Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/05/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  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.

  9/17/24 **** ****** (owner) came for an advertised free check up from the new owner of Badger Water. He went to the basement and started taking apart the iron filter tank. He dismantled it. He said the water softener tank and iron filter tank needed to be replaced. He took the cap off, and left things in shambles. By the end, **** said I needed two new tanks, new salt holder, new regulator, copper pipes.$8400. He said he had all the equipment in the truck. I told him to re-assemble my existing equipment. I asked for a written estimate. He refused both.I immediately got a second opinion from an honorable, trustworthy, decent plumber.**** ****** has worked with 2 other people who echo my story. Pushy, *************** plumber sent in a water test and it showed 0 PPM of iron. I didnt need the iron curtain tank! This is an on-going theme with this new owner. This business theme is criminal. A disturbing way to do business. This bogus free equipment check nearly cost me $8400. Dismantling equipment and leaving. This is unacceptable. It has to stop.I called Badger Water the next day and asked to have **** call me back because I was dissatisfied with his visit. Needless to say, he didnt respond. Such poor business ethics.

  Business Response

  Date: 11/15/2024

  In regards to complaint from *** ****** we feel terrible that the customer feels this way. We have contacted *** directly with our best efforts to resolve this matter. *** has been a long time customer of **********************. ********************** had previously installed a iron filter many years ago when the customer was dealing with iron issues. Upon our inspection of the existing equipment that was with in the home we had found lots of iron and debris present with in the internals of the water softner. Due to finding this we had made two recommendations, one being a new iron filter and reusing the existing water softner ($4,500). Second option was a new iron filter along with a new twin tank water softner. The new water softner would use up to 50% less salt and waste water, we made this recommendation based on the age of the existing system and what appeared to be in poor condition found when doing tear down and inspection on the day of services. After providing both options ms. ****** has stated she would like to get a second opinion. At this point we had continued to service her reverse osmosis unit (filter change, sanitize.). The importance of the matter is that certain times of the year ms ****** has iron present in her water, if she did not there would be no physical proof of iron with in the existing system. We can not validate what method the "plumber" used when taking a sample, meaning did he pull it from a treated source with in the home? or was it pulled from the well point itself? if the sample was pulled from the treated side the water may have tested 0ppm on the iron if the water softner was keeping up with it at the time. that doesnt change the fact that different times of the year the iron level may be heavier putting a extreme load on the water softner if there is not a iron filter in front of it. We simply gave a inspection and our opinion on what we feel is the best way to treat the water nothing. We did not sell ms. ****** a system at this time, she is entitled to think what we offered was more than what she needed or that it was to "expensive". You can always pay more or you can always pay less depending on the quality of the product or level of service you receive. We offered ms. ****** a full refund of the services that were performed that day to try to make her happy, she declined. We went above and beyond to offer her a new high efficient water treatment system at NO COST to show that we are indeed good people just trying to do what we feel is best when it comes to treating water. thank you

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/18/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  [Please type your response here.]
  I spoke with **** from Badger Water in ******** on 11/13. I re-told my experience with the owner, who was also the service person.  **** wasnt in my basement to witness the un-ethical, condescending, high pressure technique used by the owner.  The author of the response wasnt in my basement. 
  The owner left my system in shambles, and refused to put it back. He refused to give me a written estimate for $8400. The next day, the owner wouldnt return my phone call.      
   Im a successful 72 year old woman. I recognize un-ethical behavior.    
  I dont want anything from Badger Water.  All I want is for people to be aware of how Badger Water does business.  What people can expect from Badger Water: tearing apart equipment, and refusing to put it back.  Never returning phone calls.  They wrote the book on high pressure sales.

  Regards,
  
  *** ******

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/21/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore 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.

  ************** Received mailings from Badger Water to schedule a free check-up & water test, I inquire about it & to make sure it was free, I was told it would be so I scheduled the appt just for 6/18/24 at 2pm. On 6/18/24 at 3:40pm two men from BW arrived, I handed ********************* the ltr I received from BW to prevent any misunderstanding for the free check-*************************** test to confirm why he was at my home. He pushed the letter away, said that was just for free service call that would normally cost me $295. The way he disregarded & pushed the letter away made me feel very intimidated/uncomfortable. He took apart my R/O, water *************** filter equipment(which are only 6 yrs old & under warranty) all w/o my authorization/permission. He said it would all have to be replaced & would cost me $9,265, which includes the $2,000 credit for my old equip. I did not know what to do, I was backed into a corner to make a rash decision seeing my water system all dissembled. I said I couldn't afford it & not in a place to do that, he then pushed asking me if I had a HELOC, CC, I told him No, he asked my creditscore did I have good credit. He proceeded to push, then he called ***** asked her to take my info to apply for financing, I told ************ felt very uncomfortable & didn't want to do this, she could hear the fear, she said I am sorry there is nothing she could do, she is just office person I gave the phone bk to **** who was already removing the old & installing the new equipment. I just wanted these men out of my house, fear they would do damage if I did not comply, I wrote a ck down pymt $265. Next day I called BW, told how I felt & didnt feel comfortable, he argued w/me for a bit then asked me if I would be home to come pick up the equipt. I called the next day, lft a msg saying yes I will be home 6/21 at 3pm to pick up equip. Shortly after that I got voicemsg&text from a *****, threatening me w/legal actions. I called 2 different comp quotes that came in at $3800-4800.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/11/2024

  There was no bait & switch, if there was a misunderstanding about the equipment I apologize.  This has been resolved in a favorable way to the customer as of ********.  There was no charge for the Filter Change & Service call.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/11/2024

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  Regards,
  
  *****************************
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/12/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  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.

  I had an appointment to have my R/O filter changed as I do yearly. I let **** in and he went to basement (R/O in *******) then called me downstairs. He had dismantled the WaterRight Filter Tank I had put in on 10.28.20 by Badger Water (then owned by ****) and said it needed to be replaced. I said it was fairly new, but could not locate the paperwork, even though it was available to him since Badger Water had installed it. He said it and my water softener needed to be replaced as well and the WaterRight was NOT under warranty and would give me a "discount" since it was fairly new. I found the paper work the next day with installation date and warranty the next day and called to question the charge. He said I should worry about the new tank's warranty not the old one. I requested an itemized breakdown of the new equipment and "discount" I received via phone with him and he gave me the run around, then I asked office to get me an itemized receipt, office staff attempted to get him to provide me with it and he has ignored the request. I did not authorize him to rip my Water Right tank apart, but he did and ensured me it needed to be replaced. I trusted Badger Water, but have since learned that the business was sold to ****. I am requesting reimbursement of the original tank since it was still under warranty, see reciept attached = ********.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/24/2024

  We called the customer today and left her a voicemail to get this resolved. Her tank is under warranty, however the media inside and other parts are not covered the warranty. As stated, we did reach out and are waiting for her to call back.