i just had this issue again 3 days ago. its an issue i have about 2x a year
i replace a sink or bathtub....then the homeowner complains that the drain doesnt drain as well afterwards...my answer is always 'unless i dropped a wrench into the drain its just some gunk that was already in there and you have to pay to have it drain cleaned'
i dont know if they are lying about the slow drains (trying to get me to clean them for free), or if me cutting the pipes and rattling them some breaks loose alot of gunk and plugs them up....either way how is that my fault?
my contracts say 'not responsible for existing conditions of the piping'
when the customers persist(which they always seem to) i say 'who put the gunk in your pipes? did i?, unless i put the gunk in there its an pre-existing condition'
ive never had a happy customer when this issue comes up...i see it as an abusive customer who's trying to get something for free.....
the latest one was a sewer backup(citywide)...it permanently stained the plastic laundry tub, so they got it replaced from the insurance company....now that the drains are slow they want me to clean them for free....sewage from the whole city backed up through their laundry tub....but its now my fault that the drains dont work well. it has nothing to do with their neighbors poop coming out their drains.
i typically start out being nice and explaining why its not my fault, but when they persist and demand i fix it i get irritated. i refuse to pay $150 to have their drains cleaned....the last job was $35 in profit and was done @ T&M...no way ill pay!
any opinions?
i had one customer a while back with galvanized water pipe. i replaced a section and afterwards she blamed me for her faucets plugging up over and over....i think she wanted me to repipe her whole house for free....she reported me to the BBB....since that job was T&M i offered to come over w/o trip charge or min's and fix the problems...she wanted it for free...then complained about my prices.
maybe i need to do a disclaimer for any customer w/ old plumbing...to make them realize things i do may effect their old plumbing....its always on old houses....50-100 years old....the majority of my work is on newer houses 10-30 years old
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