ComplaintsforA Friend Plumbing

• Initial Complaint

  03/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I hired Dave with A. Friend plumbing to replace a toilet in my basement. He drilled a hole in a pipe next to the toilet. He feels no remorse and takes no responsibility for his actions. I paid another company $212 to dig up the concrete in my basement. Dave said he would repair it if I had it dug up. He came back twice and kept saying that the hole was not right and left without repairing the pipe. I hired another plumber to fix the pipe which cost me another $317. I still have a hole in my concrete and I still have a new toilet not installed and I am out over $500 just to repair what Dave did. I asked him again today if he would make it right. He tried to argue and say he would fix it but he had the chance to do so and refused. He then said he could give me 'a coupla hundred' but that was the best he would do. I believe he caused the problem and should be fully liable to repair it.

  Business response

  03/27/2022

  12-21-21  I was hired to replace a toilet in the basement, lower level.
  
  12-22-21 Removed toilet from basement concrete floor. I found no toilet flange under the existing toilet,. To install a flange at least 4 screws were needed to secure it to the concrete floor. A drill was used to drill holes in concrete to secure screws. A water line right next to the toilet discharge drain pipe was hit.
  I turned the main water valve off and told the homeowner what had happened and that I needed access into the concrete to fix the water line. The homeowner's flooring workers were there and one of them said he could cut the concrete. He motioned, showing an area of about 12' by 24'. I said that would be perfect for access to fix this properly.
  I left and went to my plumbing supply house and purchased the proper coupler part to repair an underground water line.
  
  12-23-21  I texted the homeowner to see if the hole was cut yet and she informed me it would be later at 3:30. I then called the homeowner and told her I could not come back that late due to the upcoming holidays.
  
  12-27-21 The homeownertexted me at 12:08, that she left me a voice message. I called her back and told her I could be at her place the next day. She informed me she would not be there but her husband would.
  
  12-28-21 When I arrived to fix the water line I found the hole was only 4" by 4" and not the 12" by 24" we had agreed upon with the flooring guy on 12-22.
  I showed and explained to the homeowner's husband that the hole was not big enough to get my hands and/or tools into to fix the water line properly.
  The husband said the guy that cut the hole said you could use a sharkbite to make the repair. told the husband that you could not bury a shark bite under concrete. I told him we needed a ford coupler that is designed to repair underground (concrete) water lines. I then told the owner's husband to call me when the hole was big enough to get proper access to fix the line. I said I would come as soon as they let me know.
  
  3-7-22 Finally I received a text at 7:29 AM, that the cost to fix the pipe was 537 and she wanted to know what I intended to do about it to make it right. At 2:55PM she texted me again and said she will wait one day to hear from me. Then the homeowner called that afternoon. I was unable to answer her call but I did text her right away, at 4.29PM, telling her I would be available after 3:00 the next day.
   
  3-14-22 At 4:13PM the homeowner called and left a message saying she was sorry she was unable to get back with me sooner. I promptly called the homeowner back and she said that she was out 537 and what did I intend to do to make it right. After some back and forth, I told the homeowner I would give her 200. She said if I did not give her the 537 she would complain to the Licensing Board. She said she would take my 200 and still complain to them. Then she hung the phone up from me.
  
  When the homeowner informed me on Dec 23 that the cost for the concrete work was estimated at 350, I told her I would fix the water line and install the flange and toilet for nothing.
  
  Enclosed are pictures of the access hole I was expected to work in to make the repair.
  
  
  David J*****
  A.Friend Plumbing

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