Complaint Review: S.M. Betros

I unfortunately, made the mistake of calling S.M. Betros in Jacksonville, Florida due to a water leak. 

First, the sent someone out to my home to confirm that I had a leak.  This task was completed by their employee Kevin walking into my kitchen and literally listening with his ear to the wall and floor to hear for running water.  Five minutes later he declared, "yes you have a leak."  You will have to call Larry to set up an appointment to have someone come out and fix it and heres is your bill for $95.00. I was like "umm... I know I have a leak.  That's why I called you!!"  So, he informed that his job is only to come out and confirm that there is a leak.  Apparently, me saying there is a leak, isn't confirmation enough.  Apparently, you have to be an employee of their plumbing company to be able to make that type of informed decision.  This should have been my first clue to turn and run from this plumbing company!

But, I didn't.  So, the following week S.M. Betros decided to send what I guess would be their most incompetent employee to my home- Paul.  He was using equipment that he guaranteed me would find the leak in my kitchen.  So, he said he found the leak behind my washer in the wall.  So, in the wall went a huge hole to repair the leak.  One small problem- no leak.  Then I was informed - and I quote - "The leak must be in the floor just below the wall - because I defintely hear water running."  So, into my custom tile flooring went this huge hole.  Second small problem - no leak.  So, then I was informed by Paul that he needed to go and get another piece of equipment.  He returned an hour and half later!!!!!  So, with new equipment the hunt for the leak in my kitchen was on!  One hour later I was told we have found your leak.  So, one again, into my custom tile flooring a huge a** hole went.  Third small problem - no leak.  At that point I had enough!!!  I told no more holes in my floor!!!  So, Paul proceeded to tell me he would call a company called Leakbusters that have special equipment that allows them to find leaks without drilling holes in my floor.  I said - "and you are just telling me this now?!!"  So, Paul advised me he would call this company and found out how much they charge.  I agreed. 

In the mean time, I had to pick my children up from school, so I left my 20 year old son in the house with Paul while I picked up my other children.  My eldest son, only knew they were there to fix a leak and was unaware of the events of the day.  In the hour that I was gone, they drill 4 MORE HOLES into my custome tiled floor.  I walked into my home and nearly had a heart attack!!!  I wanted to go off on Paul who was not there - I was told he left to go get more concrete to fill all of the holes.  Needless to say, I was crazy mad!!!

Paul eventually returned and I demanded to know why I had the additional holes in my floor and he informed that Leakbusters was going to cost $600.00, so they decided to keep looking for the leak.  I told him to get out of my house.  Which he did but he returned 15 minutes with a bill.  Paul handed me my bill at 4:45, billing me for 7 hours. When I attempted to object to the number of hours I was billed, he became belligerent, raised his voice with my children in the house and began saying things to me like- if I had called Leak Busters they would have charged me $600.00 just to come to the house. Paul also said that I should just turn the bill into my home owners and have them reimburse me for the repair. Paul continued to go on and on actually yelling at me in my home. On his way out, he actually slammed my door so hard the framed mirror on the wall was shaking. I couldnt believe it!

I immediately left a voice mail on S.M. Betros voice mail, as well as faxing a letter to S.M. Betros describing exactly what had transpired.  Needless to say, eventhough NO permission was given by me for them to play a game of hunt and peck with my kitchen floor - I was basically informed by Larry - the supposed supervisor - TOO BAD!!  There was no concern that his employee had attempted to bill me Fraudently for hours that he was not at my home and no concern for the condition of my floor.

I even attempted to contact the owner of the company- Stephen Betros.  I sent him pictures of my floor and advised him of his empoyees behavior.  Big surprise - I was completely ignored.  You would think in this economy, small business owners would want to keep what customers they have.

So, to all of you in Jacksonville, Florida - BEWARE!!!!