Plumber.Ca

It's a pity negative starts aren't a possibility.

So, I got stuck using these guy's as we had a sump pump fail in a rental and we needed to get things sorted quickly for my tenants. The failure happened during hunting season and getting a hold of anyone was proving extremely difficult. These guys answered and agreed to do come take a look. The gentleman that answered the phone, was polite, seemed professional and agreed to get someone out to site ASAP. This is where the positive aspects of this relationship ended.

I knew the problem, it was a failed sump pump. It's a $200 item at most hardware stores and less then an hour to install. I could have done it myself but, was a couple of hours away from the site. Just and FYI to anyone reading this, I've been a landlord for many years and in a former life built spec homes. I have a guy that takes care of these things for me but, as I said, hunting season. But I digress.

I was informed by plumber.ca that it would be $281 service call (taxes in) seemed a little steep, but I agreed. As I said, this issue needed to be sorted quickly (we had 2" of water in the basement and it was rising) and assumed the fee was part of the invoice for the work to be completed (as it is with all other emergency service call I've ever made, to any other contractor). The technician arrived on site and started to describe the complexity of the situation to my tenant. My tenant called me to explain that this guy seemed to either be trying to rip me off or really had no idea what he was talking about. Remember, we (the tenant and I) already knew the problem and had discussed it at length. We had even walked through some trouble shooting, over the phone, to determine exactly what was going on. Regardless, I informed her to let the tech. get us a quote, he'd already been paid for the service call.

The number the technician gave me was $2400 plus tax. I thanked him and told him to get off the site immediately. That his services would not be required. Hung up and then notified the tenant that I would have to make alternate arrangements. Not 5 minutes passed before I got a call for Plumber.ca headquarters. After I tore a strip off the guy, he indicated that he wanted to "make me happy" I told him to have a good think about a fair price and hung up, I got a return call. $975 plus tax, still 5 times retail on the pump and that would be on top of the $281 I'd already paid. He then proceeded to tell me how he was doing me a "great favour".

As I explained, I was stuck, and did pay these guys their extortionate price, just to get the issue addressed for my tenant. 20 minutes after I gave them the OK, the job was done (as I said less then an hours estimated work). They then had the audacity to call me upon completion of the works, and assure me again what a favour they were doing for me.

I sat on this for a couple of weeks thinking the pain and sense of violation would pass. It hasn't. So here I am warning all who will listen/read to stay clear of this company.