American Irrigation Services Reviews (%countItem)
American Irrigation Services Rating
Address: 4102 Welcome Home Rd, Plant City, Florida, United States, 33565-3695
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An inept technician spent 7 hrs trying to repair my system. I was NOT made aware of $90/hr. Left w/ the system in disrepair but required total payment
This company was contacted to check my irrigation system/pump which was not working. A young technician arrived around noon and spent hours working and calling multiple others (including the owner of this company, Steve). He NEVER mentioned to me that he was charging BY THE HOUR (later found out, $90/hour). He finally gave up, and my system was left in disrepair AND NOT FUNCTIONAL. I had explained that it was critical due to the drought and my expensive landscape/shrubbery was dying from lack of water. The technician stated that although it was not "fair" since my system was not working, he had to present a service charge bill. After speaking with the owner, he presented me with a bill for OVER $832.00 ($630 for labor and $202.50 for parts) for the work EVEN though my system did not work. I spoke with the company owner (Steve) and offered to pay a portion of the bill, and the rest once the job was complete and working. He argued that he would ONLY accept the payment in full since the technician had been here for those hours. I told him that I was WITH HIM the whole time and the guy actually asked me to be there to help (loosen fittings, hold water hose, turn sprinklers off and on, hold light, etc). I spent my WHOLE FRIDAY with him. I thought that he was being responsible and would charge for the jobNO IDEA IT WAS BY THE HOUR ! The technician told me that if I did not pay the bill in full (when I offered to pay half), that the owner would FIRE him. It felt entirely that I have been taken advantage of with this hourly excessive charge. Had I known this, I would have asked him to leave when he was not solving the problem. I asked the owner WHY he didn't come out to assist when he realized that the Tech was struggling, and that he was responsible. He was totally unreasonable. The motto of this company supposedly is, "Honesty, Integrity, Quality and Service is #1". In my opinion, they have failed miserably on ALL FOUR of these promises to their customers. The owner made NO guarantees or offers to come back to fix my problem at all. All that he was interested in was getting the check for over $830 which I signed "Under Duress". Also, I refused to sign the invoice which states that, "By signing, I accept this invoice and am satisfied with the work performed. 90 day warranty on parts and labor." The technician was named Brett and the Owner is Steve. I would NEVER use this company again, and will discourage others from doing so as I feel that this was a great disservice and that the owner was totally unreasonable when I expressed my concerns about the charges when my problem remaineds and my service not restored. NOW, I will be forced to spend more money bringing in another company to repair the system and fix the problems that they have left undone.
There should be a significant reduction in the service charge when a job is left in disrepair. This service charge if by the hour should be explained BY THE TECHNICIAN upon arrival to the customer. They need to REPAIR my system as promised on the invoice as "90 day warranty on parts and labor" instead of leaving my system unfinished. There are holes left open in my yard.
June 5, 2017
To Whom It May Concern: Case #XXXXXXXX
On April 27 *** called to schedule an appointment, we explained our pricing in detail as we do to every customer, and he scheduled an appointment for May 11,2017 arrival window of 11am to 2pm.
That day the technician ran 20 minutes behind schedule due to a previous call taking longer than
expected (as with this customer we stay as long as we can, you never know what you are going to find
until you arrive) so at 2:18 pm we receive a text from ***n stating "Your people were a no call, no
show! Disappointedl Wasted my time waiting." This text came as the technician was on his way; he had
called but no answer so he was driving there. I texted back saying he is trying to reach you. Finally Steve reached him and *** said he wanted to reschedule, so we texted him our next availability which was Friday May 26th with a of arrival window of 12 pm to 3 pm, Brett arrived at 12:30 pm. When Brett arrived *** was not present but Mr. was. He found his pump was not primed so he began diagnosing the problem he found that they had been trying to prime on the discharge side not the suction side, the home owner even though the suction side was the discharge side someone had piped it in backwards prior to our arrival. Had to correct and re-pipe suction and discharge properly then began to try to prime with a 5 hp centrifugal pump that was 140' to the water and approximately a 15' lift, it takes a long time to prime with such a deficit. He began priming pump and worked on it for a while then began walking the path of the suction pipe looking for leaks because it seemed to be taking longer than it should. Found a leak at a 2.5 in union near the water's edge that was installed improperly without any thread sealant. He had to sever the suction pipe so the homeowner asked him to push it out further in the water. To do that for Mr. he had to go purchase parts and 2.5 inch P.V.C., we carry up to 2" on the trucks, very seldom do we need anything larger. Brett called Steve to see if ft would be ok to go purchase the pipe, he did explain to Steve why and what he was doing, Steve called our supplier to arrange him picking it up. At this point it's getting late so he added the 20' of 2.5 inch pipe and coupling in place of the union at home owner's request. Then began priming the pump again which again takes a while. After not priming, talked to homeowner about running a new suction line to insure the suction line integrity. At homeowner's request he switched to a submersible pump, a temporary fix, it's not ideal for the pump to keep cycling. Then piped it into the existing sprinkler system to get some water on his dying landscaping. Brett told the home owner since it was dark he would leave ditch open assuming we would be back and he fixed 1 sprinkler head.
Went to collect for time and material for work done and the homeowner did not want to pay full
amount, he thought all the work done up to that point was so that we could provide him an estimate to repair his sprinkler system.
Unfortunately we cannot afford to work for free, (from arrival time of 12:30 pm to 10:30 pm when Mr.
*** finally paid him and let him leave) we only invoiced him for 7 hours labor and parts (did not charge him for time to run to supplier and back). We do charge for labor and material as explained to *** when he scheduled the appointment, it is unfortunate that he has so many existing problems. It is a 5 acre property and is a large task not a quick fix. He argued back and forth with Brett, Brett got Steve on the phone and asked Steve to talk to homeowner (He told Steve it was not his problem to pay our employees. He thought we were doing all this to provide an estimate to repair his sprinkler system and that he had connections at channels news if we didn't accommodate him), after going back and forth it is now 10:30 pm and Brett which is on the clock is still standing there trying to be paid for services rendered. Finally he paid him and let him leave. On the following Tuesday he texted Steve at 4:30 pm that there was a broke pipe and we needed to come out that night to fix it. Steve replied that he would send Brett there at 8:00 am the next morning. Upon arrival that morning there was another company there working on the pump/sprinklers. Brett arrived to fine customer did not have water to his house,
Brett went ahead and fixed it for him at no charge even though it was not warranty at all, never
touched that area and did not charge him for the 1.5 hours Brett took to repair for him. Mr. asked him to fix his sprinklers while he was there, after all he put us thru we did not feel it is in the best interest for him or our company to continue a working relationship, and he had another company there so we felt best to let them do the job he called them out to do.
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
First, there are numerous inaccuracies in the statement by Steve (Owner). First, for all of the comments about my system and what was done, he is speaking 2nd hand as HE NEVER HAS STEPPED ONTO MY PROPERTY. *** states that he was never told of the $90/hr charge AND that he was told that the owner would Personally come out to do the work. Instead he sent the youngster (Brett). At any rate, I (as homeowner) was NEVER told of this ridiculous rate. Secondly, the discharge/suction pipes on my pump WERE NOT improperly installed prior to their arrival. My system had worked properly for years prior. Brett DID NOT change anything on the suction side. Meantime, Brett actually asked ***n (who was present) to go to purchase a Brass Valve at Home Depot. HE CHARGED THE SERVICE CHARGE FOR THIS TIME AS WELL WHEN HE WAS DOING NOTHING ! It was only when I suggested that there might be a leak that he found one at the pond. After working literally for hours pouring water into the Primer, I asked if he could connect my submersible pump to the system so that I could at least get some water to my dying landscaping shrubbery. He did so, but installed a expandable joint but did not fully expand it. When the system was turned on, it caused a break in a t-joint downstream lending my system again inoperable. THIS PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY BRETT. At the end of the night, he left the ditch open and my irrigation was still not working. This was a Friday before a 3 day Holiday weekend. Brett felt so badly that he even offered to come back ON HIS OWN TIME on Memorial Day to try to help me get my system going ! (He did not come.) That Tuesday, I contacted Steve and told him of the issue at XXX-XXX-XXXX. This was his reply to my text asking for him to honor his promise of 90 day warranty.I can provide a transcript of our texts. "You will not browbeat me. You were only charge for the services that were rendered...". I explained that I was not browbeatingonly asking for the service I paid for. There are many inaccuracies in the statement by Steve which he would have known IF he had come to my property as he had initially promised OR as any honest serviceman would do in realizing that his rep was over his head. Instead, I OVERHEARD a conversation at the end of the evening in which Steve was praising Brett I am sure for "MILKING" the hours in order to charge me such an exorbitant fee. No one ever asked him to do work for free. I was simply asking for consideration to defer payment in full until once the job was completed. However, Steve NEVER intended to come back here. Otherwise, he would not have waited for me to call him back. A reputable owner would have been back ASAP to fix the job as promised. Brett was embarrassed due to the situation but told me that he would be fired if I did not pay in full. Otherwise, I would NOT have paid the check and signed UNDER DURESS. I feel that Steve is of a character that he encourages "Milking" of the hours in order to generate large charges (Especially when they saw that I have a large property). Imagine that that are dozens more customers that he has done this to since only a few take the time and effort to try to expose him especially since he tries to intimidate customers and apparently threatens his employees . NOW, he has also negated is "90 days warranty" bsy stating that he cannot continue "a working relationship" with me as if I would want him to. I had to pay an additional >$500 to *** to correct the problems caused by Brett and repair the system properly. The priming issue that he claimed took hours was accomplished in about 10 minutes. Mr. F can provide a statement as to the issues that he found when repairing my system. He was appalled that a service would charge this amount for the job which was NOT repaired. I can send/attach a copy of this invoice documenting my charges. The sprinkler heads have still never been adjusted. I would be vindicated if American Irrigation refunds $415 to me to help cover the additional repair costs that they were unwilling/unable to complete. Based on my experience with Steve, he will keep the $832 that he charged me with no responsibilities on his behalf to make me whole. I believe him to be unethical, intimidating to customers and the most appalling example of poor customer service that I have ever encountered. I would NEVER, in good conscience, refer any of my friends or associates to this company as long as he is in charge, and will make sure to express these opinions as to how he has treated me. I hope to warn others about this company and trust that the Revdex.com will do the same in it's function to expose owners/companies such as this one to the general public.
From: American Irrigation Services LLC
Case#XXXXXXXX
Date 6/26/17
To Whom It May Concern: Calling someone inept, threatening to slander and harm a person/company's reputation, attacking ones character is what we have received from this customer thus far. We have explained what and why we have taken the steps to correct the irrigation system and we spent 10 hours (only charged for 7 hours) on May 26th doing what necessary to help this customer, then returned on May 30th for 1.5 hours plus parts and repaired a pipe that we had never even touched to accommodate the customer's demands. They system needed more work to be done and we would have rescheduled to go back but when it was time to collect for services rendered on the 26th and the homeowner did not want to pay things took a different turn in which made us uncomfortable to plan to go back. We have given 4.5 hours in total labor for free to this customer plus the parts to fix the broken pipe on the 30th. That is approximately a $425.00 value. We cannot afford to give him more money.