Stephen Thorpe Plumbing & Heating

Review: On July [redacted] 2014 I gave Stephen Thorpe Plumbing a $1,000.00 check representing a deposit for Thorpe to replace my hot water heater with a new one. Thorpe cashed the check but has never completed the service of installing a new water heater. I have repeatedly called Thorpe and get one excuse after another. In November I asked via phone several times for a refund of my $1,000.00 deposit. I have been told that the "check is in the mail" on multiple occasions , but it never comes. I am an 87 year old woman and the $1,000.00 is a large sum of money for me. I have seen that there are at least 4 other complaints against Thorpe from other senior citizens. I don't know what I can do to get my money back.Please help in any way you can. This company is criminal preying on seniorsDesired Settlement: They should refund my $1,000.00 immediately so that I can get another company to do the work that Thorpe has not and will not do.

Review: On 2/**/10 I signed a contract to have a boiler and hot water heater replaced. I wasn't concerned about getting a second opinion because this company had done work for my relatives over the period of more than 30 years! I was advised that my boiler was so corroded and out of date that it would "blow up" and that once the boiler was replaced the hot water heater wouldn't "last" so that had to be replaced too. I was given a "discount"...if I paid in full...BIG MISTAKE1 So I forked over $6,800...basically for nothing. The job was pushed back because of emergency after emergency...and months went by and everyday I was worried that the whole house would blow up--and someone would be injured, etc. They assured me that the job would be done...but it never was. Starting in September of that year, they finally decided to start refunding my money. I was given two checks w/specific instructions as to when they could be cashed...but when those dates came, I was advised that there were insufficient funds to cover the checks. Instead, the [redacted], started giving me cash installments towards my refund. In October of that year I sold my house...it passed inspection...and I have been contacting this man every week as he still assures me...4 1/2 years later that he will give me back all my money. The last time he gave me cash was April 2014 ($70) but he still owes me $1750. I feel that I was scammed big time--he was very personable & found out things: that I was a widow w/a young child that enabled him to perpetrate this fraud on me. He has given me every excuse in the book but they come in a very predictable order: illness, death, & other clients not paying (so he can't pay me back). I am tired but now that I have read others complaints on your website...and other websites I am determined to continue until this matter is resolved. He has no integrity or credibility. This was once a reliable company and it seems that he has ruined it.Desired Settlement: All I want is the $ 1750 that he owes me...I should request interest but I'll be happy just to recoup my losses.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have been contacted directly by Stephen Thorpe Plumbing regarding complaint ID [redacted], however my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]I have been speaking to [redacted] 4-5X/week but the excuses are the same: checks haven't cleared, someone died...@ first I was told I would get payment in full, then "installments", then 1/2! As of yesterday, 11/**, I was told that I would be paid in full today after 10 am. I am not really confident that I will get anything any time soon...tomorrow will make 4 weeks since I filed the complaint.

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

Sincerely,

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have been contacted directly by Stephen Thorpe Plumbing regarding complaint ID [redacted], however my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]This complaint continues to be unresolved. Supposedly, they were waiting for a check to clear to pay me in full. As of yesterday, I was informed that I would get "some" of the money owed me today. Interestingly enough, when I called the business directly, the phone was answered by an answering service--not by the secretary. My call was never returned.

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

Sincerely,

Review: At the end of December 2013 January, I recieved a quote to do three plumbing projects in my house. I have used Thrope for 30 years. He agreed to do the work and asked for an upfront payment of two thousand dolars which I gave him in a check to do my project the following week. He called me the morning he was to arrrive and cancelled on me . These last minute cancellations occurred twenty more times ten of which I had stayed home from work to let him in and my wife and son stayrd home from work the other ten times. He had every excuse known to man not to appear. Then he keep saying he was waiting on incoming checks to repay me. He did repay $500 of the $4,000 I paid him. He still owes me $3,500 and has not responded to demands for the balance in months. He performed no work whatsoever. He cost me a lot leave time from work. He has acted very strange, and I would not have in my house again. I have used him in the past, but I now see he no longer has a plumber's licence. I have seen on line that he has pulled this stunt with others and I now am considering going ot the Police.Desired Settlement: Repay me $3500.

Review: On 9/**/2013 I contracted with Stephen Thorpe Inc to fix and/or replace my boiler and hot water heater. I paid $2,000 in two checks which were cashed. He has consistantly cancelled appointments and given lame excuses. I am a 95 year old widow who is on a fixed income and my patience has run out. After he cashed check numbers [redacted] & [redacted] he promised work to be competed on 9/**/13 and I'm still waiting.Desired Settlement: I respectfully request a full refund of monies given to Stephen Thorpe Plumbing in the full amount of $2,000.

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,

Review: A deposit of $1500 was given to the plumbing contractor to fix a problem with water leak in a shower area. The deposit was given by check # **on September **2013. On September **he sent a plumber to test for the leak and disassembled the shower. We contacted the contractor a number of times asking when the work would be completed. There was always an excuse and the work was going to happen the following week. To date the shower is still apart and not completed. We called the contractor again March [redacted]to request our money. We have been calling every week since and he still has not returned our deposit. We are asking that he give us back our money since he did not complete the job.....Desired Settlement: We want our refund back now.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by Stephen Thorpe Plumbing & Heating regarding complaint ID [redacted].

Sincerely,

Review: On September **, 2014 I contracted with Stephen Thorpe Plumbing an Heating and its [redacted] to install a replacement conversion burner on my existing furnace. I gave him a $1,000 deposit as he requested and set up an installation date for October *, 2014. He called at 8:30 A.M. on that date to cancel. Other installation appointments were made, 20 in all; each one cancelled by him at 8:30 A.M. on the day with a long list of excuses : the truck broke down, the parts were in office but had to be put together, the worker he needed for this job was not available that day, he was having personal problems etc. On November **, 2014 , as we sat in a cold house , I asked for a return of my $1,000 deposit since he had not done the work. He agreed to return the money and insisted on doing it in person. Then started the new round of excuses indicating why he could not come that day. It is now February **, 2015 and the money has not been returned.Desired Settlement: I want my $1,000 deposit to be returned to me.

Review: As with others who have made complaints, the [redacted] of this business took my money and never provided me the service he was to provide. He failed to appear for numerous appointments and made numerous written and verbal promises to perform the job and to provide additional services in exchange for my forbearance over the course of months. I consider every one of those broken promises to be an enforceable promise. In addition to taking my money, providing no services, and wasting many hours of my time with blown appointments, calls and demonstrable lies, his failure to deliver caused additional damages. While waiting for him to install a sump pump for months, my home was flooded. The last straw was when he recently admitted lying to me about having ever purchased materials for the job and he has repeatedly called or come to my home without the materials or workers to do any of the jobs promised. As others mention in Revdex.com and other online complaints, he will call crying about personal issues and begging for more time. He also repeatedly offered to refund my original deposit - the check he gave me for that purpose bounced and I have not heard from him since. I make this complaint without waiving any rights to seek damages through future litigation and without waiving any right to make a criminal complaint.Desired Settlement: Putting aside additional damages that I may seek in the future, including but not limited to claims in connection with additional promises to arrange for free services, including unlicensed electrical work, the clearing of roots from an external line, and the investigation of a leak from a bathroom, I am entitled to an immediate payment of $1,650. This amount reflects: (i) my $225 deposit, plus $12 for the bounced check fee; (ii) the cost of the Liberty brand hot water sump pump he was to buy with my money but later promised me would be free in light of his many delays and missed appointments (listed online for $240 plus $21 for shipping); (ii) the cost of copper piping and backflow check valve (estimated cost - $100, but he insisted it would be free because of all of his delays); (iii) the cost of a Danfoss Thermostatic operator with separate sensor (he said this was $150 but free to me because of all his delays - it appears online for $152, including shipping); (iv) the costs of installing the sump pump and thermostatic radiator valve (he estimated 6 hours for both jobs - my new plumber charges $150/hour so this item totals $900). Note, I will only accept cash or a certified check since his last check bounced. Moreover, this is not intended as a limit on damages that I may seek in court if this matter is litigated in the future.

Consumer

Response:

$1650 is the amount of the direct damages I am claiming. To resolve this dispute, the plumbing company can pay me $1650, as detailed, or immediately complete all of the work promised. This is work that I will need to have done very soon if not by Stephen Thorpe plumbing.

I would also like to clarify that in addition to the services and amounts I listed, Stephen Thorpe Plumbing was supposed to install a backup pump. What he described as a “temporary pump,” which he installed after my basement was flooded during his delays, has now broken and also needs to be repaired, replaced or paid for. I have no operating sump pump right now and will be hiring someone else to do this work soon.

Thank you,

Review: Had work performed and was told that additional part was needed and a cash requirement was requested. Paid the $200 as asked for,at least a month had passed and was told everything from the part is on back order and finally the part was not needed and would be refunded my $200. We'll another month of excuses,like check will be dropped off ,check is in the mail etc. It seems to me [redacted] like's to scam the elderly for I understand from other victims this is not the first time he's done this.Please help!!!Desired Settlement: Just want my money back!

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by Stephen Thorpe Plumbing & Heating regarding complaint ID [redacted].

Sincerely,

Review: We hired [redacted] plumbing to replace our boiler about 2 weeks ago. They got the deposit to the start the job. They came right away and removed the old boiler. Now the problem is when they were supposed to install the new boiler, we kept getting excuses that, they can't do it today cause they have other jobs ect.. 2 weeks later the job isn't done yet. Now it's november and it's getting colder and colder. I need my boiler fixed asap. My resolution is to give me back my money. Or finish the job. After [redacted] Plumbing and heating I found out that they have done this to numerous people, How are they still in business I don't even know. They seem like scammers and con-artists. Every day there's another excuse as to why they cannot come and complete the project. I need heat before my pipes freeze up in the winter. A 2 day project has dragged on for over 2 weeks.Desired Settlement: I want my $4,000 returned or I want the job done at the price we paid so far. If I get my money back I can hire someone else who knows how to treat customers properly and complete a job on time.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, my complaint, ID [redacted] regarding [redacted] Plumbing & Heating has been resolved. It took 25 days but it's finally done. I still think this company should have their license taken away. This seems to be all to common for them to do to hard working people, Especially the elderly.

Sincerely,

Review: We had our pipes in the basement replaced three years ago. The plumber cut off all my water in the basement. I have no use of the sink, and he covered the toilet with concrete so I can' t put in a bathroom. He was supposed to come back and complete the work and remove the debris from my basement. It is three years later and I call him almost every day and he gives me excuses. This man does not deserve to have a license, he is a con artist who preys on elderly people. He has taken advantage of my family. My parents are senior citizens and my father is [redacted] and in a wheel chair. They don't deserve to be treated this way because they paid him, and he never finished. This man has no conscience, please help us I don't no where else to turn.Desired Settlement: To get my water back, use of a working toilet which I always had, and removal of all the debris they left.