Atlantic Septic & Sewer Inc

Review: Prior to the purchase of our home we retained Altantic Septic & Sewer in June 2013 to perform an inspection of the property for a septic tank. There was knowledge that there had been a septic tank at one time on the property. Altantic Septic was paid $450 for the inspection and told us in writing that there was no septic tank. If there had been we would have negotiated remedy of the septic tank with the home owner/seller.

Following the purchase our home in July 2013 we retained a contractor to add an addition onto our home. Despite the results of the Septic Inspection Report the contractor was concerned that there was indeed a septic tank and found one not far from the house. Altantic Septic was contacted and a refund for the inspection was requested. Altantic Septic & Sewer is refusing to provide a refund stating that they did there best.Desired Settlement: $450.00

Court fees

Contractor fees for finding septic tank

Business

Response:

We are sorry that this customer is dissatisfied with our service. We were hired to find a septic tank for the buyers, that the previous owners had no records of when they purchased the house. We contacted the local health department to see if there was any records of a septic system. They had nothing on file for this property. We then set up a date and time to meet with the realtor at the property and did a full grid search and probed the property by hand. At that time there was a section of the property that was inhabitable and could not be accessed. We where not hired to excavate the property with a machine, which could have also been done. After the customer purchased the house a contractor located an abandoned septic tank in the inhabitable area. Please note that by code the septic tank is to be located within 10 feet from the house. This tank was located approximately 15 to 20 feet away from the house and oddly enough the only area that was dug was right where this tank was located. It appears to us that someone may have had prior knowledge as to the location of this tank. We are not trying to do any injustice to this customer, however we hired to do a grid search and administrative search with the local authorities. We told the customer prior to going to the property that there where no guarantees considering the circumstances. When you are trying to locate an abandoned tank the pipes coming from the house are usually removed and the tank is filled with sand and/or crushed. There is supposed to be a permit taken out with the local health department and inspected to ensure it is done correctly. There are cases when home owners do this illegally. In this instance the system was not to code as far as location. So it is very hard to find without excavating the property. We are terribly sorry that this accord but in a case like this, when you go to a property with no prior knowledge of a system and its not up to code there is only so much you can do without excavating the property.