I needed some plumbing work done. We need to install a dishwasher, lower a gas line for our stove, repair an unstable pipe to our shower and install a pressure reducer. At first, Wilkins didn't return my call, so I got estimates from other companies.
The contractor that we initially chose had looked at the items and told us that the total cost would be $750 for ALL of the work. They said that it may be lower if they were able to adjust the gas line without changing it. The contractor kept delayed starting the work for several days. At that time Wilkins plumbing finally returned my call. The manager said "I will do the same job for $100 less than the other company and I can start immediately".
The next day, October 2, his plumber came to start the work. My wife was home, I was at work After they started I was told that they would have to bring in a drywall worker to finish the shower when the plumber finished. This was going to cost an ADDITIONAL $250. Their price just went from $100 lower than their competitor, to $150 HIGHER!
When the work was done, I noticed that plumber never reinstalled the flange on the shower. I also noticed that the plumber never lowered the gas line on our stove. This meant that our slide-in stove sticks out from the cabinets (that is why we hired a plumber to lower the line!). Finally, I noticed that the plumber never installed the kick panels after installing the dishwasher. The panel was just slid under the dishwasher instead. The pressure reducer was installed correctly.
The overall result was I paid $150 more than the first contractor estimated, and the work wasn't done right.
I called Wilkin's and spoke to a manger, who told me that they "could not lower the gas line", as he had originally promised. He said that he would come and look at the work to see if there was anything he could do. That was the last time that I spoke with a human at Wilkin's. They have not returned any of my phone calls. I have two cancelled checks, totalling $904 for work that a) wasn't done right, and b) $150 more than the company whose prices Wilkin's said they could beat!
0 comments