John T.
08/03/2013 12:00:00 SA
On Thursday, I called to schedule an appointment for Friday to have my leaking main water line shut-off valve replaced with a ball valve. This was the second appointment I had to schedule with a plumber after the first plumber I hired cancelled on me on Thursday. So, for the second time in two days, I called the Board of Water Supply to shut off my water. The lady I spoke with at TNH, whom I'll admit was personable, indicated that the plumber would come to my house between 1:00 and 1:30 on Friday. She also mentioned that if I dug up the concrete valve housing, it would save the plumber time and lower my cost (since they charge by the hour). She also scheduled the appointment at the aforementioned time since she expected it would take 2 hours and their plumbers are off the clock at 3:30.
So on Thursday after work I spent an hour digging up the concrete valve cover and the area around the pipe, exposing both the valve and the top of the pipe. I'll admit that the plumber would still need to dig about 2 inches more down around the pipe to complete the job. On Friday, my fiance who was waiting for the plumber called me at 1:30 and still no plumber there. 2:00 and still the same story. At 2:30 and still no plumber, I called the lady I previously spoke with and she said He's not there? She put me on hold and called the plumber who told her that he was on his way. Sure enough he arrived at 2:34, over an hour later on the high end of the estimated time he was supposed to be there. Fiance indicated that the guy takes his time walking around.... I guess I would too if I charged by the hour. He looks at the valve and tells my fiance that he will need to reschedule as the project would take longer than an hour and he gets off at 3:30. Fiance tells me and I was livid! Two different plumbers in two days cancel, meanwhile I am the one having to schedule with Board of Water Supply to turn my water on and off..... and all I'm thinking is that I'll have to do this a third time. I just can't believe that they could just leave me high and dry (I mean wet), with no concern that my valve would continue to leak through the weekend until they were able to come back on Monday. Not gonna happen! Cancelled the service told my fiance to tell the guy to leave.... although his boss had already told him to leave as well. I also can't believe that they have a hard and fast rule to get off the clock at 3:30. You would think that they would at least give you the option to pay extra to finish the job.
Here is the icing on the cake. I end up calling about 5 different plumbers who are too busy and not available until Sunday, or don't work on the weekend altogether. So called the Board of Water Supply to have the guy come back out and turn my water on. My fiance mentions to him our problems and he immediately provides the number for a plumber friend. The plumber comes out at 4:30 with his mud gun ready to work, and finishes the job in 45 minutes. AND charges my $20 less than what TNH quoted me. Hmmmm.... it is funny how one plumber says it will take more than an hour to complete the job, while the rescue plumber finishes the job in 45 minutes. Me thinks not.