Plumbers entered our home and called our home ugly repeatedly. We caught this on our security cameras.
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We just closed on a new home, and per the home inspector's instructions, we needed to add a drain, as the current output from the water heater and softener was draining into a self-installed sink from the previous owners.
I called many places and received bids from several. The basis of the job, according to all of these companies, was this:
From another plumbing company:
To remove drywall, furnish and install pipe and associated fittings for waste and water pipe for stand pipe for washing machine for $1800,
OR
From a handyman:
To break concrete, repipe it, and add a vent - all of which I (the handyman) could do, but I cannot pull a permit per Omaha plumbing code because I am not a master plumber.
The estimate I received from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing indicated that they would re-pipe an ADDITIONAL drain for $998. Naturally, I went with them because the receptionist seemed to fully understand my needs and the plumber showed up promptly for the bid.
Today, the work was carried out. The plumber brought along his partner, I assume, because it would be a big job that involved cutting drywall or concrete. While they were there, they conversed and made fun of our house, saying This is such an ugly house. Oh yeah, it's such an ugly house, which we caught on our security cameras. That says enough as it is.
The plumber, instead of adding an additional drain, decided to move the two tubes (the output from the water heater and the water softener) that was previously draining into the sink, and simply moved it to the floor, aimed it at the floor drain, and nailed it down.
Over the phone, he asked me if I wanted him to install the sink for us. I figured, why not, since he's already there. I was willing to pay him more. He told us it would be a bit more expensive, and I obliged.
When he left, we were charged $1,600 instead of the original $998. He did NOT break concrete or drywall to install the initial additional drain that was quoted for $998, but did break drywall so he could move our sink, which is still incomplete, because we need to find someone to fix the drywall before he can come back and attach the sink to the wall.
At the heart of the matter, the idea is that they charge $998 to move two output drains that were hanging in a sink, to the floor. All they did was move the two tubes to the floor - something my handyman told us he could've done, and charged us $998. When I asked him about the placements of the drains on the floor, he told us, every house has this, which is just untrue, because we've lived in at least 5 different houses in Omaha and none of the laundry rooms have looked like this.
All this while making fun of our house, humiliating us, and saying how ugly it was. If anyone is dubious of this fact, I have the video downloaded from our security camera, and I'm willing to share it with anyone who is interested.
I called the front desk and have not heard from the manager, nor have I received a receipt detailing what exactly cost us $998 as part of the $1600.
I'm highly disappointed in this company. I cannot believe their plumbers would enter my house, act like I don't know anything about plumbing, and call my house ugly, repeatedly. Truly a heartbreaking experience.