- Report: #41670
Complaint Review: Roto-Rooter - Chicago Illinois
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Roto-Rooter
21168 Network Place Chicago, 60673 Illinois, U.S.A.
Phone:
708-385-7190
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Roto-Rooter rip-off fraudulent business deceptive company Chicago Illinois
I was quoted a price by Roto Rooter for sewer rodding services and I understood and accepted the cost.
In the process of running approx. 100 ft. of cable the tech stated to me that he would need more cable because he didn't have enough to complete the job.
The original quote was now being altered to include an "additional" cost TO ME so he could call out another tech who had the adequate equipment to finish the job that he could no longer complete.
I was told by the tech supervisor I could either pay for the add'l charges or the tech would simply pack up and leave without any further resolution. Basically, If I would have had a tech who had an add'l 30 feet of cable (as I was told that most techs do) I could have saved $300. I am being penalized for the fact that my tech simply didn't have enough material to complete a quoted job.
The quote I accepted did not even mention much less specify that the cable length allowed to be used had to be within a certain number of feet or there would be "extra" or "additional" charges. Nor did it mention the cost could or would depend on whether or not your tech had proper equipment.
These charges are not due to what could be considered part of a problem with my property. This is due to lack of equipment to complete a normal job and nothing more. This was not a problem with my plumbing or some unusual circumstance connected to my property.
This was simply something EXTRA. So I had NO choices here. Either I had to agree to the new terms of the revised quote, or the tech would just walk out right in the middle of the job.
I feel this is totally unacceptable. Again, I am not disputing the original quote, I am only questioning why I am paying for basically not being lucky enough to have gotten a tech who had add'l cable. The tech supervisor offered nothing more than and "oh well" attitude so I have no intentions of pursuing the issue with him any further.
I e-mailed the customer service coordinator but have not received a responce. I tried calling the several listings for Roto-Rooter and have been transferred, kept on hold, and basicly ignored. After trying, unsuccessfully, to speak to anyone in authority at Roto-Rooter who can or even cares to resolve this, I have decided to take the matter to small claims court.
John
Bensenville, Illinois
U.S.A.
In the process of running approx. 100 ft. of cable the tech stated to me that he would need more cable because he didn't have enough to complete the job.
The original quote was now being altered to include an "additional" cost TO ME so he could call out another tech who had the adequate equipment to finish the job that he could no longer complete.
I was told by the tech supervisor I could either pay for the add'l charges or the tech would simply pack up and leave without any further resolution. Basically, If I would have had a tech who had an add'l 30 feet of cable (as I was told that most techs do) I could have saved $300. I am being penalized for the fact that my tech simply didn't have enough material to complete a quoted job.
The quote I accepted did not even mention much less specify that the cable length allowed to be used had to be within a certain number of feet or there would be "extra" or "additional" charges. Nor did it mention the cost could or would depend on whether or not your tech had proper equipment.
These charges are not due to what could be considered part of a problem with my property. This is due to lack of equipment to complete a normal job and nothing more. This was not a problem with my plumbing or some unusual circumstance connected to my property.
This was simply something EXTRA. So I had NO choices here. Either I had to agree to the new terms of the revised quote, or the tech would just walk out right in the middle of the job.
I feel this is totally unacceptable. Again, I am not disputing the original quote, I am only questioning why I am paying for basically not being lucky enough to have gotten a tech who had add'l cable. The tech supervisor offered nothing more than and "oh well" attitude so I have no intentions of pursuing the issue with him any further.
I e-mailed the customer service coordinator but have not received a responce. I tried calling the several listings for Roto-Rooter and have been transferred, kept on hold, and basicly ignored. After trying, unsuccessfully, to speak to anyone in authority at Roto-Rooter who can or even cares to resolve this, I have decided to take the matter to small claims court.
John
Bensenville, Illinois
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Sewerratz
Naperville,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Illinois Plumbing Code
#2Consumer Comment
Wed, August 20, 2008
OK you said he had 100 foot of cable on his machine. Guess what that is all the machine holds. One of the reasons for this is that most plumbing codes state that there should be a clean out every 50 feet or at every change of direction. No it is not the plumber you called fault in any way that your sewer was over a 100 feet. Most plumbers do not carry extra cable. But one thing is true about most company's the other trucks have the same type machine which the cables can interconnect. If you called my company we do the job by time and Material. A job needing extra cable usually takes an hour and a half to two hours. So your cost would of been $345.00 or $425.00 Our rates break down as follows $60.00 service call $45.00 Large Machine Charge and $160.00 per hour. Now I know not all home owners know their line may be over 100 feet. But after we figure that out, I tell them to make sure if they ever plug up again to tell the dispatcher how long their sewer is to ensure the plumber picks up extra cable. Most plumbers don't carry it due to space limitations in the van. This also applies to the plumber not having the part to fix your plumbing problem if he was to carry every part out there we have to drive semi trucks, and we still couldn't have every part that was ever made. So please keep in mind we can not see how your sewer is ran and know exactly how long it is till we stick a rodder in the line, or unless you inform us before hand.
Adolph
South Bend,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Heeeeey!...'franchised' service companies. They do by the book! (Their book)
#3Consumer Comment
Thu, January 16, 2003
Ahhhhh yes...."Roto Rooter"; brings back fond memories...NOT! 'I feel your pain'....uhh who said that?...well never mind. Years ago I called the local Roto Rooter franchise to auger roots out of the line to the street on a house I owned at that time. There had already been a clean-out Y installed, so it was a simple job....except for the fact: The cretin that showed up to do the work had absolutely NO useable blades (totally dull and bent) with the ends broken off the cables onto which the blades attatched.
I happen to have a well equipped shop, so I straightened and sharpened the blades, welded the cables back together. That took me just a little longer than the time the dodo took then doing the actual 'roto-rooting';about an hour.
I guess you know where this's going now. I was charged over 2.2 hours labor. The nice FRANCHISED Roto-Rooter people thought they were going to charge me for the time I spent on THEIR equipment so it was even USEABLE! After a lenghty argument I was ultimately charged for "1.4 hours". We were both unhappy. I still got screwed, and they sincerely believed I owed for all the time the guy was at the jobsite. Their office, at the end of the conflict exclaimed "don't ever expect us to service this site ever again". I then expressed my extreme gratitude. That would certainly relieve me of the possibility of facing assault charges.
