VinZant Plumbing & Heating

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2015/11/19) */
At VinZant Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical and Drain, we take great pride in the level of service we provide to our customersWe are a small, minority- and disabled Veteran-owned company serving the Twin Cities metro areaWe do our best to keep
the customer informed throughout the process with regards to the estimated total billWith regard to this complaint, we bid on a specific scope of work, and provided an estimate for the completion of that workThe estimate specifically referenced standard exclusions for additional items not listed in the estimateItems on the bid: 1.) Re-route the shower drain line and faucet, adding additional shower heads, and capping existing shower2.) Set one (1) customer supplied toilet3) Set two (2) customer suppled sinksOur estimate was accepted, and our technicians arrived as scheduledIn the course of completing the work, the customer requested additional services that were clearly above and beyond the scope of the original estimate and would require additional visitsThe technician had a verbal conversation that these would be aitems with additional costThese items were detailed on a change order form, and the additional work was completed to the customer satisfactionThe additional items were: 1) Relocate additional toilet flange2.) Add new plumbing for additional lav3.) Change waste lines in wall4.) Install base cabinets in bathroom5.) Install new toilet flange for waste piping6.) Relocate water lines in wall for new location of vanityAdditional materials had a cost of $and an additional hours of labor were involved in completion of these additional itemsThe customer signed the change order acknowledging completion to her satisfaction on 8/24/At this point, the customer only wants to take responsibility for the bill for the original contract amount, and is refusing to pay for the additional items that were documented and agreed upon as extrasWe have attempted to work out this issue directly with the customer, but have been unsuccessfulWe have offered to negotiate the final bill (and are still open to negotiate), but the customer is unwilling to pay any amount for any of the aitemsWe have incurred additional material costs and labor costs, and expect fair compensation in return
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2015/11/25) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
First of all, I did not like the way Vinzant Plumbing started their response to my complaint in that they start out by bringing to light that they are a Veteran owned company and employs minority and disabled employees as if that should cut them a breakI am the daughter of a now deceased veteran and have other veterans and disabled family membersThey too are disappointed and appalled at Vinzant's dishonorable practicesI am an RN with excellent credit and great character who has always paid my debts and works everyday helping othersIn this instance I feel this overcharging is an injustice and I feel I have to stand up and hopefully this doesn't happen to anyone else
My bathroom project: (I gutted the bathroom ahead of timeWalls and floors were even removed so pipes were visible)I did this to save costs
1) I removed a 57" double sink vanity in order to place a 60" double vanity in same spot
2) I removed shower stall
3) I removed tub to have a double-headed washower
4) I removed the toilet to have it moved 3" over to give clearance from vanity
Vinzant Plumbing estimator came to my house and wrote up an estimate dated May 11, 2015, in the amount of $1,for the following work that I wanted done
1) Capping off existing shower
2) Move toilet over 3" from current position (I supplied toilet phalange kit)
3) Installing water pipes for a dual headed shower and moving drain to center (using existing water supply and drain from removed tub)
4) Water hookup to vanity sinks
I had told the estimator that I would be able to install the sink faucets and the shower heads once the water supply was uncapped and the wall "faucet guts" were in
Vinzant showed up and completed plumbing of pipes and toilet within a few hoursThey told me to call office when I got vanity and sinks, faucets and shower "wall guts" and they would be out to complete the job for hooking up water supply to faucets (they were capped when they left)
I called the office when the rest of the supplies came inThe Vinzant employee and I discovered that the previous work by different Vinzant plumbers was incorrect in regards to the water stubs from the wallThe vanity would not be able to be pushed back against wallThe employee relocated and stubs which I felt took him an unreasonable (3x) amount of time compared to the time spent when different Vinzant plumber doing same thingWhen he informed me that he was done, he had already pushed the vanity into place, put vanity top on and hooked up the water (which I planned on doing myself to save money)He did not discuss with me extra charges or even ask if that was what I wanted him to doThe vanity position is still not correct because he didn't move the stubs enough and the vanity sits away from wall about half inch
Then I got an invoice dated 9/21/for additional charges and suppliesThey stated they completed several items that they were charging for in their responseI am stating they didn't do that work and I tried to communicate that to Vinzant over the phone on occasionsBelow they are billing me for time spent on the following:
1) Relocate additional toilet flangeThis was not done
2) Add new plumbing for additional lavNo additional lav was installed
3) Change waste lines in wallNo waste lines were changed in walls, used existing for shower, toilet and sinks
4) Install base cabinets in bathroomI never asked Vinzant to install vanity cabinet, was done when I went to lookI was going to do this to save costs
5) Install new toilet flange for waste pipingI bought waste flange kit for toilet, they set toilet which was included in estimate
6) No plumbing was added to outside wall??? Existing plumbing was used
Yes, they relocated water lines for vanity because they were incorrectly placed by Vinzant originally$Additional materials???? Don't know what had to be purchased or usedNobody showed me a receipt???? Was not informed prior???
It was my understanding each time Vinzant came to my house, they were there to complete the remaining work on original estimateAt no time was I informed of possible extra charges nor did I discuss with them any changes to original estimate/plan
Vinzant also went on to say in their response that they were willing to negotiateThat is untrueI was informed that if I did not pay the total amount they would place a lien on my homeI ave paid them in full for the amount of agreed upon estimate $1,
Vinzant also stated that I requested additional services that were not in original estimateThat is untrueHe said the technician had a verbal conversation that there would be additional costs, straight out lyingIn my two telephone conversations with them before filing this complaint, I stated over and over that they must have me confused with someone elseNo additional work was done and that at no time did anyone speak of additional chargesThey did not even spend hours at my house and even charging $149/hr for uncertified/unlicensed employees (I have asked for this proof and they are unwilling to provide)I did not sign a charge order agreeing to pay charges
On November 12, I requested from Vinzant the following (days for them to send) and as of November 25, 2015, I have not received anything
1) Copies of all paperwork pertaining to the property listed above
2) Copies of all pictures taken pertaining to the property listed above (these may be emailed to me at email address listed below)
3) The names, contact information and certifications/licenses for all person(s) who have completed the plumbing work on above listed property
4) Any additional information, paperwork, data not listed above that pertains to the above listed property
Again, they have not tried to work this out with meI consider this debt paid as agreedI would be willing to pay an additional $and walk away from this matter if they will agree to accept and to not pursue any further actions against me or my homeI will forever be upset about this matter and feel they are dishonorable