1. National HomeWarranty (NHW)/LY.inc. Failed to complete a drain pipe clog job on 12/8/03 by not checking to see if the kitchen clog was clear of the house. The worker from NHW moved the back up from the kitchen sink only, and declared the clog gone.
2. I was charged and I paid for the incomplete service noted in #1 above. An invoice (Residential Service Center's #98752) was handed to me, and I charged $45 on my MasterCard over the phone with LY.inc. Personnel (431-4311).
3. Clog was not gone. It moved to a position that now blocked the entire house drainage. National Home Warranty/L.Y.inc. Refused to consider my call on 12/9 as an emergency. The sewage back up claimed a good portion of my downstairs bar, bathroom, and bedroom, including clothing and shoes. We were forced to live elsewhere due to loss of use of the kitchen and toilet facilities.
4. On 12/12 after numerous calls from me to Home Warranty/LY, Inc., a second NHW worker arrived (Bill) and walked around viewing the damage and taking pictures.
5. The second worker (Bill) opened the outside cutout and proceeded to snake from the house to the street which did not move the blockage because the blockage was in the house the opposite direction. He proclaimed that his snake detected grease, and he could not fix the blockage. I asked if there was a charge for this, he said no. When he left, he gave me no write up or invoice and declared that there was no charge.
6. On 12/13, a legitimate licensed plumber was called and the plumber fixed the problem at a cost of $120.00, He presented me with a detailed invoice describing the problem as one of a break in the main water pipe. Running the snake back into the house not only broke up the clog but showed traces of mud and dirt in the pipe. Because this was not a normal blockage but one due to a broken line, he refused to issue their standard 30 day warranty, saying until this is repaired, blockage may continue to develop.
7. National Home Warranty sent me a bill (Billing No. 293426) on 12/30 for $45 for the damage assessment visit on 12/12, for which the plumber had said no charge.
8. I had the repairs made to the drain pipe under my house using professionals. I then complained to the Insurance Department as to why I had to bear this expense alone since my insurance contract covered breaks in pipes under the house.
9. The Insurance Department investigated and concluded that National Home Warranty and Zach Lichenstein were wrong to deny the claim. Lichenstein and NHW have yet to respond to the Insurance Director's finding. They continue to deny coverage for breakage under my house, even though the Insurance Department said they should honor their agreement with me.
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