My Plumber CA

I received a call from My Plumbing after I posted my request for plumbing services on Angie's List. An appointment for a free estimate was scheduled for 1/15/21 from noon to 3 pm. I was told that I would receive a call from a plumber prior to his arrival. I waited until 3:17 pm, but I never received a call & nobody ever showed up. I called My Plumber & was placed on hold while the person, who answered, spoke to her colleague. When she got back on the line, she told me that all the plumbers were on service calls; but that one would be by as soon as one was available. She couldn't tell me when that might be. So, I told her, "No thank you. I'll get someone, who's more reliable". She didn't even bother to apologize. What a waste of my time. This company is both unprofessional & unreliable.

I requested a quote on Angie's List. My Plumber promptly contacted me. I asked for the approximate price of a home toilet replacement. Although other companies were able to give me this over the phone (with prices ranging from $129 labor only to $500 labor + materials), the My Plumber representative said she wasn't able to tell me because she wasn't a plumber, and "that's why we send a technician" to look at the issue and give an estimate. I cheerfully said, "Thank you for that information, but I'll pass." And then the representative hung up. No goodbye, or other customary way of ending the phone call.

I wish I'd read the reviews before I made an appointment with My Plumber. The service rep was very courteous, friendly, chatty and did a good job on the tasks he performed but the good stops there. The first thing he did when we sat down to discuss what we needed done was to present me a brochure and tried to sell me a whole house water filtration system (Halo) for about $5000. He neglected to ask if we had a system in place (which we do). After I told him we did, he still tried to sell the system. The tasks we needed performed were to remove a leaking R/O system and reconnect the refrigerator water system to the house water, install a new kitchen faucet and replace the cartridges in four bathroom faucets (I was unable to get the handles off to do it myself as they were stuck). For those tasks he wanted over $2000. I was quite shocked and he then said he'd give us a 10% discount since I was a veteran bringing the bill down to under $2000 - still way over what I thought the job was going to cost. Unfortunately, we were up against the wall as we have house guests coming soon and are going to need the repairs done so I acceded to the repairs. The plumber did the kitchen tasks first. While doing the work, the jostling around of the garbage disposal caused it to leak around the inlet for the dishwasher discharge. He tried to fix that leak with some parts from his truck but was unsuccessful (the inlet area was, admittedly, very corroded not allowing an adequate seal of the rubber gasket). Then we were facing the prospect of no garbage disposal/dishwasher use. He conveniently had a disposal in his truck which matched ours and I acceded to that installation. For that part, we were charged almost $700 but, again, we were in a bind - a spot My Plumber is thrilled about, I'm sure! By now, it was getting late in the afternoon and the plumber didn't have enough cartridges to complete the faucet job. He said he'd be back the next morning. The next morning, before he arrived, I went online to check the cost of a garbage disposal and found it to be $269! That's about a 260% markup on the price! When the plumber arrived, he went about replacing the cartridges in the sinks and ran into the same problem I had of not being able to get three of the faucet handles off. He did try diligently to get them off but was unsuccessful. So, he got 4 or 5 of the planned 8 replaced. While doing that he found all but one of the under-sink shutoff valves (5 total) to have corrosion on them and recommended changing them along with the hoses that connect to the faucets. He said that would cost $131 dollars each. While he was still trying to get some of the faucet handles off, I went online again to check those part prices. I found I could get the hoses and valves for less than $20 a pair. It would take about 10 minutes per faucet to replace them and My Plumber wants $655 for the job! That's when I had to call a halt to this mess. I brought the plumber to the computer and showed him the disposal and shutoff valves/hoses prices and we had a long talk about the gouging we'd just been subjected to. At this point, the damage was done and, though he "talked" to the main office to try to mitigate on my behalf, he gave me some gobbledygook (I've seen the same spiel in some of the company answers to other reviews) about why the prices have to be that high and we left it at that. So, we paid probably 3 times what the job should have cost. I know I bear some responsibility but those prices should never have been presented in the first place. I will take much more precaution in the future and plan to avoid the large plumbing firms altogether. I'll be looking for a certified, local, independent plumber to finish our job and recommend that anyone reading this review do the same.

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On Monday, 6/6, the toilet was still clogged. We called to ask what was done. They were extremely defensive, but reluctantly sent someone come to unclog the drain for $250 more dollars. I was blown away. A supervisor then arrived and upsold me on re-piping the toilet drain to the main for 5800. His pricing was not added to contract until AFTER I signed it. They refused to itemize based on "we bid on the job, not individual items". I was not comfortable, but agreed since there was no price established. Then they added the 5800 to the contract. We questioned the price and the previous 1200. Work started, I received a call the following morning from an employee of the company. He said that the contractor plans on calling me for a major upsell. BUT I can call his friend to get a lower bid. Supervisor, Art, called to upsell an additional 5000 dollars since my pipe was "so clogged he can't get his camera through and there is no bottom of the pipe, so it must all be replaced and rerouted". He said he does not have to do this additional work, but if my "house floods he cannot be held responsible." MY PIPES WERE NEVER BROKEN AND WE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. JUST A SLOW DRAIN. I called the first person back to get the name of the "friend". He said his friend is Aaron. "Aaron is currently on vacation from his job and will give you a good price." I asked, "Does Aaron own his own plumbing company?" The person responded, "Funny thing is Aaron is currently getting his own license to start his own business. He currently works with me at My Plumber." I told them to discontinue work at this point since I was not comfortable with their company. Completed work: demo and install clean-out in front lawn.

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Just wanted to warn any other unsuspecting or unknowledgeable  neighbors and Angie's List Subscribers.  
Brief sum up: Appointment was set for 9-noon by the dispatcher.  Plumber didn't show up until 2:30 p.m.  I understand sometimes folks get hung up.. wasn't really bothered by this but worth noting.  Hadi showed up to replace an older hose bib.  I had requested during the purchase a Ball valve replacement for the one that was there and has been for 23 years. (the handle had finally rusted through and broken.  He tells me that that isn't The correct valve to be used as a hose bib. I begged to differ and said well that's the kind that I'd like.  Hadi says that they don't carry that kind and he only had the cheap five dollar ones.  But what I quickly noticed is his interest in changing the hose bib was obviously secondary to him finding something else to do. he immediately told me I needed a new pressure valve.  He Didn't bother to adjust mine or check it out he just told me I must buy a new one and that he can go ahead and replace it right then . I told him the one I had was fine please just change the other bib and that would be all.  So he change the other bib.   which incidentally leaks now and I'm going to have to request that they come back and fix it. It wasn't leaking before now. Further he continue to press me about getting the pressure valve. he went and wrote  up a quote to do the job for, get this,......... $646!!!   Ok folks the wpar wholesale costs under $100 for residential .. To replace the valve, which I had replaced about 6 years ago, so it's very accessible and just screws out from between two pipes. The job would take about 45 min if you count clean up and filling out the invoice.  Over $500 dollars for at MOST 1 hours worth of work! I laughed at him and asked him to please leave ... He still acted like I must change my Mind because It Must be done...  Yea, if he would have bothered to TWIST THE ADJUSTMENT SCREW to test unit rather than eagerly getting ready to Screw Me instead he would have noticed I had opened up the pressure a little because we were filling our jacuzzi that weekend and the additional pressure fills much much faster.   I have done work for several plumbers in San Diego and have never witnessed such Brasen ripoff tactics .  Seriously. Sell me something I don't need and rape me with grossly inflated labor costs was a pretty rocky way to start the weekend.. I'll feel better if I find this review saves one of my neighbors and friends from being taken advantage of in a similar fashion.  The plumber seemed quite versed at this scam and was really surprised when I thanked him for his warning and asked him to leave now.  So $61 for 5 min job that leaks .... That was my experience..

Through Angie's List I purchased a $79 main sewer line cleaning. When the plumber came out he called his boss to see if he should do the work given that the cleanout was at ground level and the house floor was 2 feet above that. (Since the house is being remodeled, I took out a section of the bathroom floor for easy access.) The price changed to $280. On my behalf, my partner declined their offer which I saw as a bait and switch. 
The next day I called to find out why the price skyrocketed. The owner said it was unsafe for his plumber to lower the machine to ground level. (Apparently no one on his side thought of using my method; see below.) I offered my help in lowering the machine. He said his people would not do the work. In essence, he rescinded the $280 offer.
The next day I rented a 100' snake from a large home improvement store for about $85 for the day and did it with my partner. The two of us lifted the machine into and out of my car easily. I kept the machine at the house floor level. I had a piece of pvc pushed partly in the cleanout to keep the snake from flopping. Worked out great. No risks; no worries.
I called "My Plumber" to ask about getting my $79 back. The office manager said I would have to contact Angie's List. I did so. I am now waiting for Angie to look into the matter.
I don't understand how one day "My Plumber" thinks a $79 job is possible and safe but should be $280 because of a 2 foot distance and the next they consider the job too dangerous at will not do it at all.