Rescue Rooter

A few days later, I called the office and complained and the guy said I should have called sooner.

I have a friend that owns a plumbing company in Ventura, CA. I told him how I was ripped off by Rescue Rooter and he said the companies that have the word "Rooter" as the 2nd or 3rd word in the name are usually scammers. It's best to get an estimate on the phone and when they arrive and tell you what the problem is and the cost, you can let them fix the problem or you can call another plumber for a 2nd opinion and estimate.

My homeowner insurance company recommended me to Rescue Rooster Company. He was supposed to clock in to my house around 6:00 and 7:00 pm; he never showed up nor did he call. However, he called around 10:00 pm that night, but I was already too late at night. At least he could have given us a courtesy call. The following morning, he requested to come out and look over our water heater for a price estimate. In total, he devised around $1,300 worth of unnecessary price estimates on the basis of my real estate.

There was a series of phony prices that he made up as follows: (1) He claimed that we needed a drip pan for $275, which was $42.00 dollars; (2) installed hot water dollar line for $280 that only called $6.00; (3) draft induction for $185 dollars which is an instrument I didn't need; (5) 3/4 quarter inch gas for $285, which is unnecessary; and 6) hauled off water heater replacement for $75.

This company does not have a sense of professional ethics and loaded with several hidden fees. American Home Insurance has refused for any further plumbing services to be directed to my residence. In this respect, I am under the suspicion that my homeowner insurance is in alliance. For weeks, I have been hauling hot pots of water redundantly upstairs just to take a bath.

On 7/17/09 American home shield dispacted a serivce contractor to my home to service a hot water heater. I was at school and my daughter (25) met him at the house. After inspecting the unit she called and put the service man on the phone. He informed me that AHS appoved the new tank and installation, but because I lived in St. Louis County I had to have the tank upgraded. He told me that the total cost of upgrades was $680.00. I then went to Handy-Man Hardware and Lowes and got quotes for the same job complete with undiscounted tank, upgrades and tank removal. Handyman's quote came to $636.12 and Lowes quote came to $713.09. both less than the amount of upgrade charges.

Here is the list of charges Die Union bolts $160.00 (Lowes charge: $7.16 x 2) Expansion tank $295.00 (Lowes $48.77, Handy Man 44.99 Haul away $100.00 ( Lowes Free handy man $25.00) Permit $25.00 (Lowes $51.00 Handyman $41.00 then there is another $160.00 charge with no explanation beside it. Acutally he did not add it up correctly because it amounts to $740.00. When I Rescue Rooter to question the charges I was told that those were their charges. Because I could not afford the upgrade charges, I was unable to use my homeowner warranty company with the contractor. I called AHS back and was told that alternatively I could find my own contractor and they would sent me a check for $395.00! but only after I had paid for the repair myself out of pocket and forwarded a paid receipt. If I had $700.00 to replace the tank, then I would not be paying into a warranty or would not have placed the service call. Now I'm stuck with a leaky tank and a AHS premium that does not fix or replace my tank because of these trumped up charges on this invoice.

I have now found out that AHS? and RR? both have several complaints lodged against each of them by previous customers. Someone should investigate these companies and their practices in

Rescue Rooter (RR?) is a subcontractor of American Home Shield (AHS?). AHS is a home warranty service provider. I contacted AHS for service call and they sent Rescue Rooter on 3/4/2009 (initial contact).

The initial call was for a clogged bathroom sink drain. I had no other problems with the sink at that time, no leaks at all. The plumber tried to open the drain from the top portion of the sink and could not get it unclogged. Then, he tried doing it from below which meant that he had to disconnect the pipes underneath the sink and proceeded to use his snake? tool to unclog sink. However, when reconnecting the pipes, it was not properly reinstalled and now I have a water leak underneath the sink. The plumber checked to see if clog was open in the sink. After unsuccessfully trying to reinstall the pipes to the sink bowl he informed me sink was not installed correctly? and that is why it is leaking. However, Ive been living here since 1995 and never had a leak at that sink nor was there a leak when he came, only pipes clogged. It was only after the plumber disconnected the pipes and could not reinstall them properly that this sink started and continues to leak.

Same day I called Rescue Rooter back and informed them of what was happening. They sent the same plumber (Ken) back. He came back second time, disconnected pipes again and put some sealing tape around the pipes, all to no avail. The pipes were still leaking. Then he said, dont call Rescue Rooter (RR?) is a subcontractor of American Home Shield (AHS?). AHS is a home warranty service provider. I contacted AHS for service call and they sent Rescue Rooter on 3/4/2009 (initial contact).

After he left I called Rescue Rooter back that same day and told them what happened. Representative at RR? told me to call AHS?, the service provider, for another service call. AHS? gave confirmation number for a second service call. At this point, this will be third (3rd) time that someone will be coming to resolve the problem.

Plumber came out again (3/6/09) and he contacted AHS while here at my house. AHS? said service call was denied because of pop-up? on top on the sink bowl which had nothing to do with the leak underneath the sink at the pipes. So he left without doing anything and told me that someone from AHS? will be contacting me. That never happened.

On 3/6/09 I called and spoke with Omar? who told me that Rescue Rooter is not responsible for any damages that the plumber/technician may cause. I called 3/7/09 (Sat) asked to speak with manager, Latrell. He was to call me back the following Monday at 11:00AM. I havent heard from him or anyone else from their company since then.

Since I didnt get a call or any response from Rescue Rooter, I called the service provider (AHS) directly. Spoke with Silvia and she told me their was nothing they can do because Rescue Rooter was responsible. I called to cancel my service and they sent me an e-mail. Rudy from that AHS? called me and told said he would contact RR? to see if he can get the problem solved.

Silvia from AHS called with a follow-up to see if the service was satisfactory and I told her what was going on and the problem. She also said there was nothing more that AHS could do.

3/12/09 I called AHS to cancel my service contract again and was told by representative someone would call in 48 hours. Rick called, asked why I wanted to cancel service and anything he can do to keep me as a client. Im assuming Rick called RR? to see what the problem is and why it cannot be resolved.

At this point, it has now been six days (6) since the plumber first came out. AHS is blaming RR and RR is blaming AHS as to who should be responsible for repairing the problem caused by their subcontractor.

Our sewar backed up, and flooded my bathrooms and kitchen. Our home warranty company sent out Rescue Rooter. The plumber tried to clear the line, but was unsuccessful, so he had his boss come out with a camera. They informed me that my sewar line was impacted with roots, and that I needed to do a trenchless replacement. He said he would give me a good price because he felt so bad for me (My airconditioner had blown, and my pool just cracked all within 3 days). He asked me to give him a few minutes so he could figure out the very best price he could give me.

I was crying and obviuosly very distreesed. He came back with a written bid, and he explained to me that he would normally charge $14,000 but because I was "such a nice lady, and having such bad luck", he would do me a favor and only charge me $11,000. But I had to sign right then, and I couldn't use the toilets, showers, sinks, or we would have severe flooding. I told him I could not sign the contract, that I had to go over it with my husband.

Well, I called around the very next day. I was given bids from 5 companies. The prices ranged from $3500 to $5200. We hired a licensed, bonded insured company with 30 years of experince for $4000. This price INCLUDED another camera look, and two cleanouts (which RR did not include)

The company we hired (Williams Brothers) was excellent. They finished in one day, they were clean and professional.

I feel this is a clear case of price gouging. I was under sever duress, very emotional and this company took advantage of that. I am sure that they must have pulled this with other unsuspecting people in similiar situations. There must be something that can be done about this unethical behavior.

The sewage to my home is backed up, I call, and they sent Bill out, the first time for an estimate 3-9-06. Then I called him back out to do the work. He estimated at $646.25 that he would jet for 446.28, and then dig for $200.00 if that doesn't work. Well he came, jetted, mad more of a mess with things, said that he did all that he could do, and did not fix the sewage, stating that he thinks that the problem may be with the city. I paid him 461.25.

The city came out and said that the main city line is on the other side of the street, and that whatever it is that the plumber is running into in the yard is not the city sewer. I have four boys ages 7-16, who love to play basketball, and another one on the way. I can't afford to pay someone $461.25 for nothing, because that is what was done with my problem nothing. Can you please help or suggest someone who can help me.