Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  04/01/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On March 30, 2024, I hired this plumbing company in ******* to perform a simple job: install a kitchen faucet in my condo unit. I'm about ten minutes away from them. They advertise in my *************** bulletin with "Best Work, Best Rates, and Parishioner Discount" and give a phone number.Well, I got a top-of-the-line faucet via *********** which I got as part of the ************** Advantage rewards program. I'm also a senior citizen in my seventies, on a fixed income. I was quoted six hundred for a job just over an hour. But since there is a $125 visit free, I thought it best to pay it. The parishioner's discount was only five percent. I hoped I can email the owner later and get the rate cut in half. The technician said they had to double the rate, as I didn't buy the faucet from them.The total bill, with the discount, was $555. The technician said the owner, **, had set the price. I did reach out via email to edit about my concerns, but I have yet to hear back. Bing Co-pilot, ****** Gemini, and Gab AI engines, put the cost of labor from $100- $250, for a plumber in DuPage County, Ill., to do this job.Is this price I paid fair? Let's ask three different AI engines this question.What is the average consumer cost for a DuPage County, ******** plumber to install a kitchen faucet purchased for a condo unit?Bing Co-Pilot AI It quoted labor costs at $120 to $250 ****** Gemini AI It quoted labor costs of around $238 Gab AI It quoted $100 to $250.Is it "normal" to double the labor price if someone buys their facet? Especially a fixed-income senior like me has gotten this facet accessible via a ******** Advantage program. Next time, I will look into Agni to recommend area professionals.

  Business response

  04/04/2024

  Dear BBB,
  
  Please see attached response letter to complaint ID # ******** and a copy of **************** contract.
  
  Thank you,
  
  *************************, President
  Ed's Plumbing & Sewer, Inc.   

  Customer response

  04/05/2024

   
  Complaint: 21514829
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  The three AI engines from ****************** and Gab don't show that the price charged is fair.  *********** also did not inform me they charged me double for providing my faucet in advance.  I have documented this process, including the job they did with photos, in a blog post at *************************. If they advertise in a *************** bulletin, they should follow a code of religious ethics.  Since I can write well and post these reviews on popular consumer sites like ****** or share a blog post with thousands on ********* LinkedIn, or ******** is this really in the best interest of this company over something as simple as a twoor three-hundred credit card reimbursement?
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

  Business response

  04/10/2024

  We have carefully reviewed **************** rejection response, regarding the complaint number 21514829. 
   
  We believe that it comes down to this one fact: ************ accepted our quote and authorized us to do the job, which we then completed to his entire satisfaction, as promised. Please see both of his written signatures on his contract which proves both his prior acceptance and the satisfactory completion of the work at the quoted cost.
  
  
  ************ was free to seek out other quotes, which we always encourage. If he had an issue with the price we quoted him, why did he authorize us to proceed to do the job? He was quoted our exact standard rate. As for his three AI quotes he mentions; clearly, they are invalid without visual inspection of actual job conditions and who knows what their actual quotes would have ended up being?
   
  As we see now, ************ acknowledges that he deliberately authorized the work, knowing full well he would complain later. How deceitful is that?  As far as his allegation that he was charged double; we have never charged a customer for providing their own materials; who would do such a thing? Just doesn't make sense.
   
  In conclusion, ************ was quoted our standard price, in *********** accepted our written quote and authorized us to proceed. We then completed the work satisfactorily, as verified by **************** signature on the satisfactory completion clause.
   
  It appears ************ is cleverly attempting to abuse your good company, just as he has our company.
  I thank God, that in our well over 50 years of serving the public, we have never encountered such a person.
   
  We respectfully decline ************** $200-$300 extortion attempts. We also advise other businesses to beware!
   
  Sincerely,
   
  *************************

  Customer response

  04/10/2024

   
  Complaint: 21514829
  
  I am rejecting this response because: All ** has done in the past two replies is just attach a copy of the final bill.  He did not respond to (1) I was not told about doubling the cost if you supply your own faucet until after the job was finished, and I inquired about it.  (2) three ** engines - notably from ****** and ********** and an independent one from the free speech platform Gab, say the price is too high.  Even after you cut it in half.  (3) The article at ************************* shows pictures of the job, the ** engine results, and all the facts of this complaint. I have also complained to two ******** state agencies about this incident.  While the wheels are slow with state agencies, will he present a bill to them?  I have also complained to the Catholic Churches in DuPage Country, where his ads are placed. The one I am a member of will forward this to the bulletin advertising company for a decision.  What would ** do if I shared this story with TV stations, like ********* CBS, ********* or CGN, and one decided to air the story?  Would he still just present "a copy of the bill"? While he might be legally correct, morally, to advertise in a Catholic bulletin and take advantage of fixed-income senior citizens like me is unethical. If I wanted to, I could take this to the Prairie *********** Services in *******, which represents seniors like me for free.  But I like the other options to play out first.  Folks can read about this complaint from my side by copying the *** at *************************.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩