Karl's Plumbing & Heating

We received a call from [redacted] at the end of September regarding a boiler that Karl's Plumbing & Heating installed for her on 12/**/2009 in the amount of $7,250.00 she stated that there was a part missing. [redacted], spoke to [redacted] himself and told her that he would be...

more than happy to schedule a service call to look at the boiler. He told [redacted] that we would do whatever is necessary to rectify the issue she was stating. A service call was not scheduled. [redacted] never gave us the chance to schedule a service call to check the boiler. 
On October [redacted] a member of our office staff contacted [redacted] again, [redacted] stated that [redacted] never offered to come by and rectify the issue and she felt he brushed her off. [redacted] again offered to schedule a service visit to which [redacted] responded that she would speak to her husband and get back to us. To date we have not had a return call to schedule a visit. We are still more than willing to look at the boiler.

Review: On October **, 2013, Karl's Plumbing came for a service call. The drain valve on the boiler was clogged and the repairman was asked to replace it. He didn't even try turning it. instead he took a look around the basement and informed my elderly father that "the boiler was no good" and that the whole system was clogged. He then called his "supervisor" on the phone. When he arrived the story was then that the return pipes, along the length of the basement also needed to be replaced. They wanted to charge us over $11,000 for the proposed project. That included over $8,000 for a new boiler and $3,000 for new pipes. Boilers typically cost from $2,000 to $3,000 (higher end about $5,000) and the requested written estimate, scribbled on a yellow letterhead pad, did not itemize anything; not how any respectable and honest business operates. This is the same tactic that car dealerships use to confuse, intimidate and persuade people to spend more.

The term is RIP-OFF, in the vernacular. FRAUD in the extreme.

We engaged the services of another plumber who actually did replaced the clogged valve AND performed a maintenance service on the boiler. All that for approximately the same "consultation fee" that [redacted]'s charged for conversation. The boiler is fine, in very good condition and should last at the very least another decade. I have the estimate and a video to prove my case.Desired Settlement: Im surprised Karl's is still in business as this seems to be an entrenched practice. The way they try to exploit people is despicable. They give the trade a bad name. They are a blight to the profession. I could go on but i've made my point. Karl's should publicly apologize, change their ways and refund my hard earned money.

Business

Response:

[redacted]:

The customer requested a service call and was informed of the services charges to come to their home and perform a diagnostic check on the existing heating system.

Upon completion of the diagnostic check of the heating system, the customer requested a price to replace the heating system for which a quote (see attached) was provided.

The customer was only charged the service charge to check the system as discussed with the customer before booking the appointment for the service call. This person is obviously attempting to "scam" an honest contractor out of money for services rendered.

Sincerely,

We just had a large bathroom completely redone by Karl's. The whole room was gutted down to the exterior bricks and then rebuilt -from framing and plumbing through tiling and painting. Having heard many contractor nightmares from friends and neighbors, we were very pleased that we had no significant issues at all. Karl's team of Ray and Marcus were super. Ray was a true craftsman who clearly had a lot of experience. He assured that each step of the process was done properly and presented options and suggestions along the way. Bottom line: if we were doing another bathroom, we'd want the same people doing it.

Review: Karl's Plumbing Co. installed a new boiler for me in 2009. It has come to my attention that a very important part was NOT installed on said boiler. A HARTFORD LOOP. is, by code, supposed to be installed on boilers, and my current plumber informed me that I do NOT HAVE one . When I called Karls to ask him about it, he became defensive and just brushed me off.Desired Settlement: Karls should correctly and without charge install the proper HARTFORD LOOP on said boiler.

Business

Response:

We received a call from [redacted] at the end of September regarding a boiler that Karl's Plumbing & Heating installed for her on 12/**/2009 in the amount of $7,250.00 she stated that there was a part missing. [redacted], [redacted], spoke to [redacted] himself and told her that he would be more than happy to schedule a service call to look at the boiler. He told [redacted] that we would do whatever is necessary to rectify the issue she was stating. A service call was not scheduled. [redacted] never gave us the chance to schedule a service call to check the boiler.

On October [redacted] a member of our office staff contacted [redacted] again, [redacted] stated that [redacted] never offered to come by and rectify the issue and she felt he brushed her off. [redacted] again offered to schedule a service visit to which [redacted] responded that she would speak to her husband and get back to us. To date we have not had a return call to schedule a visit. We are still more than willing to look at the boiler.

I called Karl's plumbing I had a flooding in my Basment Karl's came over. And they fixed the leak thank God my wife was home going crazy

Review: l called Karl's do to my house boiler was going off every two or three days and making water pipe noise, so l have to go down and press the reset button to get the boiler started.The guy came after five minutes he told me that l have air in the lines got to be bleed it. But after he went out for some tools and hose, he just changed and told me that isn't the problem l have to changed three pieces and will cost me $1350. he did nothing and charged me $275. l called another company told me the problem is air in the pipes he bleed it and charged me $150. Karl's company is rip people off overcharging for their job.Desired Settlement: Complete refund and apology , he did nothing and tried to rip me off with $1350 overcharged.

Business

Response:

On January **, 2016 - [redacted] called with a "no heat" call. Our standard procedure is to advise the potential customer of our diagnostic charge. We told [redacted] his diagnostic charge would be $275.00.. [redacted] agreed to this charge. Upon arrival, our technician checked the boiler. he adjusted the temp on high limit from 205 degrees to 215 degrees. Our technician also bled the zones (please see the attached). Our technician noted that certain boiler controls should be replaced and provided a "quote" of $1,350.00 to replace the pressure reducing valve, high limit and boiler gauge. [redacted] had heat upon our departure. [redacted] paid the $275.00.This morning we received a call from [redacted] he stated,that three days after we were there he had to go down and reset the boiler and had to do so every two or three days, we explained to him that he was quoted a price to replace parts that are needed for his boiler to work properly. [redacted] stated that on Monday, February *, 2016 he had to call another "plumber" in and they bled the lines and only charged him $150.00 and that the boiler has been fine for three days, We asked [redacted] if he would forward us the invoice that he was given from the NYC licensed "MASTER PLUMBER" that we would review it and discuss compensating him. [redacted] stated that he did not have an invoice.

Karl's Plumbing is terrific. I replaced my boiler and hot water heater. The staff helped me with the rebate forms and they could not be nicer.

Review: On 5/**/15, Karl's Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning in [redacted] sent 2 men to install a bathtub at our son's [redacted] condo. The rate of service was $275 an hour and I was never given an estimate in advance of how much time it would take, but was led to believe by the receptionist prior to the work being done that it should not be more than 1 hour due to 2 men doing the work, especially as the old bathtub had already been removed. In fact, we were charged a total of 5 hours of labor. The men said they had to go to [redacted] to pick up a saw, which was neither used or required, yet we were billed for the time they were away. An eyewitness told me that the men were sitting in a side street while weI was being billed at the rate of $275 an hour. I did, in fact, authorize them to pick up a bathtub as they claimed that that the one I supplied was dented. In any event when I called the company to report my displeasure, I never got past the receptionist who argued with me and never put the owner on the phone. The owner replied on [redacted], that the men needed to go get supplies from their shop to install the tub. Even of that was the case, it is unfair to have billed the customer for not coming prepared and why did both men have to go pick up supplies?. The contractor who I used to take out the old tub told me it was all set up for a simple tub assembly. Now we discovered that the mechanism to fill up the tub is not working. After paying a total of $1,879.87 (included in this price is a bathtub billed at $351.63, which is $100 more than what it retails for at [redacted]), we am not willing to front more money for another plumber to fix the tub, if it is even reparable which I am not sure it is.Desired Settlement: Due to the hostile relationship which is now in effect due to this issue, we would like to be issued a refund of what it would cost to have another plumber repair the defective mechanism in the tub. Additionally. we are requesting that 2 hours worth of labor ($550) be refunded as it is absurd to be billed for time the men spent while picking up supplies which were not needed and even if they were, should have arrived with them.

Business

Response:

In response to [redacted]’s complaint. Karl’s was called to install the customer’s purchased bathtub. We quoted her $275.00 per hour for two men with “no” definitive completion time given. Once onsite and we inspected the tub, we found the tub was cracked. With the customer’s knowledge and permission we went to [redacted] and purchased another tub to install. We completed the installation of the tub. To answer the complaints, first, it was [redacted]’s son that stated we told him we were going to [redacted] to purchase a saw, we had no such conversation. As stated previously we went to [redacted] which is located in [redacted] to purchase a new tub. The customer would have been charged for our going to and from [redacted] to purchase the new tub. The administrative assistant [redacted] spoke to did not state the job would take no more than hour since there were two men on the job. Quoting an exact period of time a job will take to be completed is near impossible to do (and in this particular case, we went to procure another tub for this customer adding to the labor charges) [redacted] states in her complaint that an “eyewitness” told her that our men were sitting on a side street while we she was being billed $275.00 per hour. Please note that [redacted] has made several derogatory remarks on our companies [redacted] site. In one of those complaints she stated that “she, herself” witnessed our men sitting in the truck, smoking! Neither account is true.We purchased a new tub from our supplier at a normal customer mark-up. Karl’s Plumbing & Heating warranties the work we performed for [redacted] for one year.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]

The 2 plumbers sent did, in fact, state to my son that they were going to [redacted] to pick up a saw to cut the door frame and that was before it was discovered that there was a dent in the tub. Yes, I did authorize them to pick up a new tub from a local supply store when I was present. But there is no way that it takes 5 hours to do this and install a tub when the demolition was already done, the contractor set everything up for the new install and there were 2 men present to complete the work. In fact, there was no need for a saw and one was never used. So there were 2 times when the men left. I only authorized them to pick up the tub and nothing else.I never stated I witnessed the men sitting idly in their truck. The witness who told me that he witnessed this is credible and would have no reason to lie. I can and have provided his telephone number to Revdex.com and encourage contact. He stated to me that the labor should not have been more than $300 since he had did most of the preparation for the tub to be put in.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

[redacted] and Karl's Plumbing & Heating came to an amicable resolution

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,