Complaint Review: Empire Plumbing and Air Conditioning

A totally unethical business.  Jason Hart, Service Manager at Empire Plumbing & Air Conditioning came to my home to give me an estimate for an ADA toilet (1), new tub handles and shower wand, and a hot water heater.  I'm sure when he came in he saw an old white haired woman with no man in sight and dollar signs flashed through his mind.  I had been doing business with Empire for the last several years and I don't think anything I previously had done was so out of line and felt I could trust I was getting everything at a fair price.  I signed to have the work done for a whooping $4,119 which was more than double what it should have cost.  At the time of installation I mentioned to the installers that I felt there was a mistake and an adjustment should be made.  Of course the signed contracted was flashed in my face.  By email I pointed out that I was being charge for TWO toilets (not one) for almost $2,000 and the toilet that was installed cost about $400.  For the tub handles and shower wand I was charged over $1100 and cost about $120.00.  For the hot water heater, which had a dent in it, I was charged over $1,700 and cost about $650.  My supposed discount brought it down to the $4,119.  What I should have been charged, allowing a generous five hours of labor at $150 an hour, was about $2020.  I requested a refund of $2000 which I feel was a more than a fair adjustment.  I filed a complaint with the ROC and because I signed the trumped up estimate I am SOL.  EVERYONE dealing with Empire Plumbing and AC do you homework BEFORE you sign anything.  Just because they can doesn't mean they should.  I'm a big believer in KARMA and I hope when something bad happens to them they think of me.