Response from Justin Dorsey Plumbing
Justin Dorsey Plumbing cares about serving our customers. As you can see from our other reports, we take pride in solving customer issues with great attention to detail. When problems arise, we do whatever is necessary to correct the problem and make the customer whole again. This particular case is very involved and unable to be explained in the space allotted. As it stands, Member has declined our solutions to fix his sump pump flooding issue, has refused to allow us to pick up a temporary pump that we placed as a temporary solution, and wants $6,000 to replace the brick encased mailbox which we found would only cost $1,500 to replace. Member called us during heavy rains of Sept. 7 that literally flooded his basement. Our technician responded as soon as he was finished with a previous customer. Our technician did knock down the mailbox as he was trying to back up into the driveway. Then he spent 3 hours helping Member drain his basement. The tech made temporary repairs with the intent of coming back later to make them permanent. We installed a temporary sump pump. When the technician returned the next morning and discussed permanent options, Member refused our help. Monday afternoon, Justin Dorsey and Brady Armstrong personally inspected the damage to the mailbox and the sump pump situation. What we discovered was that Member had three (3) sump pumps all loading into one pipe that was too small for the volume. The effect was too much water for the line and the pumps were backing up and overflowing. Member said he would get a replacement pump from Lowe’s. We requested that he call us when that happened so we could pull our temporary pump. Justin Dorsey Plumbing suggested running a 4-inch pipe underground to the street drain. Member responded that he was fined and not allowed to discharge into the street. When we talked with the Hendricks County Surveyor we found that there was no record of a storm drainage permit, application, or fine for illegal discharging. In fact, we discovered that Member didn’t even own the home. Furthermore, the surveyor confirmed that a $100 permit would allow Member to discharge into the street drain. We also suggested that he make other changes to prevent future basement flooding. Member refused our service, so we turned to the mailbox. Member told us initially that it was $4,000 to replace the mailbox and a damaged sprinkler head and tree. By the time we got to him on the following Monday, he had revised this figure to $6,000. Unfortunately, our insurance company would not authorize these repairs, so Mr. Dorsey offered to fix the problem himself. Mr. Dorsey vowed to either fix it or replace it. Upon conferring with a brick mason, we were told the cost to replace woulf be only $1,000 labor and $135 to purchase the same brick through the supplier that Member said we would have to use. In addition, we couldn’t find the damaged sprinkler head or see any damage to the tree. That day, we erected a temporary mailbox. Friday Sept. 14, Mr. Dorsey returned, cleaned the concrete base, drilled and installed two re-bars in the base, set the mailbox up with the help of a Bobcat bucket, replaced a broken brick at the base of the mailbox, and secured it with mortar around the base. The only other damage was to the facing of two bricks. Mr. Dorsey also replaced the sod and mulch around the mailbox. A woman emerged from the home and requested that Mr. Dorsey stay until her husband came back. Mr. Dorsey did. When Member arrived, he asked if the resetting of the mailbox was temporary. Mr. Dorsey responded that except for replacing the two defaced bricks with the help of a mason, the mailbox was restored. At this time, Member called Mr. Dorsey a “lying cheat” and that he would call the police. Mr. Dorsey called the police himself. When the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived, Mr. Dorsey explained his side of the story and was released to go home. After more than eight (8) hours of work on his plumbing, Justin Dorsey Plumbing has received no money from Member.