Pairadocs |
04-26-2023 12:29 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike&Silvia
(Post 2211476)
I recently sought estimates for a simple plumbing job - running a water line across a 30' garage to a new outdoor hose bib. I got the following three estimates:
1. Mike Scott Plumbing $350 (no estimate fee)
2. Anthony Torri Plumbing $325 (no estimate fee)
3. Frank Gay Services $2158 ($38 estimate fee)
After two calls to Frank Gay Services, seeking to speak to a manager and being promised a callback, I finally got through to a customer service person who said that they would refund my $38 estimate fee if I signed an agreement to keep my dissatisfaction silent. The form required me to not "post or author any detrimental reviews, blogs, etc. regarding the Company, in any form, whether written or oral."
My silence cannot be purchased for $38. I am a new homeowner in The Villages. The majority of service companies that I have dealt with have been upstanding and a pleasure to do business with, however, when I find a company that exploits and takes advantage of unsuspecting homeowners, I want to share my experience and help others avoid making a bad decision.
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We had no idea of the price differential in F.G. and others in the area, until we hired a man, a resident of another close by senior community, who does handyman work a couple days a week. While completing our simple job, replacing the "guts" of an existing toilet tank, we were all chatting, and he made a remark about not charging us for a small additional "job", 15 seconds to replace rubber washer. So that started some chat about the various rates of trades people. He told us in his opinion (since he gets around to many homes) most plumbers, electricians, etc. do not vary that much from one to the other. But, told us how he had helped one of his neighbors, a widow, who had been confused and misguided by F.G. in such as way to have a $300-to-$400 job turned into a bill of over $3800. He went on to explain how they were able to do this (expand the problem !) from his experience as a handyman, but most people would have no idea what is going on. He said a number of plumbers in the area had been consolidated, "bought up", under one name, and were getting quite a reputation for misguiding people as to what it takes to fix a problem. When he finished, I wrote down the name "F.G." to remind me not to call the next time we needed a plumber. So I know your story is factual, and there are many others who have been seriously overcharged, we've found out since.
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