Made an appointment with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing on Thursday or Friday of last week for Monday from 2pm to 6pm, 10/10 or 11/2018.

So Christopher H., plumber w/aforementioned company arrived between the above listed time frame. Christopher introduced himself to my wife, and walked to the bathroom where the work needed to be performed.

I came in, and we introduce ourselves to each other. At this point Christopher advised me there will be a $69 call out fee plus a $275 to lift the Toilet to the side, and the price goes up from there depending on the problem.

I began to protest in the form of asking if what I heard was in fact a true statement. I said $@!#%, I must be paying for the name brand over service, parts, and labor. Christopher replied: "Yes, you're paying for the Name, the Uniform, The Trucks/Van's, Flat Service and Parts fee.

At this point I wanted to get Christopher out of our home, and call for another company to come in with reasonable fees. Christopher said I can call whomever I like but the cost is going to be the same due to the companies in the industry look at each others pricing fees, and match each other.

My wife who is very sensitive and is not in her character to defend herself in a conversation asked me to just let it go and let the work be done. My wife was looking at two over grown men facing each other in a contentious moment. So I looked at my wife, took a deep breath as I relented, and reluctantly allowed the work to proceed forward.

I sat down at the table when Christopher billowed out, "Its going to be $340 now." Shortly afterwards Christopher called out a new price when he said the flange needed to be replaced, "Its about $470 now." My blood pressure was climbing, and Christopher was pushing the tolerance level of my prescribed medication from VA.

So in the end, Christopher spent less than an hour setting aside our existing toilet, replacing a flange, and remounting the Toilet for a grand total of $470. Christopher offered some sugar to make the medicine go down by dropping the call out fee of $69, and due to buying a 7k HVAC from One Hour Air a year prior, Chris gave us an additional $25 off making the total $445. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for any savings, however doesn't stop the bleeding!

Before Christopher left our home, we shared a few military stories him about the Navy, and me about the United States Marine Corps.

The only problem I have is the extraordinary fee for a simple plumbing job.

I called several other companies and shared with them the exact wording and fees. All of them quoted about $200 less in fees.

I called the calling center in Orlando who forwarded my call to the local company Christopher works out of. This woman grew more contentious in defending Christopher and their fees and so on. I did not want to argue, fuss, and fight over the phone so I once again asked for a member of management to call me back then I hung up.

I Called Orlando back who discussed my situation with supervisors on hand, and put in a message to the General Manager Ryan Cox, and the independent owner David Cox to contact me.

I called about 10am and it is 3:30pm right now and have not received a call from anyone. However did receive this review I am writing.

There are many reasons that go into a decision to recommend a company or not.

To your family, friends colleagues, and general public such as the internet, and social sites.

There is Customer service over the phone, promp arrival the day of service, customer service in person, service, overall experience and pricing.

So:

Customer Service Phone = A = 100
Prompted Arrival Day = A = 100
Customer Service = C = 50
Service Work Done. = A = 100
Overall Experience = D = 25
Pricing/Fees. = F = 0

Grade Point Average = C+ / B-

If Benjamin Franklin Plumbing work on lowering their fees the other two criteria should work themselves out to an almost perfect score. Okay so I digress...

I personally will not recommend this company to people I Love, and Care for however I reported my experience, and You decide..

Darrell F Martin II
Okinawa911@aol.com