- Report: #22835
Complaint Review: Rainforest Plumbing in Phoenix AZ - Phoenix Arizona
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Rainforest Plumbing in Phoenix AZ
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A.
Phone:
623-572-6614
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Rainforest Plumbing in Phoenix, AZ Rainforest plumbing in Phx, AZ **GROSSLY** overcharges Phoenix Arizona
In Jan 2002, I had what turned out to be a hot water line slab leak in my home. For the past few days I had heard some water dripping but couldn't find the leak but noticed moisture in my cabinets.
I talked to a friend of mine who does plumbing and he told me it sounded like I had a leak somewhere but his truck was broke so he couldn't come out and look at it. He said it can be serious though and to call somebody immediately.
I called my home warranty company who sent out Rainforest Plumbing the next day. I told them it was an emergency and that somebody had to come out ASAP.
The next evening, a plumber from Rainforest showed up. His name escapes me but he was a blond guy. He determined I had a hot water pipe leak somewhere and that he had to locate where the leak was. He pulled out my cabinet and countertop and drilled through the wall and found that the leak was actually under the slab.
He turned my water off and said he was going to have to use a jackhammer to get under the slab and get the leak. He got to the leak and repaired the pipe that had the hole in it.
This he said was all pretty standard for slab leaks. He was in my kitchen about 3 hours over all and my kitchen was tore up but I knew my homeowners insurance and home warranty combined would give me good coverage.
After everything was done the plumber left me a bill and asked me to sign it. I noticed it was for a high amount of $2200.00 and said to the guy I thought that bill was a little high and he said it was 1200.00 just to go in with the jackhammer.
I shouldn't have signed it but did. Me being a single female working in sales, I didn't know what was the going rate for this work was.
Nexy day I talked to my friend online who is a plumber and told him how much the bill was and he almost died! Said I was way overcharged by about $1000.00 and that Rainforest ripped me off.
I then called my dad who works in construction and has been doing it for 25 years, he almost had a coronary when I told him how much the bill was Rainforest left me. He was furious and called Rainforest the next day and spoke to the exact plumber who came out.
The man was nice to my dad and said he is just the messenger, the fees are set by the owner of the company, and he agreed with my dad the fees are a little high and that they knew this was going to an insurance company claim and thats how they make their money!!
My dad was mad and hung up and called back and left a message with the owner, who of course NEVER called back. They did however submit a 2200.00 claim to American Family Insurance.
My insurance adjustor wasn't happy as soon as he heard the word "Rainforest". He stated that this company charges way too much and that he has to fight with them everytime to get their bills reduced so he can pay them. He stated he wished people would call the insurance company first before calling Home Warranty or Rainforest directly because Rainforest charges way too much.
The adjustor recommended I call First American Home Warranty and let them know of Rainforest's rip off billing practices, which I did , to 2 different people. Who knows whether or not they still have a contract with Rainforest.
All in all, I was charged $1000.00 more than the going rate for a slab leak. Do NOT use Rainforest plumbing in Arizona.
Kim
Gilbert, Arizona
I talked to a friend of mine who does plumbing and he told me it sounded like I had a leak somewhere but his truck was broke so he couldn't come out and look at it. He said it can be serious though and to call somebody immediately.
I called my home warranty company who sent out Rainforest Plumbing the next day. I told them it was an emergency and that somebody had to come out ASAP.
The next evening, a plumber from Rainforest showed up. His name escapes me but he was a blond guy. He determined I had a hot water pipe leak somewhere and that he had to locate where the leak was. He pulled out my cabinet and countertop and drilled through the wall and found that the leak was actually under the slab.
He turned my water off and said he was going to have to use a jackhammer to get under the slab and get the leak. He got to the leak and repaired the pipe that had the hole in it.
This he said was all pretty standard for slab leaks. He was in my kitchen about 3 hours over all and my kitchen was tore up but I knew my homeowners insurance and home warranty combined would give me good coverage.
After everything was done the plumber left me a bill and asked me to sign it. I noticed it was for a high amount of $2200.00 and said to the guy I thought that bill was a little high and he said it was 1200.00 just to go in with the jackhammer.
I shouldn't have signed it but did. Me being a single female working in sales, I didn't know what was the going rate for this work was.
Nexy day I talked to my friend online who is a plumber and told him how much the bill was and he almost died! Said I was way overcharged by about $1000.00 and that Rainforest ripped me off.
I then called my dad who works in construction and has been doing it for 25 years, he almost had a coronary when I told him how much the bill was Rainforest left me. He was furious and called Rainforest the next day and spoke to the exact plumber who came out.
The man was nice to my dad and said he is just the messenger, the fees are set by the owner of the company, and he agreed with my dad the fees are a little high and that they knew this was going to an insurance company claim and thats how they make their money!!
My dad was mad and hung up and called back and left a message with the owner, who of course NEVER called back. They did however submit a 2200.00 claim to American Family Insurance.
My insurance adjustor wasn't happy as soon as he heard the word "Rainforest". He stated that this company charges way too much and that he has to fight with them everytime to get their bills reduced so he can pay them. He stated he wished people would call the insurance company first before calling Home Warranty or Rainforest directly because Rainforest charges way too much.
The adjustor recommended I call First American Home Warranty and let them know of Rainforest's rip off billing practices, which I did , to 2 different people. Who knows whether or not they still have a contract with Rainforest.
All in all, I was charged $1000.00 more than the going rate for a slab leak. Do NOT use Rainforest plumbing in Arizona.
Kim
Gilbert, Arizona
4 Updates & Rebuttals
John
Kamloops,British Columbia,
Canada
What was repairing the leak worth to you before the job was done?
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, October 12, 2004
It sounds to me like Rainforest Plumbing did a very good job at locating and fixing your water leak. Especially an in slab leak. Would you have complained about the price if they had taken more time, destroyed more of your floor and kitchen to have found your leak? Probably not> Why is it that every one fails to see the great value that this out fit offered. They minimized the damage and completed the job in good time. I guess they should take longer. Cause more destruction and not have as much experience. Then your happy paying the price because the time is justified. Your other plumber probably drives an old worn out truck because he doesn't know the cost of business. As for your dad, he may know a lot about construction. What does he know about running a plumbing service company?
Ike
Mesa,Arizona,
U.S.A.
I'm sorry.
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, June 04, 2003
I truly am sorry that your experience with us was so negative. Please accept my apology.
Kim
Gilbert,Arizona,
U.S.A.
umm...no Rainforest is a RIPOFF
#4Consumer Suggestion
Sun, June 01, 2003
This happened over a year ago and you are just now responding to this? Thank god you guys respond to your calls faster than that. My insurance adjuster is Frank Lovelace with American Family. Are you familiar with him? He is the one that specifically told me that you guys charge MUCH more than the going rate for a slab leak, and that he constantly has to ask you to go down on your prices. Along with my friend who does his own maintanence/plumbing company (I would have called him but his work truck was broke down) and he also did not agree with your price tag. A phone call was NOT..I repeat NOT returned from anyone at Rainforest when my father, who is also somewhat knowledable in this business since he's a superintendent and project manager for a large construction company out here, called and spoke to somebody there. Also, when I called the plumber who came out after my father blew up over the phone at the price, he told me "we are billing your insurane and that is how we make our money" kind of a funny thing to say when he knew I was unahppy about the price. All in all, my insurance paid your rip off bill, and yes the job was done, but you way overcharge.
Ike
Mesa,Arizona,
U.S.A.
RainForest Plumbing is an excellent company!
#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Sat, May 31, 2003
Like most businesses, RainForest Plumbing operates in a competetive environment. If our pricing is too high the customer would consider accepting a competitor's bid. On the contrary, our pricing is generally below market. The situation reported requires more attention to the specifics of the work that was done. Slab leak billings to insurance companies can vary in price just as the situation warrants depending on the magnitude of the work. Yes, they like to argue and negotiate prices down but that is their standard practice no matter what the price is. They are a participant in the American way of buying low and selling high. Slab leak repairs are not an easy task unless you have the many years of experience required to accurately locate the leak, jackhammer the foundation, excavate and make the repair. Some are quite easy (from our perspective) and can be done quicky. Still, I often pose this question: "Why should a plumber with a high investment in experience, time and equipment be paid less than an inexperienced one simply because he can do it faster?" Makes no sense whatsoever in this industry nor in any other. Slab leak repairs, inparticular, are a serious encroachment into the structural foundation of the home. Do you think a plumbing contractor should enter into the obligations required to support these actions for a long-long time without a price comensurate with the risk? Simply put, some can see the value in our services while a few consider plumbing service and repair to be worthy only of laborers pay. So, there is no -" here. Our aim is to satisfy the customer by both price and performance. Presently, we perform over 1,000 service calls per month with very few complaints. Not too bad when your dealing with the demands of a varied public. Still, when we do hear of dissatisfaction, we act on it immediately. Perhaps our response to Kim came after her/his posting. Whatever misunderstandings took place with Kim, we apologize completely and hope that by now, the situation is satisfactory. Sincerely,
