Jatco Water Systems

Review: In March 2013, I contracted with [redacted] at JATCO Water Systems to rebuild our existing water filtration system in order to eliminate the orange color in our water caused by the iron content in our well water. Within two weeks of file completion of this work, it was evident that the filter was not working properly because I had orange water again.

[redacted] requested that I remove the water conditioning pipe that had been in use for a year, and I did so. I still had orange water. [redacted] then diagnosed the problem as iron bacteria. He put bleach in our well. Afterwards, I still had orange water. He then told me that I needed to install an air injection system or part that would cost about $1600 to deal with file iron bacteria.

After doing my own research about iron bacteria, I felt fairly certain that iron bacteria was not the problem. In mid-June, I called JATCO to discuss the fact that I still had orange water. [redacted] took my call. I told her that both the filtered and unfiltered water were the same orange color. She told me that they had already spent a lot of time on this. I had a broken down system and until I accepted their solution (air injection) there was nothing else they could or would be willing to do.

After consulting with a number of filtration companies, in July I contracted with

[redacted] at [redacted] Filtration. He removed the medium used by JATCO.- Filter AG, which is used primarily to remove sediment and dirt and is not known to be effective for dealing with iron/ orange water. [redacted] replaced that medium

with Pryolox at the end of July 2013. I've had clear, orange-free water ever since.

Desired Settlement: QuesHon: Was [redacted] just incompetent or was he trying to con an elderly woman into spending additional money to solve a problem that didn't actually exist? (Especially considering file fact that [redacted] actually solved the problem

for half the initial cost charged by JATCO.)

I paid for services that were not necessary, adequate or effective. I believe I'm due a refund.

$1,490.67

Business

Response:

Initial Business Response

This is in response to the letter I received 10-23-13 concerning the complaint

of [redacted].

After reading the complaint that the Revdex.com sent us I would like to respond.

The system that they had out there was not working properly & needed

rebuilding. We gave them a proposal for that & did the work. We had gone

out there numerous times to get the unit dialed in. We did suggest some

other options which they declined. There are a few different ways to remove

iron from water. She stated that we quoted her a $1600 repair, we never give

estimates over the phone due to unforseen circumstances. We always send a

written proposal & do not order material or schedule the job until we receive

the signed proposal back.

The media we used was not Filter Ag, as stated by [redacted] but Zeo prep,

purchased from Charger Water, which is a media that does remove iron. [redacted]

[redacted] misinformed them & in my opion over charged them his self. [redacted]

Dunn replaced only the media, we replaced the control head & the RO

filters. Had he also done this work he would have charged the same. A new

control head was some of the cost incurred, not just replacing media.

Had we had the opportunity to finish the job it would have been done & at

no extra cost unless she had signed a proposal. There are different ways to

solve the problem of iron in the water. There was no pressure for [redacted] to choose any other option that she wasn't comfortable with. We feel she

jumped the gun with contacting another company.

[redacted] has done water filtration for some 15 years now, very qualified in this

field. We have many satisfied customers, with a reference list that I send to

potential customers. We would never over charge or con an eldery person, that is outragious.

We are anxious to get this problem solved, we have been in business 18 years & have many successful installs & happy customers.

Thanks & have a happy day.

Final Consumer Response

After [redacted] refurbished our filter system, he did subsequently

return to the ranch numerous times. The reason for his visits was because in less

than two weeks after he completed this work our filtered water was orange and

I trusted [redacted] to make this situation right. With each visit [redacted]

made to the ranch, he gave me a different theory about why the filtered water

was orange. He was at the ranch when he gave me his final theory: we needed

to install an air injection system. I asked [redacted] about the cost for such a system; he

gave me a verbal approximate cost. We didn't discuss a proposal.

When I called JATCO in mid-June, I spoke withJanis [redacted]. During

our conversation about the filtered water being orange, she told me that [redacted]

had already spent too much time on this job, that we had a broken down system

and that until or unless we were willing to accept their _solution_, they could do

nothing more. To be suddenly told that we had a broken down system caused

alarm bells to go off for me. [redacted] had access to and inspected our existing filter

system and well before he ever wrote his job proposal or did any work on our

system. we had a broken down system, it should have been obvious to him at

the time of that initial inspection and he should have revealed that to us at that

time. ( But, we didn't have a broken down system.)

Our filter failed within two weeks of the completion of [redacted]_s

work. How do we know the system failed? Because the filtered water was

orange! All in all, for a period of four months, we showered and did laundry

elsewhere and had to regularly remove orange stains from the toilets and other

surfaces. These circumstances combined with the ultimatum issued byJanis

[redacted] forced me to turn elsewhere for a solution

The Huckabys response to our complaint included negative remarks

about the man who eventually fixed our filter system. I found it to be in very

poor taste for them to make any negative comments whatsoever about the man

who eventually fixed our filter system-a man who was nothing but professional

and competent. He succeeded in doing the job that the Huckabys had been paid

to do and failed to accomplish.

Also, please know that in addition to filing a complaint with the Revdex.com, I also

filed a complaint with the Contractor's State License Board. [redacted]

contacted me about that complaint and at my request spoke with my daughter.

I ended up offering to settle this matter for $1,000 -an amount which more than

compensated the Huckabys for the cost of the control head. However, my offer

was not acceptable to them.