[joeyd]

DO NOT BY ANY MEANS call Pat the PLumber for repair services

I was out of state attending to a family matter and my wife was alone at our home in the Villages when our hot water heater broke down. The heater was less than 3 years old. My wife called Pat the Plumber for service. The repairman told my wife that the parts were not covered under warrenty because the heater was "contractors specials". They replaced the thermostat and 2 heating elements and charged us $750.00!!
Upon my return to the Villages, I called the warranty office and was told that the parts were warranted through 2012 by the manufactorer and that Pat the Plumber should have called them to inquire about this.
Long story short: I checked with two local plumbers and was told that they could have installed a brand new unit for $540.00 and that the cost to replace a thermostat & heating units should have only cost us $100.00. Please spread the word to your neighbors & friends.

[nyclicker]

I would take Pat the Plumber to small claims court along with proof it should have cost $100. I could see this case being handled by Judge Judy. If it was paid by credit card I would have the charge reversed.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by joeyd

DO NOT BY ANY MEANS call Pat the PLumber for repair services

I was out of state attending to a family matter and my wife was alone at our home in the Villages when our hot water heater broke down. The heater was less than 3 years old. My wife called Pat the Plumber for service. The repairman told my wife that the parts were not covered under warrenty because the heater was "contractors specials". They replaced the thermostat and 2 heating elements and charged us $750.00!!
Upon my return to the Villages, I called the warranty office and was told that the parts were warranted through 2012 by the manufactorer and that Pat the Plumber should have called them to inquire about this.
Long story short: I checked with two local plumbers and was told that they could have installed a brand new unit for $540.00 and that the cost to replace a thermostat & heating units should have only cost us $100.00. Please spread the word to your neighbors & friends.

And what did Pat the Plumber have to say??

[joeyd]

Originally Posted by nyclicker

I would take Pat the Plumber to small claims court along with proof it should have cost $100. I could see this case being handled by Judge Judy. If it was paid by credit card I would have the charge reversed.

So far I have filed reports with the BBB,Seniors against Crime, and my credit card company. Small claims court will be a definate. Thanks for your response.

[joeyd]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

And what did Pat the Plumber have to say??

Pat the Plumber answered a BBB inquiry by stating that they followed their company policy and will not entertain a refund. I have since filed a report with the Senior Against Crime Office at TV and am disputing the charges with my credit card company. Thanks for your response.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by joeyd

Pat the Plumber answered a BBB inquiry by stating that they followed their company policy and will not entertain a refund. I have since filed a report with the Senior Against Crime Office at TV and am disputing the charges with my credit card company. Thanks for your response.

Did you speak with him?

[dillywho]

Originally Posted by joeyd

DO NOT BY ANY MEANS call Pat the PLumber for repair services

I was out of state attending to a family matter and my wife was alone at our home in the Villages when our hot water heater broke down. The heater was less than 3 years old. My wife called Pat the Plumber for service. The repairman told my wife that the parts were not covered under warrenty because the heater was "contractors specials". They replaced the thermostat and 2 heating elements and charged us $750.00!!
Upon my return to the Villages, I called the warranty office and was told that the parts were warranted through 2012 by the manufactorer and that Pat the Plumber should have called them to inquire about this.
Long story short: I checked with two local plumbers and was told that they could have installed a brand new unit for $540.00 and that the cost to replace a thermostat & heating units should have only cost us $100.00. Please spread the word to your neighbors & friends.

Not long after we move here, the kitchen sink started stopping up. This same company charged me over $200 to unstop it. Didn't do anything but run the snake through it. Being new to Florida and TV, I just chalked it up to the going rate. Next time, my son happened to be here and he rented a snake from Home Depot or Lowes and got it going again. Next time, I called someone else and it was less than $100. I used them a couple of times. Finally checked with the Warranty Dept. about this happening so much and they said that Scott's did the original plumbing, so I called them. The guy from there did a much more thorough job than anyone else and found building material in the line; therefore, it ended up to be warrantied. He surmised that that was where the drywall people had done their cleanup. That's been over a year and haven't had a problem since.

Bottomline, you're right.....don't call Pat.

[joeyd]

They are really taken advantage of senior citizens and should be banned from the villages. Thanks for sharing your experience with me.

[Bryan]

I recently got a letter in the mail from a company called "Federal Energy Savings". It implied that I "could receive" thousands of dollars in Federal Energy Credits by taking certain steps around my home to improve energy efficiency. I called and what they wanted to do was come to my home to make an "energy inspection". I used the internet to check out the license number shown on their letter. According the the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), the license number being used by Federal Energy Savings of Lady Lake, Florida belongs to Pat The Plumber, Inc. of Wildwood, Florida. When I looked up Federal Energy Savings on the Central Florida BBB site, the BBB showed that the company Federal Energy Savings was Pat The Plumer DBA Federal Energy Savings. Wonder how many have been fooled by this letter? Since I never scheduled the "energy audit" of my home, I have no proof of what would have transpired but I can make a good guess!! It smelled to me like a ploy to get Pat The Plumber into your home for a hard sell on something or other. And I know of several others in my area who received the same letter.

[Talk Host]

This is important information. Would you please start a seperate thread with this information so that others will read it. There is nothing illegal about this, but it certainly needs to be know, so that residents won't be tricked by the clever ruse.

Originally Posted by Bryan

I recently got a letter in the mail from a company called "Federal Energy Savings". It implied that I "could receive" thousands of dollars in Federal Energy Credits by taking certain steps around my home to improve energy efficiency. I called and what they wanted to do was come to my home to make an "energy inspection". I used the internet to check out the license number shown on their letter. According the the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), the license number being used by Federal Energy Savings of Lady Lake, Florida belongs to Pat The Plumber, Inc. of Wildwood, Florida. When I looked up Federal Energy Savings on the Central Florida BBB site, the BBB showed that the company Federal Energy Savings was Pat The Plumer DBA Federal Energy Savings. Wonder how many have been fooled by this letter? Since I never scheduled the "energy audit" of my home, I have no proof of what would have transpired but I can make a good guess!! It smelled to me like a ploy to get Pat The Plumber into your home for a hard sell on something or other. And I know of several others in my area who received the same letter.

[schotzyb]

We got the same letter and the wife called about it. Same spill as mentioned by Bryan. Seco will gladly come to your home and do an inspection and give you a list of things you can do to conserve energy. We had one this past summer. No charge!!!

[joeyd]

I was told by the Seniors vs. Crime Office (Sumter County) that Pat the Plumber is indeed being devious with this letter and it is in fact a scam to get into your house. I spoke to a resident yesterday that had the "energy audit" done at their home. Bottom line: they said that Pat the Plumber would conduct all of the energy saving work that they recommened. The only way to stop this rip-off, is to spread the word to everyone you know. Also report them to the Homeowners Assoc. Tahnks for the info.

[tombethbender]

Originally Posted by nyclicker

I would take Pat the Plumber to small claims court along with proof it should have cost $100. I could see this case being handled by Judge Judy. If it was paid by credit card I would have the charge reversed.

I agree with small claims court thoughts. We got the wrong tires from a company in Ohio and they said too bad and my wife took them to small claims court and got four new tires at no great trouble or expense. If you can, go after rogues (unless doing so is hard on your heart).

[joeyd]

This company is unbeilevable! Devious isn't enough to describe their underhanded business practices. If they can't get into your front door to take your money, they will try to get through your backdoor, as demonstarated by this letter.

[joeyd]

Originally Posted by schotzyb

We got the same letter and the wife called about it. Same spill as mentioned by Bryan. Seco will gladly come to your home and do an inspection and give you a list of things you can do to conserve energy. We had one this past summer. No charge!!!

Good advice!!!