I had to put this post off for a bit since I was still simmering down.
You heard all about our water heater issues not that long ago. Here’s the rest of the story.
Khan replaced the burn pan thingy and the thermostat, but we still weren’t getting hot water. So I called a plumber.
Told him specifically what had been done and our need for troubleshooting the valve in the thermostat and the orifices of the tubes in the burn pan. All of the other plumbers gave free estimates that I had looked into. (This was my bad for not asking.)
Khan had gone into work since the guy was running beyond an hour late. He had said to call once this guy pulled into the drive and that’s what I did when the guy finally shows up, goes downstairs, and points to the tag on the water heater.
June 15, 2012
S&J Plumbing (Pointing to the tag on the water heater: Oh…this is a 2004. It’ll have to be replaced.
Me: No, you see…we only need the gas checked at the thermostat. Is there a valve not springing the way it should? Is there an orifice that needs bored out a little more? (These were practiced questions that Khan had told me to say and I got it mostly right.)
S&J Plumbing: 2004s got recalled.
Me: Really? Well, what did they do on the recall?
S&J Plumbing: I think they replaced the burn pan.
Me: Oh. Well then no problem. My husband has already done that.
S&J Plumbing (chuckling): Ha ha. Often we try to make our own repairs.
Me: He earned journeyman pipefitter in the early 90s. So I don’t think that’s the issue, but we do need you to troubleshoot. You assured me that was no problem on the phone.
S&J Plumbing: Well I could try but it’s just going to be a waste of your time.
Me: Oh?
S&J Plumbing: You need a new water heater.
Me: So you can tell this by just looking at it.
S&J Plumbing: It’s a 2004.
Me: I see. Correct me if I’m wrong. A water heater has a tank, a burn pan, and a thermostat. That’s all of the parts in a water heater, right?
S&J Plumbing: Well…yes, but…
Me: The tank is intact. No rust. The burn pan has been replaced as has the thermostat.
S&J Plumbing: It’s a 2004.
Me: I realize that. I just need you to troubleshoot for too-small orifices and check the valve on the thermostat.
S&J Plumbing: I can try but it won’t do you any good.
This goes on for about a half an hour where the man unbolts the gas line and sniffs it then informs me we have gas. I sigh and keep my mouth shut. He bolts it back up and Khan shows up. The plumber starts talking over my head directly to him and I realize that I really don’t have the time to get ticked off about it. I have to leave to you know it: chauffeur the youngest.
I hear Khan and the man speaking while I wait on the youngest to gather all of his gear. S&J Plumbing has informed Khan of our need for a new water heater and Khan has reiterated what I’ve already said.
Khan: No. I don’t think you understand. The tank is fine. The rest is just ordering parts or TROUBLESHOOTING the new ones here.
I leave and get a phone call about a half an hour later.
Khan: That mother******. He was in over his head and I told him so. He just kept trying to sell me a water heater and to add icing on his ****cake, he didn’t do a **** thing while he was here. Oh, but wait. It gets better. I finally told him I didn’t want a new water heater, I just wanted him to do what he’d been hired to do and he tells me: ‘you’re halfway there to a water heater already, might as well buy one.’
Me: What?
Khan: 90 bucks an hour, 2 hour minimum. Plus trip charge.
Me: That was if he did anything. Did he do anything?
Khan: He said he checked the gas line.
Me: Oh my god. He turned a **** bolt.
Khan: I paid him then kicked him out since I don’t have the time to go to small claims court but: I fixed it.
Me: I knew you could. What was it?
Khan: The orifice of that (jimbly-jargon-I-still-don’t-know-what-he-said). I bored it out like I should have in the first place.
Long story short? Guess who knows the address of the Better Business Bureau and has a new membership to Angie’s List? Guess who also has a blog and isn’t shy?
So, in the most respectful way let me highly NOT recommend S&J Plumbing in Louisville, Kentucky. I am highly dissatisfied because I paid for a salesman to do nothing but turn one bolt, be disrespectful, condescending, and charge me 195 bucks. He also lied on his paperwork to put that cherry on the crap sundae.
Okay. Maybe I haven’t calmed down enough.
You go, girl! That guy messed with the wrong woman.
I know that his entire intent was to rip you off, but I could also go on a long and rambling commentary about our throw-away society and how a lot of people think we should just get something shiny and new instead of fixing a perfectly good piece of equipment. But I’ve said enough!
I had an altercation with a hotel when I visited my parents recently, and they were unresponsive, so I went all over the internet, posting reviews, tweeting, and anything else I could think of. I just love cyberspace! Good luck with the BBB — they’ve helped me out a few times here and there, and I’ve always found that to be a good way to go.
I’m with ya. I hate throwing things out without at least trying to make them breathe life again and even then I recycle.
Cyberspace is our friend in this, isn’t it. I just think I may need to calm down some more. This post was intended to be funny.
So much for that idea, lol.
I so feel your anger! My mom once called in near tears because she went in for a $30 oil change and the shop wouldn’t let her leave without paying a $300 bill. Luckily my BF is a truck & coach mechanic. He had her pass the phone to the mechanic and laid into him. He explained that he had already worked on her a car a few days before and knew firsthand that all she needed was an effing oil change. They let her leave without paying a cent. She was lucky – things don’t often go that way for the customer.
Omg! Don’t you hate these new sales ‘techniques’?
I once rolled into a tire store and the guy came out there and told me he couldn’t let me leave the lot, my treads were too worn. I then proceeded to have an Irish stew meltdown on him when he became adamant and blocked the path to my car. It’s my f’in car. Get out of my way before I stab you with these keys…ad nauseum. (Sigh. Sometimes I lose it.) Still…I drove out of there. Crazy beats big.
Good for you! You go, girl!! With “press” like this, you’ve cost them much more than they did you!Angie’s List? Yah!
I certainly hope that others get the word. It’ll save them at bare minimum 195 bucks. I feel like such a sucker.
You need to broadcast on twitter also. That son of a b#$%#h needs to learn that he can’t mess with you and get away with it. I hate repairmen like that. I’ve dealt with them before. It’s time to strike back. I’m posting your blog on my facebook and twitter. Scam-artist haters unite!!
YEAH! Thank you Janna! You ROCK
I twitted and FB’d this for you as well. Jerks…just a whole bunch of jerks out there.
Thank you so much Stuart!
I knew it was going to be entertaining with a title like that! I don’t understand how these types of businesses operate for any longer than a week. Of course he showed up late! You didn’t even have to put that in the post. They all show up late, if they show up at all. What’s the statistic? 66% of small businesses fail. But not these jack***es!
Usually you can protect yourself by learning basic repairs on YouTube. I saved myself a new garbage disposal…or ‘garburator’ as they call them in Canada. It’s the lawyers really need to watch out for. It can be scary when they screw you over. Believe me, they have their own way of selling you things you don’t need.
(nods) They are all jacka**es it seems. And I agree, how is it these guys keep on operating. Well, I guess that’s why Angie’s list is doing so well. I should have joined sooner.
Khan is the handyman although I did replace a doorknob the other month. Not intricate stuff, but I’ve got my nails to think of.
Good to see you!
Jerkwad. I hate guys like that.
Yeah! I love ya Liz!