Kristin G.
06/01/2021 12:00:00 SA
I hate to write negative reviews, but after broken promises to return to finish the job, this company took my money, didn't finish the job, left my bathroom in really bad shape, and won't return my calls or texts. I contacted Velocity Rooter for an estimate to install a new pedestal sink, cold and hot water shut offs, tub and shower fixtures, and bathtub clean out cover.
Before they came for the in-person estimate, they had me text them pictures of the sink and shower we wanted to update, including pictures of the drain and water supply lines. I sent pictures that included mark ups on what I wanted to remove and replace, and also the listing for the sink and bathtub / shower faucet combo I was planning to buy for them to install. Eduardo came with his assistant to our home to look over our bathroom and go over the work we wanted. I showed him how the cold and hot water handles in the shower were not flush with the tile, and how the drain pipe behind the sink and the plates on the cold and hot water shut offs were rusty and needed replacing. Eduardo told us through his assistant who was translating for him, that to do the installations, replace the drain pipe into the wall, and replace the water shut offs behind the sink, would cost $525. It seemed like a very fair price, so we agreed. He also said that the tub and shower faucet combo we were planning to order wouldn't fit the existing plumbing, so he asked me to send a few other options so they could pick the one that would work best. I texted 4 tub/ shower combos, and he chose one for me to order.
After I had the things we had discussed I order, we scheduled a time for the installation. Eduardo came an hour late with his assistant to start the job, and left him to prep the area while he said he was going to get supplies. He returned in a very unpleasant mood, and his assistant told me that the existing stems in the shower for the hot, cold, and bathtub to shower diverter, were the wrong length to fit the shower / bathtub combo I had ordered, and so Eduardo was going to go back to a plumbing supply store to look for different ones. I was sympathetic and apologetic because he was very angry, but I reminded him that I had changed my plan and ordered the combo he had told me to. He returned from the store with different stems, that also didn't fit, so he finally decided to take the box from the bathtub shower combo with him, in hopes of having better luck. Why he didn't do that from the start is baffling, but I think he was juggling many different jobs that day, and in an awful mood.
When I checked in to see how it was going in the bathroom, I was told they were almost finished, but I pointed out that the handles in the shower and the bathtub faucet were not flush with the tile and looked crooked. I was told that it was because the valves behind the wall were the problem and that they were still working on it. I pointed out that the water supply hoses behind the sink looked really long, and I was told they were planning to put shorter ones in. I pointed out that the plates to the hot and cold shut offs were the same rusty broken ones they said they were going to replace, and they said they were going to change them. I pointed out that the same rusty drain pipe was there, and I was told that unfortunately, even though they'd said at the estimate they could change that, it couldn't be changed after all, but that he could put some kind of sleeve over it to make it more attractive. It felt like a manipulative good cop - bad cop routine with Eduardo's assistant saying they would fix everything I was asking about, but I believe Eduardo had no intention of finishing the job he had agreed to.
At 6pm we were told they had to run to another job to install a toilet, but that they would come back later that evening or in the morning to fix the things we were unhappy with. They also told us we owed them $600 and needed to pay right then. We responded that we had only agreed to $525 and that they hadn't finished what they had agreed to for that amount. Eduardo started yelling and cursing in our front yard about how he had had to drive all over looking for stems for the shower (for the combo that in reality he had asked me to order). It was very intimidating and aggressive and I wound up sending him a Zelle transfer on the spot for $540, with the agreement that he was going to return to fix the problems. About 5 minutes later he was banging on our door, claiming I had not sent the money transfer. We showed him that I had, and even texted him a screenshot from my bank account. I tried to explain that if his account was with a different bank than mine, that it could take a more time for him to actually receive the money into his account. After some cursing and spitting in our front lawn, it seemed like his assistant convinced him that I'd paid.
They never returned, they wont answer my calls or texts, my bathroom needs a real plumber.