Public Mediation

Rapid Plumbing Dispute

R. M. vs. Rapid Plumbing
PO Box 4109, Torrance, California, 90510-4109, United States
Amount Involved: $2,175.00
    • Status: In Negotiation
      This claim has posted for public comment and negotiation. It will remain posted until resolved to the claimant's satisfaction. Suggest a resolution to help these parties reach a settlement.
       (seeking public comment)
    • Claimant Seeks: View.
    • Claim #: 3400307
    • Amount Involved: 2,175.00
    • Filed On: Jun 27, 2014
    • Posted On: Aug 26, 2014
    • Complaint(s):
      • Overcharge or billing error
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Statement of Claim
Complaint Involved (1) - View
Claimant says:
"People Claim Response to Rapid Plumbing
(Information provided to American Express)
The plumbers were called out to fix a plumbing leak. They provided a quote for the job that seemed excessive. I requested a quote for an hourly rate and they refused to do so. They completed the job in 12.5 hours and charged $4,000.00. Considering the cost of material to be less than $200.00 the cost for this job comes to $304.00 per hour. I called the manager (Ray Rodriguez) and requested him to reduce their charges to $2,000.00 and he said he would get back to me. I called twice again after two weeks and he would not talk to me. He never called back.
Standard plumbing hourly costs are approximately $65.00 per hour. At this rate, the cost should have been $1,625 for two plumbers. That was what we had working here until they brought three more to stand around and talk. The overcharge is then $2,175 for the work using $200 for materials from the $4,000.00 charged.
This is fraud and gouging and needs to be corrected. I have contacted my credit card company and told them to submit a dispute for this excessive cost. They have done so.

After the plumbers started the job, two men were working the job. They spent half of a day getting some of the work done so they could determine what was needed for the work to be completed and what material they would need. The next day I was surprised to see four people standing around talking while one plumber worked at the job. It was obvious to me they were trying to show a work force to justify their charges. Three of the plumbers present did nothing but stand around and talk. (We have three witnesses who saw them standing around and talking while one plumber was working) I asked the manager why there were so many people here standing around and he stated that they were working in the area and dropped by. To me that does not justify these charges. I would like to see an hourly quote for 12.5 hours and not have their bid as a guestimate for the job. These people took advantage of our situation and should be penalized for it.
Contact with the company was attempted and the manager refused to reduce the price.
This company refused to provide an estimate based upon an hourly rate. They stated they only bid per job. It turns out that the job took 12 1/2 hours and their estimate was for $4,000.00. This is a rate, after deducting $200.00 for material costs, of $304.00 per hour. This is fraudulent. I contacted them before the job was started and asked them again to provide an estimate for an hourly rate instead of per job. They refused. Before the job was completed I contacted the manager and again asked him to reconsider cutting the cost in half. He again refused. I tried again after the job was completed and he would not talk to me. This company is taking advantage of people needing their service and overcharging by providing a quote for the job instead of by the hour. While they were working the job, the manager sent three additional people to our house and they stood around talking and did no work. It was obvious they were trying to justify their estimate by padding the job with additional workers.

While the job was being worked, the workers asked if I wanted some additional tasks done and said each task was $300.00 and $400.00 for two tasks. I told them that to my understanding, all the plumbing under the house including the replacement of the drain under the sidewalk work was included in the original quote. They said the additional tasks were not included and it would cost more to get them done. All plumbing under the house as well as the drain under the sidewalk as well as the cleanout were quoted and was supposed to include everything that was needed. This input was a big surprise since they told me more than once that the quote included everything to complete the job.
(Note: bottom left of quote reflects a $400.00 additional charge but does not reflect what work was done for that charge.)
In reviewing the pictures below, the main drain is 6 inches in diameter. They replaced the 6 inch with a 3 inch pipe and we still have the backup problem they were supposed to fix. The removed the 6 inch pipe from under the sidewalk and replaced it with a 3 inch pipe. They should have replaced the pipe under the sidewalk all the way to the toilet with a 6 inch pipe instead of the 3 inch pipe. (Note: Statement (3) on quote states that 3 inch pipes were used for main. Statement (4) reflects 6 inch main.)
This reduction in drain size guarantees that the toilet will back up and need more servicing in the future. This means they will be called again to do additional drain cleaning.

After reviewing the pictures, I need to have the 3 inch drains replaced with 6 inch drains to match the original plumbing main drain at their expense as well as a rebate of $2,175.

Richard McLaughlin
8/16/2014 
picture of original quote and pictures quoted below are available. They would not load in this statement when pasted.
(Picture)
Original Quote
Note additional cost for work that we understood as included.
(Picture)
3 Three inch plumbing to Toilet
(Note: Original drain is 6 inches, they replaced with 3 inch drain??)
(Picture)
Two inch Plumbing to Bath Tub
(Picture)
Two inch Plumbing to Sink
Connected to main drain that goes under sidewalk.
After reviewing the pictures, they need to replace the 3 inch main drain with 6 inch drains to match the original plumbing main drain at their expense as well as a rebate of $2,175.
"
...
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Claimant timeline (1) - Hide
  • 08-07-2014 — Payment from Rapid Plumbing and replacement of wrong pipe.
Exhibits View
Additional Communication Between Claimant and Rapid Plumbing Hide
  • Oct 18, 2014, Claiming party added:

  • What you plan to do with the overcharge you made? For 12 1/2 hours, you are charging $320.00 per hour. You had two people doing the job so it comes to $120.00 per hour which is twice the industry standard. Please correct this as requested.

  • Dec 01, 2014, Claiming party added:

  • This issue has not been settled. Rapid Plumbing has been given a "F" rating on the internet. Please resolve this issue, it is long overdue for resolution.

What Claimant Wants Hide
1. Refund: Overcharge of >$2,175 Sep 01, 2014 $2,175.00
Cash total : $2,175.00
  • 0
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Respondent's Counteroffer

There has been no response to this claim from Rapid Plumbing. This claim will remain posted until resolved
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