Doc's Sewer & Water

Review: Doc's Sewer and Water performed a scope on my sewage line at my residence when I was not home. After performing the scope(took 10 minutes), they did not leave a detailed description or dvd of the scope.They charged us $250.00, and ripped us off!! Two of their competitors gave us the same scope for free?? My wife and I were charged $450.00, and I would like a refund of $250 for the scope.Desired Settlement: Refund of $250.00

Business

Response:

I am [redacted] of Doc's Sewer & Water CO. and I would like to start by explaining theservice we performed.On July 161h, 2015 we were asked to go to Mr. [redacted] home as he had a backup of sewage in hishome. My two men arrived and evaluated the situation and then looked for the septic tank to open andview the water level. It was normal and next they tried water jetting from inside of the septic tank tothe home. NOTE: There was no clean out visible inside of the home, it was all carpeted. At about 10:19AM the line of the blockage broke loose and flowed into the tank along with sewage and a lot of stones,rock and clay. This indicated a brake in the line and forest told the wife there appears to be a brake inthe line and without a camera and locator we cou ld not be sure of its location. She was told is was$250.00 and gave us permission to continue and camera the line.My men then proceeded to change equipment from pipe cleaning to the camera and locate theproblem . For this they had to go inside of the home again and tried to find a clean out with no luck.Finally they opened the clean out at the laundry tray and put the camera in the sewer line. The camerahas a radio transmitter in the head that allows us to trace its actual location. They pushed the cameraand seen a buried clean out under the carpet. They first located the camera head as close as possible.This being under dirt, concrete in a metal pipe. Then by hand they felt for the clean out coverapproximately 5" in diameter. We asked Mr. [redacted]'s wife is she would like us to cut the carpetand she said yes.My men they cut an "X" and exposed the buried clean out for future use. After we pushed the camerafarther we seen the brake in the outside pipe was down about 1/3 of the pipe.Please note that Mr. [redacted] letter of August 12, 2015 he stated the discharge pipe was not broken;It was lifted off of a joint.Pipe does not lift its setting and no pipe can move unless it is broken in some place. It broke and I don'tknow how he saw a rock on the outside viewing the pipe when the camera is inside. This break waslocated in a tough location.Being exactly under the footing Forest took time to precisely try to locate because it makes a greatdifference in the repair.Meaning outside would require and excavation and replacing the line between home and tankInside requires breaking concrete and removing pipe, excavate, tunnel footing and removal of carpet.Install new building drain, new pipe and repair concrete floor. We found an outside repair is bestprovided the existing pipe is not rotted under the footings. All this was explained to Mr. [redacted]'swife and we left the job.As far as recording the scope it was not necessary. It was not asked for and would of have cost moreand required other equipment which we have when requested .As far as doing it for free???? I don't know of a company around that works for free and I called S & KPlumbing, Blau Plumbing, Master Plumber and all of them laughed at me for my low price. They havean extra trip charge, extra man charge and cost for each piece of equipment.I enclosed priced out a package of equipment not even including hand tools and a truck out of aplumbing magazine recently and not just the basic equipment came to $28.000. I feel $250 .00 forequipment and knowledge of two plumbers to locate and figure out the problems was cheap and thenagain I cannot not imagine a company doing it for free.That just does not make sense and he admits we found the problem and location. Why do you needtwo more people to tell you yes you have a broken pipe? We even offered to give him cred it for the$250.00 if we did the repair.I feel that we:1. The line was opened2. The problem was located and told to the owner3. We were okayed by owner's wi fe to do this work at the price that she was given.Therefore I will not go down in our pricing. The only reason we obtain from MR. [redacted] is that hedoes not want to pay for the actual work that was performed.Common sense and logic backs me along with 40 years in business not just" You don't feel you owe it."We more than did our share to resolve the problem at hand and feel we were justified to the amountcharged Mr. [redacted].

We had a sewer PVC pipe crack on the outside of our house leading to a septic tank. Docs put on a new pipe connection. However, with all the rain this summer, we started seeing some water drips inside the foundation from beneath the pipe. When we dug out around the pipe on the outside wall ourselves to check how the pipe was sealed, we got quite a shock. The pipe was intact, but there was no pipe sealant. The worker had stuffed plastic sheeting around the pipe and shoved/packed clay soil around the outside hole next to the wall on top of the plastic. My advice in the future would be to have them show you their work before they backfill. A mistake on our part.

Review: I contracted with Doc's to install sewer and water laterals. Contract was for $5,625.

Contract stated that if extra ordinary ground conditions are encountered they would be billed at time and material.

Contractor knowing that there was a high probability of encountering bed rock with excavating, started work in the basement on June 18th 2013. Busting up the floor from back of basement to front and removed floor drain.

After floor was busted up, contractor began excavating but almost immediately had to stop due to mechanical issues with his back hoe.

Next day contractor returned with another back hoe, but again encountered mechanical issues which cause work stoppage again.

After I returned home on June the 20th about 4 pm, I met the contractors in the front yard as they were filling back in the trench they had started. The site foreman later came in the back yard to tell me they were pulling out. He told me "[redacted]" would be getting back to me with a new estimate. He also told me he did not understand why "[redacted]" bid the job because he had watched the contractors who ran the sewer along the street the previous year and knew there was issues with bed rock.

On the 28th of June I got a new estimate which now was for $15,375 with no explanation how the extra $9,750 was arrived at. (They did not excavate down the length of the job. They went out only about 15 feet from the house.

I spoke with [redacted] (?) on the phone, who is apparently "[redacted]. When I told her I thought the estimate was too high she told me she would send me another estimate for terminating the job and refilling and cementing the trench in my basement. I explained to her that my wife was very sick with [redacted] and immune compromised from treatments. I emphasized my health and safety concerns over the trench in basement and standing water. We also have to climb over a pile of rubble to access washer and dryer to do laundry. She did not respond to those concerns other than saying she would send a new bid. To this date I still have not received a new estimate for terminating the job.

I called Doc's office on July the 5th. I was told by the lady answering the phone that "everyone" is on vacation till July the 15th.

In the mean time I contacted the city of [redacted] to ask for a ten year exclusion from hooking up to the sewer and water. Reason for request was the $9,750 increase in Doc's estimate and expenses relating to my wifes health issues.

I was finally able to contact [redacted] on July 15th and discussed issues with him including health and safety concerns over the condition the basement was left in. The next day, Tuesday July 16th I again tried to contact [redacted] to let him know I had indeed gotten a ten year exclusion from hooking up to the sewer and water. His [redacted] answered and told me [redacted] was out of the office but she would have him call me later that day. He never did call me back, so I finally called his office on Friday July 19th. I was able to reach him that day and he explained he was not able to get back to me because their computers were down? After letting him know I had the exclusion he told me he would get a new estimate out to me that would be for finishing the plumbing that's in the trench in the basement and getting it okayed for future sewer use. I again voiced by concerns for mine and my wifes health and safety. To this day I have not received any new bids or estimates from Doc's. My basement remains tore up and dangerous to navigate. I did a Radon Test during this time that came back extremely high. Radon gas is known to cause lung cancer and comes up from the ground thru openings. It's my belief that this level is high due to the large opening Doc created. In addition Doc has seen fit to leave a very large trench brace right in my front yard. It is an eyesore and we are unable to enjoy or use our front yard.Desired Settlement: I expect Doc's to act responsibly and immediately provide a new and fair prorated estimate for finishing the plumbing in the basement trench, pass inspection and cover with new concrete. I also expect the trench brace be removed immediately. Upon reaching an agreement on work and cost I expect work to be done as soon as possible and in a timely fashion. I also would like an apology to me an my wife for the hardship and inconvenience they have caused. I also believe this new estimate should take into consideration all the inconveniences and hardships not to mention anxiety they have directly caused.

Business

Response:

August 8th, 2013

TO: RevDex.com

FROM: [redacted]

SUBJECT: Complaint

ID [redacted]

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: