Q. I had a main sewer back-up. A plumber came and snaked more than 125 feet away from my building and pulling not only baby wipes, diapers but also sweaters, plastic bags, duct tapes, which were impossible to come from tenant's toilets. He said my main sewer was 125 feet long, and there were such garbage so it takes time to clean. Then he said he had to jet water. I asked him if it would really solve the problem. He said yes. So I asked him to do it. I had used this plumber several times. When he came for the first time, he had told me his company would not charge with no result. He and his partner were jetting water for a long time. His partner was saying "Why so much sand and dirt coming out?" Another one was saying "because the main sewer to the city connection is 125 feet, it takes a long time to clean." It was already late at night. They wanted come back next morning. I asked if it would really solve the problem or something might be wrong with the main sewer, because how can that take so long to clean. They still said, if they jet water for two more hours, the main sewer would unclog. So I told them to come back next day. The next morning, the big plumbing company sent two different plumbers. They immediately said it must be a case of a broken main sewer even without trying to snake or jet water. The plumber said because there were so much dirt and soil in the pit, it must come from the crack in the pipe, any plumber would suspect it. Then they inserted a snake and told me that they felt there was a crack 5 feet away from the pit. They said they did not think my main sewer was 125 feet long but 20 feet to the connection to the city sewer, and that they would show us if it was a case of a broken main sewer pipe. Then they started to jet water, but not 125 feet away, but just 5 feet away from the pit. Water shot up from the dirt area on the street. They said "It was a case of broken main sewer pipe. Cleaning does not solve the problem. There is no charge for this job, you should call an excavation company because we don't do replacement of main sewer pipe," and left. A Plumbing/excavation company replaced the main sewer. During the excavation, everyone saw my main sewer was not 125 feet but 20 feet. All the workers and EPA inspector told me, "Any plumber in right mind would not think your house line is 125 feet, in this crowded neighborhood in NYC and when there is city sewer running just in front of the house." Then I saw a charge on my credit card nearly $2,000 for cleaning job for the water jet job. I called customer service only to be screamed, "We don't work for free!!" I said, "But your worker had told me your company don't charge for no result," She said, "Water jet is different!" I said, "He did not say that," She said, "He should have told you so!" The plumber who jetted water for hours to no avail called me. I asked him why he did not suspect main sewer was broken when his co-workers who came next day immediately could tell. He said he could not see the dirt in the pit because it was dark, (I don't buy it because the basement is always dark and he was using portable light.) somehow he came to believe my main sewer was 125 feet and tried his best to clean. About him having told me "They don't charge with no result," and not saying "But water jet was an exception," He admitted and apologized but said he could not reverse the charge because he was not in the accounting department. I filed dispute with my credit card company. They told me to get a letter from the plumber who replaced the pipe stating what the first plumber did was wrong. I got the letter stating, "the main sewer was not 125 feet but it was only maximum 30 feet and it was broken, we replaced the pipe," A customer service said the letter was perfect, reversed the charge and told me the plumber could not re-reverse the charge. Then someone else from the bank called me and said "The plumber's lawyers disputed the letter did not say what they did was wrong so they are offering $750 refund, Do you agree or not?" I could not make sense out of what was being told so said how I can't just agree when you are saying something completely different from the first customer service who called me? Then $2,000 charge is back on my credit card. I feel the plumber is no entitled to this fee. I understand they worked. But why did they have to work until the bill is $2,000? They could have just suspected the main sewer was broken before accumulating charge nearly $2,000. If they did not tell me that my main was not broken but 125 feet long that was the reason why they had to clean for a long time but it would unclog only if they kept doing, I would not have told them to do it. What should I do?
A. Nop·
(No Chosen Answer)
Looking for a plumbing contractor? Allow us to connect you with local plumbers serving the Hampton Roads area. We are Hampton Roads's most trusted plumbing contractor matching service, helping thousands of Hampton Roads residents connect with 24 hour plumbers in town. Our system works to connect you with commercial plumbing companies who are available for services immediately, and round the clock. This means if you need a plumber in the middle of the night, when your regular neighborhood plumber is off duty for the evening, our system will connect you with a 24 hour emergency plumber, so you can get your life back again.