. We planned on calling them the next week, but on 10-2-21, I walked out to the outside valve that also had been repaired and realized water was leaking even more than it was before it was supposed to have been replaced, so I called them then. They did come that day and replaced the valve. This plumber took pictures of the warped ceiling. On 10-21-21, we had not heard anything and spoke with Rebecca. She said she would get with Harvey. On 11-02-21, still had not heard anything, called again and was told to leave a message on Harvey's personal voicemail. It is now 11-21-21 and still no response from Mr. B****. So much for his slogan "Honesty Without Question". Since his employee did more damage, he should be responsible for the repair.

  

  Business response

  12/23/2021

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2021/11/22) */ I, Harvey B****, did call and speak to ***** ******* at the time of the recall for the outside hose bibb. The bibb that was installed was a defective part and was replaced at no charge to the customer. As for the repairs to the ceiling. When we originally went out the ceiling was already saturated with water, enough so that the customer had to punch a hole in the ceiling to let it drain before our arrival. Any water that came out when we turned the water back on would not have caused any additional damage. I informed her that because of the damage already there before our repair that we were not responsible. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2021/11/24) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Mr B**** has not contacted us and said anything in reference to the ceiling. The small bubble was approximately 2 - 3 inches and only approximately 1/4 cup drained and a bucket was placed underneath and only a few more drops came out. When the plumber turned the water back on water came pouring out from the ceiling and out of the light fixture. The warped area is approximately 3ft from the tiny hole that was punctured with an ice pick. Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2021/12/08) */ Harvey has made an apt for Friday 12/10/21 to go out and talk to the customer.

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