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[The Mysterious Q!]

Good job Chief!

[MJZ]

I contacted the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce and they directed me to the Seniors vs Crime Project I contacted the office in Citrus County and told the nice lady what was going on and when I told her the name of the plumber, she said "Ohhhhhh, Pat the Plumber. We know all about them." Not that this will do any good, but it did make me feel a bit better. Well, I filled out a complaint on my mother's behalf, and she is going to go over and fill one out herself.

I then sent an email to the plumber with links to all the different postings and information about the Seniors vs Crime complaints just so they know I'm more than a "couple of angry phone calls" guy.

Good thing its a slow day around the office.

I doubt anything will come out of this, but if I can prevent just one other person from using this company, it is all worthwhile.

Fortunately your Mom is in one of the few states that have a very active and proficient Contractors Licensing Board. File a complaint with the State of Florida Licensing Board and you will get satisfaction. They will have a formal hearing and based on his previous history of actions and complaints, they can and will revoke his license.
I get the Board actions and reviews, they are full every month of actions taken against bogus contractors.

[iski]

Chief, did a little searching and came up with this:

http://myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/07EA508828138B548525700C0062BA3D

That is a link to a story on S. Florida plumbing fraud that then AG Charlie Crist pursued some time back.  He is now governor.  Bill Mc Collum is the new Attorney General.  The Fraud Hotline for Florida is: 866-966-7226.  That bozo plumbing company might be "inspired" if they knew you are reporting them to the Florida AG as well.  The link also has contact info for the State of Florida.  I think about my Mom when stuff like this plumber over charging happens to others & it really does burn me up.

[skippy]

Just take him out behind the barn it works everytime

[Screamin]

No. You're not out of line and think the worse you can make these ahole's lives the better. Sorry your mom got taken.

[Chief]

Chief, did a little searching and came up with this:

http://myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/07EA508828138B548525700C0062BA3D

That is a link to a story on S. Florida plumbing fraud that then AG Charlie Crist pursued some time back.  He is now governor.  Bill Mc Collum is the new Attorney General.  The Fraud Hotline for Florida is: 866-966-7226.  That bozo plumbing company might be "inspired" if they knew you are reporting them to the Florida AG as well.  The link also has contact info for the State of Florida.  I think about my Mom when stuff like this plumber over charging happens to others & it really does burn me up.

Thanks iski,

While this company does charge ridiculous rates, they are upfront with it before the work is performed. They told me their prices are based on national averages that they get from Plumbers Success International. Well, I looked up this group and it is an association to help plumbers make more money. I'm pretty sure that's where they got all of their operating practices.

I don't feel they did anything illegal. They didn't scam her, but merely took advantage of a person who didn't know what it should cost. She said the guy was very well mannered. They have engineered a business plan that works, although you could get the same service for less than half of their fees elsewhere.

We'll see what happens tomorrow as I'm supposed to speak with the general manager.

Here's the kicker. I spoke to my mom this evening and she's got water on the floor again. Wonderful.

[iski]

Thanks iski,

While this company does charge ridiculous rates, they are upfront with it before the work is performed. They told me their prices are based on national averages that they get from Plumbers Success International. Well, I looked up this group and it is an association to help plumbers make more money. I'm pretty sure that's where they got all of their operating practices.

I don't feel they did anything illegal. They didn't scam her, but merely took advantage of a person who didn't know what it should cost. She said the guy was very well mannered. They have engineered a business plan that works, although you could get the same service for less than half of their fees elsewhere.

We'll see what happens tomorrow as I'm supposed to speak with the general manager.

Here's the kicker. I spoke to my mom this evening and she's got water on the floor again. Wonderful.

Water on the floor again after paying almost $300 for a simple toilet fix?  Wonder if its the seal also?

Even if technically they did nothing illegal, the AG will investigate price gouging operations.  Florida has contractors who over charge for a variety of services.  Other states do as well, granted, but the hurricane mentality (charge as much as the folks will pay x 10) created some laws to prosecute that sort of thing. 

Something about your post made me think - for an auto we pay $20-30 or less for an oil change.  For an HD (I change my own) its around $100 or more. Whatever the market will bear......

[Chief]

Water on the floor again after paying almost $300 for a simple toilet fix?  Wonder if its the seal also?

Even if technically they did nothing illegal, the AG will investigate price gouging operations.  Florida has contractors who over charge for a variety of services.  Other states do as well, granted, but the hurricane mentality (charge as much as the folks will pay x 10) created some laws to prosecute that sort of thing. 

Something about your post made me think - for an auto we pay $20-30 or less for an oil change.  For an HD (I change my own) its around $100 or more. Whatever the market will bear......

I'm guessing they will come back out and determine it's something totally different and then present her with another outrageous estimate. This time she'll propmtly show them the door. I may be running to Beverly Hills this weekend afterall.

[Gettinold]

Cheif the next time your at your moms it may be a good idea to look for a "handy man" that could do simple jobs, like the toilet repair, that you could trust and depend on when the next problem should arise.
I feel your pain of what has happened and hope that it dont happen again. Its sad that there are bottom feeders that prey on our elders. Just try to prevent it from happening again is all you can do. Tell your mom we all are looking out for her. 

                                     Dave

[hard10]

Just take him out behind the barn it works everytime

Chief, we can drag his sorry a$$ up to Hoist!'s neighborhood and drop him off for a little 'work up.'

... I may be running to Beverly Hills this weekend afterall.

Let me know if you're going. I'm going to post this elsewhere but I'm planning on going down to FL this weekend. Looks like leaving on Thursday. PM or call me if you go!

AJ

[The Mysterious Q!]

Chief, we can drag his sorry a$$ up to Hoist!'s neighborhood and drop him off for a little 'work up.'
Let me know if you're going. I'm going to post this elsewhere but I'm planning on going down to FL this weekend. Looks like leaving on Thursday. PM or call me if you go!

AJ

What you going to have the Chinamen karate chopem to death or what?

[BigR55]

Great to see the compassion expressed here for your Mother.
I have the equivalent of a Doctorate in Chitology earned from owning rental property since I was 19. The majority of leaks comming on the floor level do indeed come from the wax seal as everyone knows. When the base is set, put your full weight on the base to compress the ring, tighten the bolts and then caulk around the base leaving a four inch gap in the very back. Let the caulk set overnight. The caulk will stop any rocking movement and keep the ring from squishing out and breaking the seal. Another thing to check is to see if the sewer pipe is clogged. What I have found with recurring problems is that the wax was not thick enough, not cleaned off the bowl before reinstalling or not lined up on the hole when the bowl is set. I did have one unusual one in my own home that took three tries to fix. My Kohler Comfort Height kept leaking on the floor and I pulled and carefully replaced the wax twice only to discover the leakage again. Turned out to be a crack in the outer shell of the bowl that allowed the water to drip under the base and run out. Hope this will help.

[Chief]

First, thank you to everyone for your support on this. Sometimes I'm out in left field, but when it comes to something like this, having our parents taken advantage of, there is no reason for it.

I spoke with Mom yesterday. The plumber returned to look at the persistent leak from under the tank, same plumber, very nice and clean shaven. He looked at the toilet and said that if there is still a leak, it must be a cracked tank. Standard fee for toilet and installation ~$500, but since she had work done, they would credit half of the $282 for the rebuild and bring it down to ~$350. This time Mom was ready for it and quickly showed him the door. Yeah Mom!!!

Pinkie and I will be driving down for her 71st in July, so Mom gets a new toilet for her birthday; every woman's dream birthday present. Well, and the digital cam she's been wanting too.

So this story ends on a good note. No-one got hurt too badly. I don't think we'll ever get any of the money back. But, we'll get her taken care of in short order.

[iski]

Good for your Mom Chief!  She has a very good son, to be looking out for her so well. 

 A new toilet - every woman's dream come true.........  I have posted somewhere or other that I do not understand wimmens & gave up trying a very long time ago.........

[RJ749]

First, thank you to everyone for your support on this. Sometimes I'm out in left field, but when it comes to something like this, having our parents taken advantage of, there is no reason for it.

I spoke with Mom yesterday. The plumber returned to look at the persistent leak from under the tank, same plumber, very nice and clean shaven. He looked at the toilet and said that if there is still a leak, it must be a cracked tank. Standard fee for toilet and installation ~$500, but since she had work done, they would credit half of the $282 for the rebuild and bring it down to ~$350. This time Mom was ready for it and quickly showed him the door. Yeah Mom!!!

Pinkie and I will be driving down for her 71st in July, so Mom gets a new toilet for her birthday; every woman's dream birthday present. Well, and the digital cam she's been wanting too.

So this story ends on a good note. No-one got hurt too badly. I don't think we'll ever get any of the money back. But, we'll get her taken care of in short order.

Maybe you could get them to small claims court for a missed diagnosis and competion of an un-needed repair.  They sort of buried themselves with the second diagnosis (guess).

Most likely too much trouble to do small claims court, but you never know.  Now might be a time for the TV consumer advocate reporter to give them a call.