ComplaintsforHousebusters Inc

• Initial Complaint

  05/13/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  A month ago, I begun to look for my septic tank because I had gray water problems and a foul smell. I called Charles (the septic tank inspector) to ask him where the septic tank was located and he indicated that his wife was sick and he was sick and he would need to call me back. After waiting a week or so I called Charles again and he indicated that he would have to look in his records. Strangely I did not have to give him the address or location. The Sellers did not know where the septic tank was because they never had it pumped ever. In the meantime, I had called a company called ************ Plumbing to locate the septic tank for me for $386.22. The company came out and located the 1000 gallon septic tank 5 feet down and 10 feet away from the house. I had to pay 2 gentlemen $200.00 each to dig up the septic tank for a total of $400.00 dollars. They had to cut the seal to get the concrete lid off of the septic tank. I called ****** ****** Service to empty the septic tank which was beyond full and backing up in the field and my house. They charged me an extra $25.00 because they had to use shovels to break up the waste that had sat so long it turned into rock like material for a total of $340.00. Charles returned my call and continued to give me the runaround. I have pictures of each phase of work needed to get to the septic tank pumped. He has been avoiding me and being very dishonest about the fact that he never inspected the septic tank at all. I paid Housebusters, $1546.16 to inspect the property including extra for the septic tank and Charles DID NOT DO THAT. Had Charles done his job, I could have had the sellers do what is required prior to sale and I could have insisted that they install a riser on the tank. So far I have paid $1,126.22 due to Charles dishonesty and unprofessionalism at Housebusters. A riser cost $836.87 per a company **** *****. Overall total $1963.09.

  Business response

  06/14/2022

       Housebusters, Inc was contracted to performed a Septic Dye Test, a septic dye test is performed as follows:
  Dye tablets are placed into the toilets
  Water is turned on for water to flow through the sewage pipe and into the tank for a period of 45 minutes
  Average flow rate of water in the West Milford, WV area is 5 gallons per minute
  45 minutes at an average flow rate of 5 gallons is 225 gallon of water flowing thru the septic system
       This is a pressure test of the septic system by turning on the water at full throttle to allow an excessive amount of water into the system to determine failure of the system. The average of amount of water is a 15 minute shower or 75 gallon of water, not 225 gallon.
       The client indicated in their complaint that the tank had not been pumped for a period of time.    At the time of this Septic dye test there was no evidence of septic dye at the time of the inspection seeping from the earth that would indicate failure of the system.
       There is no exploratory excavation of the septic tank or any subsurface component provided during any Septic Dye Inspection.
       Septic systems are a working component of any house with a septic tank and drain fields that are prone to failure at any time. For greater than 1 year after purchase the owners lived in this house and never called the office about a septic issue. Housebusters, Inc does not warrant a septic system for an extended period of time after the initial septic dye test.
       Housebusters, Inc performed the Septic Dye Test and Inspection on the day and time of the inspection and found there were no issues with the septic system.

  
  Sincerely,   
                      
  ******* ***********
  Inspector, Construction Consultant
  

  
  

  Customer response

  06/15/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. 

  As indicated by the picture the tank was full and the contents were hard as rock.  I do not believe that any test listed in the response from Charles was done.  I don't believe any of the numbers or measurements listed in his response are true and accurate.  I think he made all of those numbers up.  The companies hired to fix the problem stated that the tank was not pumped ever, and not inspected because the lid had to be pried open. 

  Charles gave me and my husband excuses like he and his wife were sick and this is the reason he could not tell us where the tank was in the first place.  He did not have any idea where the tank was, thus my needing to pay another company to locate the tank.  Please post this complaint because no one should pay extra to him to have their well and tank inspected as a safeguard if he is no more than a cheat and scammer. 

  The way this company advertises checking and inspecting a septic tank gives unknowing customers a false sense of well being because whatever Charles claims he does for the money he charged me actually means nothing in the overall scheme of things.  After his so-called check and inspection, I still got a full tank that has never been inspected and spilling gray water into the house and field. 

  All of the companies I listed in my complaint had just to pull up to my house, look into the field and see that the septic tank needed to be emptied.  I did not know what the wet holes in the field meant but they were there when I purchased the property.   After paying for such an inspection, why would I have to call his office anytime before 5 to 10 years.   Charles should have known and that means that not only is he dishonest and a liar but he must be pretty stupid too and he should be halted in performing any more septic tank or well inspections because he is useless for the customer. 

  His inspection should have saved me from needing to deal with a septic tank for at least 5 to 10 years since my husband and I live on two properties and we are not at that property every day.  Charles and his company Housebusters is unacceptable for well and septic tank inspection.  He is not even honorable to admit when he was wrong.  He got caught and he can only resort to lying.  Charles is a senior citizen that can only lie when he is caught being dishonest. 

  He should have apologized and offered to correct the problem.  I would have accepted any help he would have offered me because I am a senior citizen with health problems too! Instead he hid behind his so-called sick wife, and now the "year" it took for the tank to just create havoc in my home.  If this complaint remains unresolved, I will continue on to the ******** ********* office.
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* **** **

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