ComplaintsforClayton's Plumbing

• Initial Complaint

  01/31/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We hired this company to do a small plumbing job and it was estimated at less than $500. We asked they let us know if it was going to be more than that. They completed the job and charged us over $700. We have made payments on this account. The company is charging a finance charge over and above the allowable amount for the *****************. I requested they remove the unlawful finance charges and give me a balance with the credited payments. They have refused to adjust the finance charges and I have filed a formal complaint.

  Customer response

  02/02/2023

  Thank you for the update. I hope they respond to you. As I said, the bill was supposed to be no more than $500 and it wasnover $700. We were told they would let us know BEFORE if the work would exceed the agreednupon $500. I called to inquire when I received the bill and they were rude and told me I had to pay it. I agreed to make payments. I have made payments and they are charging an unlawful amount of finance charges on the balance. I inquired and told them this was illegal and they told me I was wrong and had to pay it. The balance is now even more than the original bill ad a result of all the finances charges despite the fact that I have made payments.

  
  I am requesting a removal of the finance charges, credit for the payments made and an adjustment of the original balance to $500 as agreed upon. 

  
  I feel that I have no other choice than to request assistance. They are rude, overcharging customers and giving contractors in ******** a bad name. As a disabled veteran, it seems they would have more respect. I am happy to pay a fair invoice. Please urge them to treat their customers fairly. I am happy to pay a fair invoice. I am requesting the finance charges be removed, the original balance be reduced to no more than $500, my payments credited to the account and a fair invoice be sent so that I can pay it in full. If you need a copy of the payments made, I can supply my records. 

  
  Respectfully,

  ****** and *****************

  Business response

  02/16/2023

  Hello! My name is *************************. I am the office manager here at Clayton's Plumbing in Kingfisher. I am contacting you regarding the complaint from *****************. **** called for service and I sent one of my guys to her house to fix what she asked to be done. I was never asked for an estimate during the entire time of her service call. She told my plumber that she just wanted the work done. I sent a bill on September 2nd, 2022 and never heard a word out of the customer. On October 28th, 2022 I received a payment for $50 without prior agreement on making payments on the bill. I also received 2 more payments of $50. The initial bill was $1001.30 with 3 $50 payments her new total is $851.30. when we talked on the phone I told her if the bill was not paid I would have to add a finance charge to it. I have held off from adding it because I was worried about getting paid from the customer and I did not want to add more to the bill. I have talked with our attorney and he said our finance charge of 24% of the bill is not illegal or too high. **** was not answering my calls on the company phone so i called her from my cell phone and was very rude to me. Unless the rest of the bill is paid I will have to file a mechanics lien in ****** County on the property. that will add money to her bill unfortunately. I would like to not do that so if the bill will just be paid for the work that was done we can resolve this and go our separate ways. i will attach our original bill. Thank you for your time.   

  Customer response

  02/17/2023

   
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  
  

  I am happy to pay what I owe (up to the agreed upon $500) with the (3) payments credited to resolve this issue. I am not wavered by idle threats of a mechanics lien when I have a right to stand up for myself. 

  
  

  I spoke with ***** (on several occasions) and explained that the bill was in error and above $500. I have no interest in being barraded for explaining myself, so I conacted the BBB to resolve this issue. ***** refused to make adjustments and told me I had to pay it in full.. It was not until I received the bill that I knew it was above $500. I specifically told them that if the work would be over $500 to please let me know. We are in dispute. I DID NOT tell the plumber "that I just wanted the work done." 

  
  

  I offer this compromise. If the company will adjust the bill to $351.30, I will pay it in full. (The amount they say I owe minus the $500 overcharge).

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************

  Business response

  02/21/2023

  Unfortunately the bill of $851.30 still stands. The customer had no contact with me when the bill was sent with her accusations and I received the $50 payments that were never agreed upon and i called to talk to her about them and she would not answer the phone so then i had to call on my personal and she finally picked up. $500 for the entire bill was never said. i will be preceding with a lien and filing with our attorney. Thank you, have a great day.

  Customer response

  02/21/2023

   
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  We are in dispute as to the $500 limit. It is apparent that they care more about sucking money from their customers than doing what they promised. I will pay the $851.30 in full by March 15th. I will now consider this matter closed. Should they file a lien or I currently any other charges that will their responsibility to pay. I wish to file a poor rating with the BBB on this matter. Again, I will not pay more than $851.30, so any charges above that will be filed with the BBB and we will get an attorney to dispute. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩