How Ben Franklin Plumbing (Melbourn, FL) deceives customers.
(How to grab $275 for non working system!)
In my well water system PVC pipe was kicked out (disconnected) of pump vent (hole with thread) by water pressure. And thread on pipe was broken. Plumber ( Name: Sky on uniform) from this company said: "It because PVC pipe was screwed in iron cast directly! I'll do it with special adapter, which has metallic outside with thread and plastic tube inside for PVC pipe connection". And he requires $275 for this minor job, but promised two years warranty on it. All my request of their manager and this plumber of labor hourly rate was answered: "No such rate in our company, plumber will give you flat rate for your job!" Good trick to screw you up, if you are not professional and do not know this work!
I though:"Special adapter, two year warranty and I will have water at least." and I agreed with their robbery price! But it was lie!
Plumber has gone for an hour and then appear with news that he can not find promised metal-to-plastic adapter, but will fix all and without it and it will work good! So, first lie to get my agreement for job was about special adapter. As far as diameter of pump vent is absolutely standard (1''1/4), if he propose something, he must know and exactly knew in advance that can not find such adapters in shops.
Second lie: when I saw that he screwed pipe in vent only partially he said that thread in pump vent partially broken!! Why he did not tell me it before job?? If I'd learn that adapter is really unavailable and thread in pump broken I'd never agree for this job. Because, such connection will not be reliable! I have glued it a few times and it was kicked of in a few minutes.
But the worse deception that, when he finished his job, NO WATER RUN at all! He said:"O, probably air in pipe from well and pump can not work! Water could be taken from neighbors, but I have no long enough hose." Pay attention: Licenced plumbing company has no tools in it's truck to fix typical case - air in pipes???" Then this "high pro" said that no special valve on pipe from well, which is needed to avoid such air in future and proposed to do valve for $509 plus $198 for air removal!!! I never met so impudent, non honest service! When I asked him why this system and in neighbor homes worked 30 year without such valve, he just smiled!!??
Water run from pump right before his visit! Why he did not check it before work??
When I denied to pay for his damaging my system he threatened me with police call and said that I agreed for his job. I was so depressed by his job that forget that I agreed for another job, then which he did, and because of his lie!