Monday, March 6th 2023
I called around for quotes and Clark's Plumbing said they could come out Wednesday to clear out the drain but if I wanted him to come out Tuesday it would cost another $50 extra because he would have to reschedule other jobs. I declined and said I would wait. He called back shortly and said because he heard a baby in the background, he'd waive that $50 and be able to come Tuesday after all.
Tuesday March 7, 2023
He and his worker showed up and his worker worked for about 5 hours while he stood around occasionally on the phone. His worker snaked the clean out and used another tool to pull more flushable wipes out. He charged me $250 because he said he was unable to unclog the drain. He claimed he lost money for the day for so much time spent on the job. He suspected that there was a blockage of wipes and/or roots and needed to cut it open to remove the blockage then replace that section. He initially joked but later said it would be $2000 to do that job. He also joked about trading my truck for his labor. Unprofessional.
Monday, March 13th 2023
Clark's worker dug the hole to the area where he suspected where the blockage was. He said tree roots were not the cause but rather wipes that were clumped at that location upon cutting open the pipe. Then he mentioned I would be paying for materials. He said he would charge it at Home Depot or Lowes and I'd pay for it. He claimed he needed to get another pump from Home Depot to push the sewage through because the size of my pipes. After getting that pump he claimed there was additional work that needs to be done and would cost another $2000. He claimed he needed to run a camera through to see what was causing the slow drain and use the jetter then a spot repair and that any other plumbing company would charge at least $2600 for the job. He suggested I call and ask around for quotes because he said he was giving me a discount. He spent from 12:00 - 7:00 pm watching his worker dig and snake the pipes. He even pulled out my folding chair in my storage area to sit and watch his worker. Unprofessional. As he left he joked if I was making adobo for dinner (assuming I was Filipino). He joked that (me being Filipino) was why he gave me the discount. Unprofessional. I shut the door and proceeded to make dinner for my family.
I texted Clark later that evening around 10:00 pm to notify of canceling his return because I got a quote from another professional plumbing company that would do it for $900 the next day. Clark responded: I still have to charge the $2000, plus $600 for what I had to do already if I stop at this point. Having to pull out the excess wipes. I disagreed and questioned why he was charging me for $2000 on work he didn't completely do then adding $600 after telling him I was using another plumber. I repeatedly requested for him to put his services on an itemized invoice/statement. He continued to message me until 12:30 am. Unprofessional.
Tuesday, March 14th 2023
Clark called 4 times and I did not answer because I didn't want to hear him make excuses when I repeatedly asked for the itemized bill.
Another professional plumbing company came and used his hydro jetter machine to clear out the drains. He didn't have to use a camera. From his years of experience, he suspected that it could be a slow drain due to the slope of the pipe from the age of the home. And he also didn't think the tree roots were the problem. He charged $400 and would schedule his worker to return to do the spot repair. Total would be $900 compared to what Clark was going to charge me at $2000.
Friday, March 17th 2023
Clark finally sent me an itemized bill for the services from Monday, March 13th. In the bill he described the services he provided and changed the final amount to $1600 when he originally said it would be $2000, then $2600. I told him I'd pay with my credit card and asked for all and any charges associated with using my card. Then he claims it charges me, I take that loss. Unprofessional and annoying. I paid the bill and got 2 other professional plumber's opinions on the itemized bill. Both claimed I was overcharged and that any plumber spending that much time on a clogged drain without moving on to another strategy within an hour or two is just wasting everyone's time.
I would not recommend using Clark's Plumbing Company. Clark, the owner, spent most of his time talking about how competent he was to me and justifying why it was taking so long. His worker was the one digging and snaking in the sewage. Clark was unprofessional and annoying with his repeated inappropriate jokes. He left the wipes they pulled out discarded around the cleanout and around where his worker dug and cut the pipe. No other profession I hired to do work on the properties would have felt entitled to taking their customer's folding chair out to sit on and leave it out in the yard upon leaving.
