American Drilling of Sarasota, Inc.

Do Not Trust this company. I had them come over to give me an estimate. They were outrageously expensive, said it would be 8 weeks, and take 5 days to install a simple residential well. At the time I thought this might be standard so I didn't refuse, but planned on getting other estimates. I did not pay them a penny yet they ran out and purchased a permit - which blocks any other company for getting one. Now they are threatening a lien on my home if I don't pay them $150 for the permit. DO NOT TRUST THIS COMPANY

They great.. I had used them many times

They came out and told us that it was illegal to replace pipes and we needed a well. We gave them a deposit and they put in a well. The son said that we never needed a well, and he didn't know why we had his dad put in a well. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the other well that we had, and there was nothing illegal about replacing pipes, so they just out-right lied. They took us to court. We talked to other people and the Better Business Bureau. They did a lot of damage to the property. They damaged a fence and the gate, and took down trees in the neighbor's yard. They trespassed. They didn't finish the job, so we now have permits to be done. We had to get somebody to clean up the yard, and we had to put the fence up. They lied to the county too, they told the county that the well didn't work. What they did was fraudulent. There are 3 disputes on the Better Business Bureau.

1. One month late. Cost us $1800 for County water to irrigate complete new landscaping while waiting for well water.

2. Cost $850 to clean up after well drillers.

3. When I withheld $650 from total bill of $7000 as partial compensation for late and sloppy, the owner called screaming threats. Seemed potentially unstable, possibly dangerous. I paid $650 balance to get away from him.

We were initially without water and contacted a local company who services our salt system and also
repairs and installs pump motors. He saw that our motor had burned up. He installed a new motor but
when he turned the system on, the well worked and pumped water but there was a hissing noise. He dug
down and discovered a corroded pipe. Since replacing the pipe was beyond the scope of what he does,
he suggested we turn off the system to avoid burning up the new motor and recommended that we call a 
well driller. Initially we called a driller that is out of county, who declined due to distance and a very full schedule.
We called American. Bucky came to the house and told us that it is illegal to replace a pipe and told us we 
needed a new well. he looked at the corroded pipe. He never looked for or inspected the well. My husband
and I believed him and signed his proposal for a new well. What he told us was absolutely untrue.
We, unfortunately gave Bucky a $1625 deposit.
From then on, we dealt with Paul, Bucky's son, vice president to the company and field superintendent.
When the county explained that we needed a variance, due to lacking set-backs, they tried to charge us 
$700 more. 
American didn't let me know when they were coming or even announce when they were working on the well.
One day they worked for 1 1/2 hours. To my knowledge, they never put in an 8 hour day. We didn't have a functioning
well for 8 days! They didn't seriously look for the old well until the new well was drilled and they were ready to connect.
When they did locate it, Paul stated to me with a swagger "So, you hired my father to drill a new well and there's 
nothing wrong with the old well." The he back-tracked and said "It's only 67' deep." According to Sarasota
County, we would not be required to replace a functioning well due it being 67' deep.
Paul wanted to concrete the old well on 4/6. I postponed with the inspector from the Board of Health until we
could have an independent, local well driller access the old well. 
Artesian Wells tested the old well with a portable pump and found it to be fully functioning. Pumping is
completely adequate.
The county has now denied the permit, since the variance had been issued based on false information from
American Drilling. 
In addition, they entered our property through a vacant lot behind our home. The owner states that he did not
give American permission to do so. American left deep ruts, cut down trees and pruned shrubs there. 
Bucky had stated that they would roll back our fence but we would need to re-install. Our fence was cut,
trampled and damaged beyond repair by their equipment. They also backed into another section and destroyed
posts in the process. A large portion of the fence was replaced one year ago. In addition, the yard was left with
debris strewn and a pit around the pump.
American placed a lien on our home and filed in Small Claims Court. County officials state that this was done 
without American doing their completion report. They demand the additional $1850.
The well driller which offered a 2nd opinion stated that replacing pipes would have cost about $300.
We were charged $3450 for a well that we didn't need. Now the county requires that we concrete it and use the
old well unless the state grants a variance. I will seek the variance since eventually we will need a new well. If someone 
builds on the lot behind us, it will be even more difficult to find a spot to drill. One well will need to be plugged.
We will likely need to pay another well driller to do so.
The 2nd opinion driller only charged $100.
We are facing the following charges in addition to what we've already paid:
$450 to concrete a well  $400 + $50 for permit
$150 for variance
$75 for water testing
$1000 to replace back section of fence
$1000 to clear, rake, sod and seed back and side yard
$1825 balance to American
Total including what we've paid to American and for 2nd opinion:
$6225
This is for something not needed. Pipes would have been $300.
Now we have no privacy and property open to trespassing and possible theft.
Thank goodness for helpful Board of Health staff and two honest well drilling companies.
One offered invaluable advice. The other offered a 2nd opinion at very low cost.
I can recommend two other well drillers but absolutely would not recommend American.

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It went beautiful.

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Everything went well. There were a couple small delay's for the weather and the supervisor's health issues. Over all they were very professional and easy to deal with and I would definitely use them again and highly recommend them.

I called in the morning and they sent someone out right away. This was one of those things that an expert could spot and fix right away, and these guys were experts. They fixed the issue and it was right back up and running. Even thought it took some time to drain and fill the tank, they didn't charge me because it was an easy fix. (I think they cut a break because we're so close to their shop). At any rate, I highly recommend them and if I have any issues with any of the 4 other pumps on the property, these are the guys I'm calling!

There was a slight delay in starting due to a tropical storm. The crew was very professional and explained everything they were doing. They did a great job cleaning up.

American Drilling of Sarasota's price is the best. They were very explanatory about the different layers of everything that they have to go through. Their customer service is fine.

Overall, they have been very helpful and professional. The work has been great so far.