Mary T Uib
map-marker Dayton, Ohio

Extremely dissatisfied

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Waited 4 days for them to show up .. when they did , the plumber Zeth said he could fix our disposal and change out fixtures in the guest bathroom.. he left to 2 hours to pick up fixtures.. not only did he NOT change out our disposal.. but was unable to do what he said he could !! Sooooo we got charged $300.00 for 2 leaks fixed .. he did NOT Reattach the backside of the wall under my vanity !! We will NOT EVER USE THIS COMPANY AGAIN !!! Soooo in a nutshell .. I do not believe anything this company says or doesn’t say ... we feel we were taken advantage of !!! Sooooo back to Drake heating and plumbing!! Now that’s a reputable family owned business !! I’m showing 108 words so I’m done writing !!
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Reason of review:
Bad quality
Anonymous

Problem not solved

Had a simple toilet flapper that was not sealing, but didn't know it. The Plumber did $750.00 worth of work to both an older toilet, which didn't need it, and a valve put on pipe to the washing machine. Then after the bill was paid, was told that two tablets placed in the water tank would check to see if the new Gerber basement toilet was leaking through the flapper, which it was. It was a 10 dollar part that costed my 88 year old mother 750 bucks to diagnose. Screwing over elderly people should be a crime. Note: placing chlorine tablets in the toilet does cause the toilet flapper to age prematurely and leak.
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Reason of review:
Pricing issue
2 comments
Kandace Irx

Something similar happened to my wife. She was charged $ 438.00 for 15 minutes of work.

Guest

Florine is a corrosive that will harm all rubber based toilet parts.

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Resolved
Junette Qbo
map-marker Midlothian, Virginia

Resolved: Scam artists

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Updated by user Feb 09, 2018

I called them, and using my own pressure tactic, got them to drop the trip charge. I still would not recommend them. There prices are way out of line and they won't quote until they are at your house where they can try to hit you with a trip charge regardless.

Original review Jan 10, 2018
Their technique is to not quote the work until they show up on your doorstep, even though they have a standard schedule of prices they charge for every thing they do. When they get to your house they start rattling off these outrageous prices. For example, they wanted $650 for a $150 job. When you tell them to get the *** out of your house, they want to try to charge you $100 for coming out to insult your intelligence. Don't waste your time calling these scam artists, you will regret it. Find a reliable honest plumber instead, there are plenty out there.
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Loss:
$100
Cons:
  • Refused to provide estimates
  • Took a week to come out
  • Treat their customers like marks
Reason of review:
Pricing issue

Preferred solution: Drop the "trip charge".

Anonymous

RIP OFF ARTISTS - SAW AN OLD PERSON AND WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE!!!

TALK ABOUT PADDING THE BILL!!!!!! YOUR ESTIMATE TO REPAIR MY MOTHER'S PIPES WAS FOR $21,500.00 AND DID NOT EVEN INCLUDE THE COST OF PERMITS. THIS IS CUT DIRECTLY FROM YOUR ESTIMATE. 2. Interior concrete will be patched to or slightly below existing slab level. Flash patching leveling or any other floor preparations required prior to new floor covering installation, is NOT included under this contract. 3. Customer responsible for removal of all items including but not limited to furnishings, appliances, floor covering, (if required) or any "Breakables" in or around work area. 4. Price based on a specific length of pipe replacement. If necessary to replace additional piping, additional costs will incur. 5. Does not include any floor covering repairs or restorations. 6. Price based on jacking of concrete/asphalt having a maximum thickness of 4", which is typical. If thickness is greater than 4", additional cost may incur. 7. Cost of permits not included. 8. Price does not include any lawn, tree, bush, patio, sidewalk, or landscaping repairs or restorations 9. Side walk area will be temporarily patched with cold patch only. 10. Price does not include permanent repair of the side walk. 11. No lawn repairs of any kind. Soil will be mounded over trench. No tamping, grading, or seeding to be done. ANOTHER CONTRACTOR DID THE SAME JOB FOR WAY LESS AND INCLUDED THE COST OF PERMITS AND THE CONCRETE WORK TO FIX HER SIDEWALK.
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Reason of review:
Pricing issue
3 comments
Kandace Irx

These people should be in jail. Has anybody filed a complaint with the Attorney General of the State of Minnesota?

Guest

How much was the second bid? I can say they Ben Franklin are twice the cost of two estimates I got today. And when they looked at my leak the guy used a heavy scare tactic that now my whole house needed replumbing!

Guest

I agree same thing happened with me. 25 dollar part 5 minutes work installing cartrage and charged 345.00 was going to charge 65.00 On top of that for service call. Stay away from Ben Franklin Plumbing.

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Anonymous

Be prepared to wait all day

The supervisor will come out in the guaranteed time window, but he doesn't do any work. The worker bee will come out later.
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Reason of review:
Order processing issue
Dominque Flu

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Never call them.....

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2 service calls, $335 for a part elsewhere priced at $10, still not fixed..... SCAM big time....
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Reason of review:
Pricing issue
Lakendria Xlv

Expect a big bill !!

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Called to make an appt -told them I have a clogged toilet thats leaking and it keeps backing up. They gave me a window for Saturday saying they would be there between 1-4 .

Well I called them at 4 saying no one had shown up yet and they said they had called me but no one answered. They did call me when I checked me phone- at 10 of 4. They said they were running late due to a big water back up that was scheduled before our appt. They did show up around 5:30 -the gentlemen informed us that it wasnt leaking around the ring and that it needed to be snaked but he didint have the right equipment on the truck so he would have to come back on Tuesday.

Already the bill was about $600 and something and all they did was remove the toilet. These guys will walk in your home with a book and start adding all kinds of stuff up, try to sell you insurance and so on before they actually even do the job.

I just wanted my toilet fixed! DO NOT call these guys -save your money -these big companys may seem more reputable but they are NOT!

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Loss:
$269
Cons:
  • High pricing
Reason of review:
Pricing issue

Preferred solution: Stop worrying about selling and just fix the problem I called you for!

Anonymous
map-marker Port Saint Lucie, Florida

Don’t say your item is under warranty!

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Water heater broke. Ralph the manager stated they cannot make me a service call for 1 week. He stated everyone takes cold showers in Florida
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Reason of review:
Order processing issue
1 comment
Guest

No such thing as a warranty with the company that is just scam. No morals, no customer service support.

I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone.

You pay for a warranty and you are told the schedule is full by Ralph. Ralph states if you need anything before 7 days, go somewhere else.

Anonymous

SCAM ARTISTS

Where do I start? I called Benjamin Franklin to install a garbage disposal and check out a potential stoppage in my master bathroom and a tub fixture that was loose.

I left work to meet the plumber (note I don't get paid when I am not at work). He looked at the tub fixture and proceeded to tell me the pipe was too short and that in order attach the fixture properly, he would have to go through my wall! Then he noted the stoppage sounds in the toilet and said "that's not good." He then looked at my disposal and started to call for an installer! I was shocked!

Here I had taken off work just so he could evaluate? I informed him I had to go to back to work and couldn't wait for another plumber to show up. He then told his office to send a guy at 5pm. His quote for the installation of the disposal was $349.

Note I bought my own disposal so that wasn't even in the quote. Then he gave me a quote of $870 for the tub fixture. Needless to say I was shocked and upset that nothing was accomplished. But ok, I came home at 5pm and waited for the next guy.

He finally showed up at 7:00 p.m. And promptly told me he needed materials/tools to install the disposal!! I was totally dumbfounded that 2 plumbers had come and neither could install my disposal!!! Now I have had disposals installed before and they usually do it the first visit.

Then this guy looks at my tub fixture and informs me that there's no issue with the pipe being too short, it just needs a screw to attach it. So we make another appointment for him to show up and install the disposal and snake the toilet and screw the tub fixture on. Mind you, I have now had 2 appointments with no results!! Next day comes and this time 2 guys show up - one to install the disposal and the other to fix the tub fixture and snake my toilet.

By the end of 3 hours, my disposal is installed, tub fixture is now fine but supposedly they have discovered a leak under my house. When they gave me the quote it was over $17,000. I almost threw them out of my house. So I paid the $700 for the disposal installation, tub fixture and snaking/inspection.

Now I find the disposal was not installed correctly and my dishwasher it backing up. Now even I know, that you need to remove the plug in the disposal before you hook it up to the dishwasher!!! My son in law came over and fixed that problem. Stay away from this company!!!

If I could give them no stars I would.

Update - had another plumber come over who turned off my water to my house and found that the leak is from my irrigation system and not my house. Cost to me: $65.00.

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Reason of review:
Pricing issue
3 comments
Kandace Irx

These people are bandits. They should be put out of business. They should inform the clients about their prices when people call so that people can explore other options.

Guest

I used them several times in the past and the work was high quality but way over priced. They charged me $1200 to install a Laundry sink the already had the plumbing. I'm going to start shopping around in the future.

Hamdi Uyk

biggest scammers in the industry.

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Anonymous

Rip-off

It happened yesterday, 11-16 2017. When my furnace was replaced "One Hour" called Ben Franklin for a gas leek in my crawl space.

One person arrived in about one hour. Since the gas was turned off I had to agree for him to perform the work. A pipe section of a few feet was cut off and replaced. The estimated cost was about $800 and I had to pay $608, after applying a15% discount and a toy donation.

I was shown a video of the pipe replaced. I hope the work was properly done and for sure in time, the rep was polite and helpful but the cost is outrageous!!!

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Reason of review:
Pricing issue

Preferred solution: Price reduction

2 comments
Alic Qkz

Well i guess 608.00 for a Professional plumber to Replace your rotted gas line was alot Cheaper than your House blowing up! im a Union Plumber for 32 years and Trust me . Gas is No Hobby!!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Alic Qkz

Your so right sounds like a fair price to me,but people like you want something for nothing.working as a service plumber is a tough job I know.

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Anthony R Drl

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Mckinney, Texas

My experience with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

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Reference: Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, (Repair), July 30, 2017 **** Old Denton Rd. Carrollton, TX.

75006 On April 15, 2016, I called Benjamin Franklin to repair a plumping leak at my home at 2748 Vista Bluff Blvd. in Lewisville, Texas. Mr. Chuck of your company showed up and proceeded to inspect my home in order to locate the leak.

He wanted $585 up front for him to inspect and I gave it to him. After he searched using some sort of leak locating equipment he told me that the leak was located outside the house below the foundation. He located the leak from the center of the entry foyer. I had my doubts about this and told him so.

I suspected that the leak was inside the house along the wall where I first saw water saturation penetrating the floor and walls. But NO he said, He was so sure and *** that the leak was under the foundation. After digging 23 feet under the foundation Chuck discovered that the leak was not under the foundation after all.. So, he decided to look in the house and finally told me that he was going to have to repair the leak in the house above the inside floor where I had told him it was.

I questioned him about the instruments he had used and how effective were they in detecting plumbing leaks He did not answer me. The detectors apparently did not work very well or I was bamboozled. They refilled the trench but took quite a bit of dirt from it and loaded it onto a trailer and took off with it. Also, they did not properly rebury a mature bush that was next to the house and consequently died.

A day later I noticed some water coming from the area of the of the trench and called Chuck about it. He showed up sometime later, inspected and said that there was another leak next to the original one. At this time, I wondered if he had fixed the wrong one the first time. He then proceeded to repair the second leak.

He suggested that I call the insurance company and claim a second leak. He had full access to the tubing from the first repair and had to cut only one other spacein the dry wall to install the second plastic pipe. This made it a total of five holes in the dry wall. So now I had two plastic lines and three bills to contend with.

The first was $585, the second was $7750 and the third was $4750 for a total of $13,085. I understand consumers are entitled to expect quality service that can be carried out with competent technicians with due care and skill. As you can see from what I have described, the work could not be considered to be of workmanship quality. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says that reasonable care and skill must be used while working in your profession.

In my opinion, Chuck did not use reasonable care and skill when carrying out this mis-calculated work. I called Chuck several times regarding this but never got a call back. Anthony T.

Rallis Sr., 2748 Vista Bluff Blvd. Lewisville, TX 75067, atrallis@***.com

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Loss:
$7000
Reason of review:
Bad quality

Preferred solution: Price reduction

Anonymous
map-marker Bakersfield, California

Would not service our location

Not willing to take on this job and would not service us because they have never been her
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
Anonymous

Scam artist. They promise people a job and pay check (false)

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I never got paid for time I'm accountable for on 9/21/2017 and today is 10/13/2017. Good to see I donated my time with out my consent. They are located on N. 56th St in Tampa. Service is bad and office people as well. Very sad
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Anonymous

My plumber..Kevin Williams

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Im very pleased with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing! The plumber that came to my home (Kevin Williams ) was very kind, polite and knowledgeable. He cleaned up the mess he made. Also it means a lot the the plumber was on time.I enjoyed meeting Kevin. If i need a plumber in the future, i will call Benjamin Franklinagain.
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Reason of review:
Good customer service
Anonymous

Feel very sorry

OK, I had Dillion come out to fix my garbage disposal and did a great job. He was fumbling around with my credit-card so I gave him cash, a $100 bill he stated that he didn't have the normal receipts and/or the change so he proceeded to write me out a receipt on a yellow sheet of paper which I still have. Well, that was almost 4 months ago after numerous calls and numerous it's in the mail I've given up. If the poor kid needs 30 bucks that badly then he can have it, I will never use their service again Dillion,You know who I am, this is Ed in Battlefield
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Reason of review:
Problems with payment
1 comment
Guest

I am a current Ben Franklin Plumbing employee and can tell you that I chose to work here because after my initial interview I could see that they mean to be the best in town. I mean the owner of the company did my interview not the manager.

He went on to tell me how he stRted up and what his company goals are. He wanted nothing more that to have honest and fair pricing based on ask for a 10% profit. The vision of becoming the best rated and performing plumbing company in the state does come at a price. Sometimes it’s the employee not following company direction and causing the company to suffer as we, the techs in the field, are the face of the company.

We indeed have a straight forward pricing guide to go off of and from time to time have the ability to discount services when bundling things together. Such as installing a new toilet and throwing in a soft close seat at no extra vs just a standard seat. We may even throw in a new 1/4turn shutoff for that toilet so if you ever have to turn it off you can count on that shutoff working.

When I hear people talk about us as a salesman or try to push products on the clients we are with I get a little upset.

Here is how I run my call.....

Once arrived at the home intro has been taken care of shoe covers are on and homeowner has shown me the problem they are having we will either sit at the table to discuss options. In most cases however, I end up doing some testing. EXAMPLE: lavatory faucet is leaking when it is shut off. I will start by asking multiple questions such as how long this has been going on, how long do the faucet is, etc.

they I will conduct a water analysis because to me a dripping faucet is a symptom of a potentially larger issue. We will check for hardness or level of dissolved minerals in the water as well as chlorine and iron levels. If levels show hard water and high chlorine content expect me to tell you why this is causing the drip. I will then tell you how to solve the problem by either replacing the part that has gone bad, offer you a new faucet, or offer either of the 1st two and depending on water maybe a water treatment system to prevent this from happening to another faucet and prevent this from happening again in the future to this same faucet too.

My job is to explain ALL options before moving forward allowing you to be provided the best options for you to then decide on. Once an option is decided whether it’s a repair or replacement or even adding in water treatment we will complete the work and show you proof of completion and make sure it is in full working order with homeowner satisfaction guaranteed. Before a final signature is captured and call is completed I will ask you if you are 100% satisfied with the work performed and if not what we can do to get you to that level whether it be look at another issue. Cleanup a spot I missed that was pointed out or better answer any questions you may have.

Now once that is all said and done if you are still not truly satisfied with the work completed something should have been said immediately but I get it don’t want to upset the tech in the field or anything we then have a u-Winn policy and you can not lose with that. Try and find any other company out there that goes above and beyond like this.