Complaint Review: Benjamin Franklin Plumbing - Internet Internet

You must not have read my entire complaint before commenting. You missed a lot.

1) Yes, I had to wait on him. And no, they still made me pay the service fee, which is fine. I called them and they came out.

2) Exactly and the professionally dressed, expensive plumber was not qualified to replace it.

3a) Maybe the new plumber did exaggerate but the rip off plumber did not even touch my hot water heater when he made the assumption that it was the gas valve. Hint in my complaint: he just looked at the water heater and said its out of warranty and that it was the gas assembly that was bad. Like he can see through the thing.

3b) You are right but isnt that what the service fee is for? I paid that... $39

4) Oh I understand they are in the business to make money. Everyone is. But when you highly overcharge people, no matter what business youre in, its unethical and is called price gauging.

5) The manufacturer did refer me to the authorized service dealer which happened to be the honest plumber (go figure!). The Benjamin Franklin plumber was not authorized and when he talked to the manufacturer and they told him he was not authorized to fix it he got mad and started intimidating me stating that I would have to pay all these extra fees if he didnt replace it.  And yes , the manufacturer shipped my part to me for free.

6) When he made his assumption that it was the gas assembly he had not taken not one screw off the water heater. Can you just look at the water heater and know it is the gas assembly or do you actually have to look inside? Heck, I dont make the big bucks so I am not sure if thats the norm.

7) Glad I called the certified plumber that my manufacturer recommended. He only charged me $25 to install. You big dollar plumbers can get your business elsewhere cause I am not buying.

1. In the beginning of your complaint, you stated: "When the tech FINALLY got there..." Really, do you have a complaint on the arrival time of the tech? There slogan is: "If there is any delay, its you we pay.." If you really have a complaint with the arrival, then your service would be practically free.

2. I'm guessing your water heater is by Rheem. Either its branded Rheem or GE. Rheem water heaters have a small vial which is a thermal shutoff device. They are only shipped directly from Rheem/GE who requires that only their authorized service providers install it.

3a. $60 for a gas valve and 5 minutes to install? Really, the cost of material/parts in a job is irrelevant. You are paying for labor and overheat expenses by the plumbing company. I am a licensed NYC plumber and more than qualified to say that it takes longer than 5 minutes to replace the gas valve. To protect the property, the tank needs to be drained first and then the gas valve removed. Regardless of draining the tank, to replace the gas valve and test, you need a minimum of 20 minutes. Factor in the draining of the tank and your looking at an hour. Seriously, 5 minutes? Are you interested in buying a bridge?

3b. What about travel time? Do you think that time the tech takes to arrive to your property is free?

4. Plumbing companies are in business to make money. Not lose money. Pennysaver plumbing contractors are exactly those. They have no idea what to bill in order to generate revenue, pay overheat, pay labor, pay for continued education and make a profit.

5. If the tank was under warranty, then why didn't they refer you to an authorized service provider and ship you the parts?

6. Plumbers are not perfect and make mistakes. Unless you are really experienced with water heaters that have a thermal device, the tank will behave like the gas valve is bad. Its a common mistake which I see frequently. However, if the tech was allowed to proceed without your two cents, he would have discovered this error and would have taken corrective action. You prevented this. 

7. Anode rod. Same principal. Your water heater is aged. Since you decided to repair the heater, you were given a recommendation to replace the anode rod which will extend the life of your heater. $179 or $279, again, the price of the part is irrelevant. 

My entire complaint was based on the fact that this "professionally dressed technician" tried to sale me an entirely new hot water heater when I did NOT need one. The other HONEST plumber I had come to my home was not in an expensive uniform (dressed nicely but not in a uniform) but you know what? He treated me like a human being; with respect. He did not try to intimidate me nor did he lie straight to my face. So yes, I was mad and I had a right to be. You may drive an expensive car and live in an expensive home but I am a normal, average middle-class person who deserves to be treated fairly, not ripped off just because some big company needs to pay for fancy uniforms and 6000 square foot homes for their arrogant/cocky technicians. And you notice that Benjamin Franklin had nothing to say about it. They are wrong, they know it. The public deserves to know. It is America after all. God Bless :)

Had a professional plumber in your home and you think you were ripped off?

I use RipOffReport frequently prior to making any large purchase and being in the Plumbing & HVAC profesion my searches today brought me to Plumbing related complaints. Its amazing how most of the complaints or not for letting a disgusting dirty plumber into your homes, but instead of having a PROFESSIONAL come into your home to perform service. In the dozens of complaints I read this evening, not one commented on the appearance of the TECHNICIAN. My guess is that the technician was in a clean uniform.

Being a professional commands a higer rate of salary. As a professional Plumbing and HVAC Technician, do I not deserve to live in a nice home, support my family comfortably, and drive luxury cars? I firmly believe I do and the quality of service my company produces commands it as well. That is the reason I live in a 8500 sq. ft. house and drive fast Italian cars.

I am not a owner, but just a technician. Technically, I am the Service Department Manager. I command a salary similar to doctors and lawyers. I have more education, certification, and training than most lawyers do. I wake up at 3am to give families heat, clear their only toilet of all the waste that clogged, and crawl under homes to make repairs. I personally know a surgeons and lawyers who live at the same comfort level I do.

My company is a flat rate company. It is designed to save the customer money and make the company money. NO COMPANY WANTS TO LOSE MONEY! When I charge $361 to rebuld all the mechanical componets of a toilet, I guarantee that toilet. I will re-appear if god forbid it leaks at 6am.

My company gives the price upfront and the customer signs in writing prior to work beginning. We arrive when scheduled and GUARANTEE ALL WORK!

I personally performed $622K in gross sales last year in 49 weeks working an average of 60 hours per week. I am one technician out of 22. All without a single complaint. A large percentage of that revenue goes towards overhead, not compensation for employees. Picture a multi-million dollar company that pays on top of salary, $45K per employee for taxes, insurance, education, training, licensing, etc.

So the next time you call a plumber, if you want to nickel and dime call the dirty, unprofessional plumber in the pennysaver. If you want a plumber who is clean, prompt, courteous, and professional expect to pay for such.

No, $300 per hour is not excessive. You are insane if you think you can get a price over the phone. Get Home Depot or Lowes to come back if there is a problem. I fix THEIR PROBLEMS! $450 for only 57 minutes? It would take most homewoners an entire weekend something I can do in 10 minutes. If I could pay for more hours in a day I would.

Questions, comments, or concerns, please make comments below.

GOOD EVENING AMERICA AND GOD BLESS.

Mike The Plumber