Plumbing and Heating
Power Tech Plumbing and HeatingThis business is NOT BBB Accredited.
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Complaints
Customer Complaints Summary
- 1 complaint in the last 3 years.
- 0 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
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Initial Complaint
Date:06/02/2024
Type:Billing IssuesStatus:AnsweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Invoice number is ***** dated January 18th, 2024. For cleaning out the sewer line in my property they visited for half hour. It is a one man job. They charged 2 hours of plumber labor for 180 dollars, 2 hours of apprentice labor and use of the equipment that is a sewer machine: 200 dollars. Total of 525 dollars for a half hour service. Same company in 2023 9 months ago charged ****** for the same service : 100 dollars for plumber labor (1 person) and 35 dollars for the use of the equipment (auger). Total of ******. It was invoice number ***** dated April 10th, 2023. Seymour ********************** and Heating that did this invoice changed its name to Power Tech Plumbing and Heating (actual name). When I phoned them to complain they deleted the apprentice charge so the actual charge to pay is ******. Despite of that I think it is unfair to charge 2 hours of plumber labor when they say one hour is because of "transportation". Also I did bot agree that they charge 200 dollars for use the auger during half hour of work.I would like to be charge a fair price that could be around 200 considering last year charge was ****** and has been inflation from 2023 to 2024. I think the ****** is outrageous for a simple clear out of the sewing line in half hour of work.Business Response
Date: 27/02/2024
Received a telephone call on January 15th to clean out the sewer line at the customer's property located in *********; approximately a 25 minute drive to and from our Shop - 1 hour to and from call.
I told the customer we could have a plumber at his house the next day and that the fee for the sewer machine is $200 plus labor. The customer said he needs it done so it is what it is thus approving the costing.
Our Journeyman plumber and apprentice loaded the sewer machine into the company truck and attended at the jobsite in *********; the sewer line was cleaned out; the apprentice put the sewer machine back into the truck and they returned to the shop where the apprentice then cleaned the sewer machine and put it away. Total 1 hour on site - 2 workers and 1 hour travel.
On January 25th I received a telephone call from the customer complaining that the had to pay for an apprentice, had to pay travel time and had to pay for the sewer machine. He stated that the job did not require 2 people and that we should not be charging for the use of the sewer machine. As an effort to resolve we credited the 2 hours of the apprentice labour total $116.00 and credit was applied to the account.
We then received another telephone call from the customer when he received the revised invoice saying that he still felt it was unfair that he be charged for the travel time but most importantly did not agree with the $200 charge for the sewer machine. He told me 9 months ago he had the same service from the company and it was only $141.75. I asked if they could provide me with that invoice and they did. After looking at the invoice it was noted that the service provided 9 months ago was to clean a kitchen sink drain which uses a mid machine which rented for $35 NOT clean a sewer line which sewer machine rents for $200.00. I told the customer that we are talking about 2 different service calls therefore the difference in the cost.
We made his emergency call a priority and stopped scheduled work to accommodate the service request, we clearly notified the client of the costs and then when he complained reduced the apprentice's time. His comparison of previous work is incorrect and we expect to be paid for the services provided.
Customer Answer
Date: 28/02/2024
Complaint: 21254351
I am rejecting this response because of the following reasons:200 DOLLARS FOR SEWER MACHINE RENT
PTPH
I told the customer we could have a plumber at his house the next day and that the fee for the sewer machine is $200 plus labor. The customer said he needs it done so it is what it is thus approving the costing.
THIS IS A COMPLETE LIE
I called the company and they said they were very busy. NEVER I repeat NEVER informed me that the fee for the sewer machine was going to be 200 dollars. In case I was informed it will cost 200 dollars only for the machineI for sure will look for another plumber or another solution for my problem. BIG WAY TO LIE TO BBB SINCE I CAN NOT PROVE THEY ARE LYING.
TIME
The service was for only 25 minutes at my property as informed by my tenant.
In the first invoice they were charging two hours of labor for the plumber work and two hours of apprentice. . There were 25 minutes of plumber work.
They were charging 2 hours of plumber ********************* 195 dollars and 2 hours of apprentice in the first invoice. They eliminated the apprentice charge in the second invoice. So their reasoning is that I have to pay for the cleaning of the sewer machine and also the rental of the cleaning machine.
And this is One man job, not necessary two men to do it.
RENTING OF THE MACHINE. NO TRADES CHARGES FOR RENTING OF THEIR OWN NECESSARY TOOLS. CAN THEY PRESENT A RECEIPT OF THE RENTING DID THEY FROM ANOTHER COMPANY? I DOUBT IT.
They are admitting they are charging 200 dollars for RENTING the sewer machine to customers. I researched and the rental of that machine is 115 dollars in a rental company in ********* for a few hours and buying a new one cost 800 dollars.
I can also add that every company can claim buying of tools in the annual declaration of taxes before CRA in order to pay less taxes.
So with that supposition every customer has to pay for the tools of different trades:
200 dollars for the tools of ELECTRICIAN to use in their electrical tools.
200 dollars for the CARPENTER that uses a framer machine for framing for his client.
200 for the floor installer that uses a machine to install hardwood floors.
200 for the HVAC technician that uses his equipment to resolve a HVAC problem for his clients.
200 for the FURNACE TECHNICIAN that comes to service my furnace.
I have not been charged for any electrician, *********, floor installer or HVAC or furnace technician when they made jobs for me.
TIMING OF THE SERVICE
PTPH
We made his emergency call a priority and stopped scheduled work to accommodate the service request, we clearly notified the client of the costs and then when he complained reduced the apprentice's time. His comparison of previous work is incorrect and we expect to be paid for the services provided.
Answer:
I requested their plumber service soon. It never was an EMERGENCY CALL OR SERVICE but they said they are completely busy and will call back when they have some idea when to schedule the service. They called hours later to say that they will have the possibility - maybe - of coming the next day at 1.30 pm. They came around that time.
LAST BILL OF APRIL 2023
For the last bill of 2023, they charged 100 dollars of plumber labor (****) that was working a similar time on my property, around 25 minutes. THIS TIME THEY CHARGED TWICE 195 dollars.
They said they charged 35 for use of the equipment on that opportunity. In this case it is a COMPLETE LIE that they informed me of 200 dollars charge for only sewer machine fee. If so I will avoid their service at all.
In April 2023 they did not charge anything for transportation. Also many trades provide quotations completely free and they use their trucks, gas and time for that without charging customers at all. I refer to electricians, furnace and HVAC guys, installers, contractors, framers, etc. Also handymen that charge basically 50 dollars an hour and pay the costs of their own transportation.
NO CHARGE FOR TRANSPORTATION IN 2023
It is strange that in April 2023 they did not charge anything for TRANSPORTATION, being that on January 24 they are charging 1 hour and 35 minutes of transportation since the service lasted only 25 minutes at my property.
REQUEST OF THE BILL
I requested the sending of the bill the same day of service by phone that was January 16th, 2024. They took one week to send the bill for 525 dollars, which is totally a rip off. Why does it take so much time to prepare a bill?
It is a basic drain cleaning that plumbers are supposed to do on a daily basis or at least are a very common service for this trade.
They needed seven days to think how to create a BIG BILL of a simple plumber service of running a snake. (drain cleaning).
I AM ABLE AND WILLING TO PAY THE SERVICE. I CONSIDER 200 DOLLARS A FAIR CHARGE FOR THE SERVICES OF PTPH.Sincerely,
********************Business Response
Date: 07/03/2024
My recollection is that I did make you aware that the cost for the sewer machine was $200 plus labour.
As to the sewer machine it is not the responsibility of individual plumbers to have their own sewer machine. This is not considered a tool that the Plumbers should have in their personal toolbox. This machine is supplied by the Company and there is a fee to use this machine and that fee covers the wear and tear, replacement parts and cleaning of said machine.
We charged 1 hour for a callout, which I think is very fair, and 30 minute travel time to and from our shop. There are many local Plumbing Companies in the ***************** that you could have called yet you chose to hire our Company which is a 30 minute drive from *********.
Regarding the bill you refer to back in April of 2023, that work was not carried out by this Company and the service provided was not for the same service that we provided to you. I do not know the details of that particular callout but to clean an average kitchen sink drain with no major issues could potentially be 30 minutes or less yet I see you were charged for 1 hour labour?
We removed the fee for the apprentice that was on the jobsite with *********** which I feel is more than fair but to say you should not pay for the sewer machine is very unfair as it was required to clean your sewer line. We expect payment in full for services provided.
*********************
Power Tech Plumbing & Heating
PH ************
Customer Answer
Date: 17/03/2024
Complaint: 21254351
March 17th, 2024
*************************
Power Tech Plumbing and Heating
Good afternoon:
I do not accept your answer to our complaint. Your recollection is not correct since you did not make me aware that the cost for the sewer machine was 200 dollars plus labor so your memory is fading. Your first attempt was to charge ****** Cdn dollars for HALF HOUR plumbing service including your apprentice work that is completely unfair, unethical and not acceptable.
2.- It was the last time that I called your company and you are going to lose business from our residence and from our rental suites nearby. My homework will be to let my neighbors and friends know how you are conducting business and your abusive behavior. So you are going to lose in the long run.
3.- I will proceed to pay your unfair bill as I am used to fulfilling my financial obligations but that does not mean that I accept this unacceptable and unfair charge.
********************
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