Columbia Environmental Lab

I called the lab to find out if they could test my water. I told the woman who answered the phone that the water was salty, our major concern, and that it had just suddenly begun to taste this way. She said they could test the water, they would even come pick up the sample, and the price seemed reasonable; better than reasonable, even. A few days later, I received a phone call from Columbia Labs. A man named John said that our water was very salty. We already knew this. He suggested that it had always been salty. We assured him that this was not the case. He said that he was running a bacteria test that would take 24 hours to see if e-coli (among other things) was in the water. I told him that we had small children at home, and would appreciate knowing the results of that test ASAP. I had no physical proof that any water sample was taken, but I chose to believe that it was. Two days later, with no further communication, I mailed a check and called for the results. The secretary told me that the results would not be given until the check arrived. I told her that I didn't want the full lab report, just to know if it was safe for my children to brush their teeth, rinse their fruit, etc. I also explained that the well company was there, and they needed to know if they should treat the well for bacteria. She said that she would try to find out. The well treatment specialist said he could come back Monday or Tuesday. That was Friday. On Monday morning, I called to see if there were any results. I explained that I didn't want a full lab report, only to know if the water was dangerous to my baby's health. She said she would talk to John, and call me back. On Monday afternoon, I called again. She said that John would give me no information until he had the check. I explained that there was a safety concern, and also that the (perhaps unnecessary) water treatment also had some negative consequences. I reiterated that I did not want a full report, just to know if the well specialist should treat for bacteria, and if it was safe to use the water in the well for anything. She said she could do nothing for me. I asked if I could speak to John; she said no. I called three or four more times on Monday afternoon. At the end of my final call, I made the following statement, "I hired Columbia Lab to provide me with information to help me make a decision. If I have to make that decision without the information, simply because you have decided to withhold it, I will not pay for the information. Once the decision is made, I no longer need the information. In order to recoup some of my wasted money, I will be forced to stop the check." Ten minutes later, my phone rang; it was John from the lab. He told me that the bacteria level was normal, and that I did not need to treat the well. I thanked him, told him that I understood that I would not get the lab results until the check arrived, and we politely hung up. Five minutes later, he called me again, and said that he would not do business with me because I threatened to stop the check. I tried to tell him that I was not making threats, just mitigating losses in the face of dispute of service. He wouldn't let me speak. He hung up on me, and I stopped the check. They were rude, unprofessional, and overall very unpleasant to deal with. I still have no proof that he ever even took my water sample, all he did was call me to reiterate the concerns that prompted me to call in the first place. There was no bill, no notice of sample collection, nothing.