Do you work for this business? Unlock this free profile to update company info and see who's viewing your profile.

• By Anonymous

  July 14, 2014

  Snake a drain

  $600

  3 days

  Nightmare Experience! Do Not Use!

  DO NOT USE 410-Plumber or John Andrew Smith! Our experience was quite unsatsifactory. On June 30, 2014 we called 410-Plumber after seeing a truck with an advertisement stating "We unclog any drain for $79." The woman answering the phone stated that they "had someone in our area and he could be over in less than an hour. We were told there was also a $29 service call fee, so the total would be $108 to snake our kitchen drain. Once there, Mr. Smith told us we needed to have a Hydro-jet clean out of our drain line. He said we really needed to do this since the build up was pretty bad. Snaking the line would clear a path but not remove all the build up so it would likely clog again in the future. He stated this would be $600. I asked why it was so expensive and was told that it was a two-man job, he would need special equipment - a hydro jett fitting and a compressor, he would be cleaning over 35 feet of pipe. He also said he would include the snaking job that was just done. We finally agreed, and my husband gave a check. They were supposed to come back on July 2, 2014 to do the hydro jett cleaning. The plumber was nearly an hour late, it was not the same guy, he was alone, in an unmarked pick up truck, and did not have the proper equipment. After he realized that he did not have the right equipment, he went to Home Depot. He returned an hour later with a different hose. He tried to hook it up but said it did not look like it was crimped correctly and it would not work. He said he would come back the next day. I asked why he was alone, and he only said "I don't know, they sent me, and it would be better with another guy, but I can do it." He came back the following day on July 3, 2014, about 30 minutes late, and tried again, assuring me that he had the proper equipment, but actually he did not. The 1/4" jetter line exploded when he turned on the compressor, thankfully he was testing it in my driveway! He then chose to use a 3/8" jetter hose. At that point the valve would not fit into the first elbow joint in the pipe under the sink. He proceeded to cut the pipe and then could only fit about six feet along. He tried repeatedly, banging and banging it into the pipe, turning the water on and off, but the hose would not go more than 6 feet. I finally went downstairs into the unfinished part of the basement to see if I could hear the banging and where the hose was stopping. I went upstairs and told him that I could hear the hose nozzle banging at the point of another turn in the pipe. He continued to try and try. Lots of banging and knocking for an hour. Finally I decided to get a flashlight and a step ladder so I could look into the opening of the bulkhead area backing up next to the finished rec room in the basement. When I looked, I yelled to him to stop because there was a clear leak now, dripping from the corner joint area. A puddle was forming in the bulkhead. He came downstairs and saw for himself, and then we realized that the leak was actually coming through the rec room ceiling, at the point where the wall meets the ceiling (wall separates the unfinished room from the finished room. The water was clearly coming through the ceiling now. He stopped all work and said the only way to know why it was leaking was to cut through the drywall in the ceiling. I said "No way!" I wanted him out and I wanted my money back. I now had a leak, and wet ceiling! I called the office at least 4 days in a row asking about a refund, minus the $108 for the snaking job. I was told repeatedly that someone named Beth would call me back. Each day I called and asked for Beth. I was told she was not in, but would call me back when she came in. I asked when she would be in, but the woman always said she did not know. I found out Beth is the owner's wife and was told that she is the only one who could issue a refund. After 5 attempts to reach Beth, with no return call from her or anyone else, I told the woman answering the phone that I would file a complaint with the MD DLLR and the MD Board of Plumbing. She basically said "Ok, I'll give her the message." My husband has called twice since then, and gets the same run around, no returned calls at all. But they certainly cashed our check within 24 hours! At this point I am filing a complaint and also contacting the Better Business Bureau. Do not use 410-Plumber!

  Read more