B.F. Murphy Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does not satisfy or resolve my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint # ***Please add your rejection comments below.
We
had already paid the deposit when we asked about the demoOur carpenter had waited
for their availability and had other work he needed to beginPer the contract
we could only cancel if both parties agreedWe were being flexible to keep the
job moving forward
We
did not expect the plumber to demo the tile and floorWe asked if he could
remove the fixtures themselves and dispose of themWe offered to pay them to
do that and were told that they would not
When
they spoke with *** about the missing part, he reminded *** that we had sent
the list of parts, and she had emailed that we would be “all set.” We were
never told that the company was unable to open the list*** was also told that
the part would cost $60-70, not more than twice that at $We had no choice
but for them to get the part, as work was at a standstill without it, in spite
of our attempt to avoid exactly that kind of issue
We
accepted the extra demolition cost as a lack of communicationHowever, since
we are not contractors or plumbers, like Mr***, we had no way of knowing that
the toilet could not be moved to a 12” rough without an additional permit or
anyone other than a plumberWe hired an experienced plumber to do work that he
said was “straightforward” but that his company first did incorrectlyAgain, the
only reason it got fixed was because we noticed it and complained that it
needed to be moved againWe were angrily told that the floor joist needed to
be cut and re-supported, that this could only be done with a building permit,
and by a licensed carpenterOur carpenter was able to make it happen, at
additional cost to usIt seems to be Mr*** opinion that as the plumber
contracted to do the work, it was not his responsibility to tell us what he
needed to get the job done.This
business owner continues to demonstrate his disinterest in resolving customer
issuesIt is very upsetting that instead of accepting any responsibility for his
lack of communication and poor work, he continues to blame the consumer and
threaten legal action.
Regards,
*** ***

B.FMurphy Plumbing and heating Inc has been in business since Mr *** himself along with other employees were on this job*** never once called us to say that she was unhappy in any wayWe did see her husband on some occasions and also never had any complaintsWe were hired to
install owner supplied fixtures in *** ***’s bathroom and to bring the plumbing up to code and to allow for a 12” rough toiletWe have a contract, (copy enclosed), signed by *** ***It also states that permits are additionalThere were two additions to the contractOne was the plumbing permit*** knew that she had to pay for the City of Beverly permitAnd the other was for the tub drain that *** hadn’t purchased(What *** purchased was a trip lever trim.) We called her husband told him that *** Plumbing was right down the street and that we could get the partHe said that would be fine and this is what we didWe did exactly what we said we would do and had a rough and a final inspection by the City of Beverly Plumbing inspector and everything was approved***, in her letter to you said that her contractor hadn’t included demo in his contractPlumbers don’t usually do the demoB.FMurphy hires a demo company in some instancesI don’t know why she thought the plumber would take down the walls around the tub or take up the tile floor? That is the job of a demo company or a carpenterHer contractor had forgotten demo in his quoteWhy didn’t she have him do the demo and then refuse to pay him? When the question came up about demo, no work had begunIf *** was upset with our quote, she could have canceled our job right thenThere was a payment schedule and she paid the first installments, with no complaints, and now she wants to keep the remaining balanceThis plan to not pay her bill in full was conceived by her prior to our even beginning the work***’s letter to you is misleading because items are not in orderDiscussions of her fixtures did not take place during the time the work was being performed, they happened before we had even giving her our quoteAnd we could not access the lists of materials she sent because it was a private linkWe emailed and told her thisA floor joists had to be moved and “headed off” by the contractor (carpenter) before the piping could be exactly 12” for the toiletA licensed carpenter is the only person who can cut a floor joistThe shower valve ws where it typically goesThe contractor (carpenter) will tell the plumber if it needs to be moved depending on the thickness of the material he plans to use on the shower wallsThe licensed carpenter is the person who cuts floor joists and of course when you move a toilet back several inches the original hole in the floor had to filled inAgain this is the carpenter’s job*** had a quote for an entire bathroom job from *** Kitchen and BathB.FMurphy Plumbing and Heating is the plumber that *** usesThis is why she called themI think she is confusing the services *** was going to supply with what she contracted B.FMurphy ot doShe said that we didn’t tell her she needed other permitsThat is not the job of the plumberBut she is lying, *** *** did tell her that she needed a building permitHe and his office personal even called the contractor several times to remind him that he needed permitsWe told her we would get the plumbing permitHer contractor knowingly didn’t get the required permits that are required in MassachusettsB.FMurphy did exactly what they were contracted to doOur contract states “no cutting, digging and patching” and permits are extra*** became her own General Contractor when she hired different companies to do specific parts of the bathroomHer contractor (carpenter) didn’t include everything that a contractor should includeThe items that he didn’t include became “extras”She should not have paid him for his omissions, or realized that these items were truly “extras” that she needed to mayWe hope that you agree that *** should pay her bill in full immediately

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does not satisfy or resolve my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint # [redacted]. Please add your rejection comments below. 
This business owner continues to misinform the Revdex.com and to miss the point. We are withholding the cost for our carpenter to make it possible for the plumbing company to do what we hired them to do. The carpenter’s contract did include demolition, of the floor and walls—which were his responsibility and why he got a permit for that. We did not need a building permit, until we were told that the floor joist needed to be cut. Perhaps the business owner is unaware that we did ask about demo before the job started, which is when we had to arrange for the plumbing fixtures to be removed and disposed of—oddly, by someone other than our plumber.  Again, the business owner suggests that we “forgot” to purchase a necessary part. Again, we repeat that we did not know what was needed. We asked both he and his office manager what was needed. We followed up with a specific list and were told we should be “all set.” We also asked if there were any other costs not included in the estimate. The issue is not that we were trying to be our own contractor. The issue is that this business owner did not communicate with us until he thought he was going to lose one sixth the cost of the job. He was not motivated to explain the details of the job, what items we needed to purchase for it, or that our carpenter should be there. In this last Revdex.com response the business owner states “there was no way of telling from the basement if we could get all the needed space without moving the floor joist. It wasn't until the floor is opened up that we knew it had to be moved slightly. A plumber can't move it. The LICENSED carpenter had to do it. Things like this happen in remodeling older homes.  It is called an "extra". It was an unknown until the floor was opened.” This is the FIRST time he said this and is exactly why we met with him prior to choosing his company. We thought it might be complicated, but not being plumbers how would we know? So, telling us it is a “straightforward job” and then calling $500 extra MY omission simply does not make sense. Again, we are not plumbers, we acted in good faith, and we asked every conceivable question. It is not our responsibility to intuit something that he knew was likely but did not communicate to us.  Again, all of this transpired after their worker moved the drain to the wrong spot, a placement that was not in the contract. It is interesting to think about what would have happened if I had not noticed the closeness of the drain to the wall. I imagine that would have been my fault, too. The purpose of the contract seems to be to insure payment, regardless of the work done, and certainly in lieu of positive, kind, or even honest customer service.    
Regards,
[redacted]

6/30/2016Revdex.com complaint [redacted]In her last sentence [redacted], says that the plumber should take responsibility. We what about [redacted] taking some responsibility. She wanted to be her own general contractor and she left some things out.Neither the plumbing contract or the Carpenter's contract had demo. She should have asked about this before the job started. And the trip waste (the part she hadn't purchased) is a necessary part. It did cost between $60-70. It was the Satin nickle trim that was needed for the finish that was more costly. If she had purchased these items at home depot it would have cost her the exact same amount. She forgot to buy them. Why should she not have to pay for them now?In her paragraph #5 She says she accepted the cost of the demo. Why is it that she's holding the demo amount from us? Again she was a novice general contractor. She needs to accept responsibility for her omissions and pay her bills.She wanted the toilet moved back. there was no way of telling from the basement if we could get all the needed space without moving the floor joist. It wasn't until the floor is opened up that we knew it had to be moved slightly. A plumber can't move it. The LICENSED carpenter had to do it. Things like this happen in remodeling older homes.  It is called an "extra". It was an unknown until the floor was opened.  [redacted] should accept this and pay for it. She knew all along that the plumber gets his permit and that the carpenter has to get the building permit. We told her, her husband, and her carpenter several times that the City of Beverly would be requiring a Building permit. It is not our job to warn her carpenter to get a permit. Her carpenter should have known this and gotten at the beginning of the job.  She is lying that she didn't know. She also was told that her list of parts was not able to be seen. But the additional part would have cost her the same it cost us. We did exactly what our contract stated. It was done correctly. It was inspected. [redacted] needs to take responsibility and pay her bill.Sincerely,    B. F. Murphy