Response from Steve's Plumbing Inc
There are almost too many lies and omissions in this report to deal with in the space allotted... but I'll try. We were contacted by the tenant directly, because her landlord, the Angie's List member, could not be reached. She reported that her toilet was clogged, and we sent a crew out to help that day (Saturday). It quickly became apparent that this wasn't just a toilet clog... Roots came back from the insertion of our toilet auger! How often do you find roots actually growing through the sewer and into a toilet? The tenant had been presented with a written proposal for the cost of augering her toilet, $199, but now that charge was erased, back to zero. We don't charge for service that doesn't solve the problem. What next? well, the toilet was very loose on the floor. It could be rocked and rotated by hand, indicating a broken or unsecured flange. Our technician proposed that we pull the toilet for better access to the root clog, as well as insuring that it was re-set properly. This task he listed on the proposal for $267, signed and approved by the tenant. When the toilet was lifted from the floor, our tech was shocked... a rarity in a man with 26 years of combined plumbing and Naval career experience. The roots had grown through the sewer and flange, up to the base of the toilet, forming a nearly solid mass. There was no way for waste to pass down this line, and it must have been a chronic problem long before we arrived. After attempting to remove the root mass by hand, our technician determined that the problem could only be solved with our main drain equipment... a cable "rooter", followed by camera inspection, to determine the location of the root intrusion. This service was proposed at $537, signed for and approved by the tenant. After clearing the line, our tech removed the broken toilet flange (the cause of the loose toilet) and installed a new one, set in concrete. Our crew returned when the concrete had hardened, a few hours later, and set the toilet securely. The total charge of $944.16 included the pull and re-set of the toilet, the toilet flange repair, the clearing and inspection of the sewer line, plus the service call and sales tax. The tenant was finally able to reach her landlord, relaying the scope and cost of the work, and obtained his credit card information for payment. Days later, the landlord, called to complain about the price. Had he actually witnessed the procedure from start to finish, I do not believe he would have complained... We solved a challenging, chronic problem, and left the work area safe and clean. However, we did accept his point that work should not have commenced without his permission... even though that was the tenant's only toilet. In keeping with our 100% satisfaction guarantee, we reduced the member's total cost to $490.05. Because of this event, we have changed our company policy, and now require direct participation and approval of the property owner. In conclusion, the facts bear witness that this member's allegations are dishonest and misleading, and his grading of our service unfair and petty. He showed no concern for the tenant's predicament, having allowed an unsafe situation for months before our arrival. He indicated that his long term plans included bulldozing the house and building a new one... and while that is his right, he still has a legal and moral obligation to provide a safe, sanitary plumbing system for his tenants, maintaining a functional system at a bare minimum. The cost of routine, necessary maintenance should never outweigh the basic needs and rights of the tenant. For our part, we are proud to have solved an unsanitary, unsafe, and challenging problem, in as fair and efficient a means as possible.