[forebubba]

My 12 year old water heater was leaking due to rusting out.
My neighbor recommended Kiley Plumbers. Earlier this year he had his replaced at the cost of $740. Said they were great.
I called them but they have been bought out by Frank Gay.
They would not give me even a ball park estimate over the phone and that only the technician could do that. Someone will be out between 4PM and 8.
4:15 he come and says to do the inspection to determine the price is $39.
The PRICE $2700!!!. No way are you kidding me. Calls the manager and he says he'll reduce the price
$1761.00 if I join the one year Family Plan at $199.
I just laughed and said goodbye
So they got me for $39 and hope they don't get you.
I did get a new water heater the next day $910. which was quoted over the phone by Mike Scott.

[retiredguy123]

I wouldn't pay someone to come to my house just to provide a quote.

[Mrs.Guy]

Originally Posted by forebubba

My 12 year old water heater was leaking due to rusting out.
My neighbor recommended Kiley Plumbers. Earlier this year he had his replaced at the cost of $740. Said they were great.
I called them but they have been bought out by Frank Gay.
They would not give me even a ball park estimate over the phone and that only the technician could do that. Someone will be out between 4PM and 8.
4:15 he come and says to do the inspection to determine the price is $39.
The PRICE $2700!!!. No way are you kidding me. Calls the manager and he says he'll reduce the price
$1761.00 if I join the one year Family Plan at $199.
I just laughed and said goodbye
So they got me for $39 and hope they don't get you.
I did get a new water heater the next day $910. which was quoted over the phone by Mike Scott.

May I ask if it was "gas' or "elect."? If gas I hope you took advantage of the energy rebates. $350 - $550 depending on type.

Water Heating

[Babubhat]

Just saw there truck by Captiva pool. Someone has to pay for the terrible radio ads

[jim1941]

Called Kiley and Sons to replace my water filters. Six months ago it cost me $65. Frank Gay Services came and charged me $39 to analyze the situation and I told him that I just wanted my two water filters replaced. He said it would cost $229 to replace the filters. I paid him the $39 and told him to get lost!

[alanmcdonald]

Originally Posted by jim1941

Called Kiley and Sons to replace my water filters. Six months ago it cost me $65. Frank Gay Services came and charged me $39 to analyze the situation and I told him that I just wanted my two water filters replaced. He said it would cost $229 to replace the filters. I paid him the $39 and told him to get lost!

I had the same experience with Frank Gay last week. Now I need another company to replace the filters. Does anyone have a suggestion?

[brianherlihy]

well it is the villages and we all have money to burn

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by alanmcdonald

I had the same experience with Frank Gay last week. Now I need another company to replace the filters. Does anyone have a suggestion?

If these are the typical cartridge filters, you can usually buy the new filters at Lowe's or Home Depot. They may also have the plastic wrench to help removing the housing. Then it is turn off the water, place some towels on the floor, remove the housings, remove filter, install new filter, replace housing. Turn water on SLOWLY to check for leaks. I helped a neighbor doing this. Any of the local handymen should be able to give you a hand.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by forebubba

My 12 year old water heater was leaking due to rusting out.
My neighbor recommended Kiley Plumbers. Earlier this year he had his replaced at the cost of $740. Said they were great.
I called them but they have been bought out by Frank Gay.
They would not give me even a ball park estimate over the phone and that only the technician could do that. Someone will be out between 4PM and 8.
4:15 he come and says to do the inspection to determine the price is $39.
The PRICE $2700!!!. No way are you kidding me. Calls the manager and he says he'll reduce the price
$1761.00 if I join the one year Family Plan at $199.
I just laughed and said goodbye
So they got me for $39 and hope they don't get you.
I did get a new water heater the next day $910. which was quoted over the phone by Mike Scott.

Good grief, now that is one scary tale ! We had one go out 2 years ago. Went to HD, bought an O.A. Smith, they delivered it the next day. Hired a retired plumber with 40 year's experience who now lives in the villages and does small jobs like this a couple days a week. He suggested a new expansion tank since it didn't add much to the total. Total was around $700 and HD did not charge to drop off the (gas) water heater.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

If these are the typical cartridge filters, you can usually buy the new filters at Lowe's or Home Depot. They may also have the plastic wrench to help removing the housing. Then it is turn off the water, place some towels on the floor, remove the housings, remove filter, install new filter, replace housing. Turn water on SLOWLY to check for leaks. I helped a neighbor doing this. Any of the local handymen should be able to give you a hand.

Great advice. I think so many here are really taken for obscene amounts of money for simple, or relatively simple, things ! Thought perhaps it was a "target older people" thing, but seems to just be a "Florida thing" as many younger members of our family from north to south Florida report the same types of way out of bounds charges for such things a AC maintenance/repair, minor electrical, etc. Good we have this community "blog" to report and recommend.

[Paul1934]

Looking at heater replacement(electric) soon. Contact info on your handyman plumber?

[mrf0151]

Looks like if this Gay Plumbing company that bought the great Kiley family plumbing company keeps having bad publicity, they will soon be out of business here in TV.
If the Kiley's knew this was going to happen, in my opinion, they would not have sold their company to them.

[champion6]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

Good grief, now that is one scary tale ! We had one go out 2 years ago. Went to HD, bought an O.A. Smith, they delivered it the next day. Hired a retired plumber with 40 year's experience who now lives in the villages and does small jobs like this a couple days a week. He suggested a new expansion tank since it didn't add much to the total. Total was around $700 and HD did not charge to drop off the (gas) water heater.

How did you dispose of the old water heater?

[retiredguy123]

If it becomes an accepted practice to pay a contractor to provide a quote, I can see some "contractors" making money for just giving overpriced quotes. I would never pay someone for a quote. Ridiculous.

[Surfrat2]

Were you happy with Mike Scott plumbing? I was just quoted the exact same price over the phone, $910 for a 40 gallon electric water heater replaced.

Originally Posted by forebubba

My 12 year old water heater was leaking due to rusting out.
My neighbor recommended Kiley Plumbers. Earlier this year he had his replaced at the cost of $740. Said they were great.
I called them but they have been bought out by Frank Gay.
They would not give me even a ball park estimate over the phone and that only the technician could do that. Someone will be out between 4PM and 8.
4:15 he come and says to do the inspection to determine the price is $39.
The PRICE $2700!!!. No way are you kidding me. Calls the manager and he says he'll reduce the price
$1761.00 if I join the one year Family Plan at $199.
I just laughed and said goodbye
So they got me for $39 and hope they don't get you.
I did get a new water heater the next day $910. which was quoted over the phone by Mike Scott.