I have a question for anyone who does plumbing or handyman or any other type of fix-it for people's homes

[Maraya1969]

I am not going into the details of everything that happened because I am too mad, Quickly; a few rats got into my house either by a hole in the house or from my cat and it ate up the drainage hose from my dishwasher. The cabinet under the sink was filled with water and when I opened it a rat came surfing out.

So pest control was here and I hired a plumbing company because the jackass from Home Depot said he couldn't put the new washer in, (another thing that made me furious)

The first plumber came here and showed me a few tiny pieces if plastic and explained about the rats. Then, he left and the dishwasher didn't work so I called them again and told them to send someone different because this guy fucked it up.

2nd guy pulls the dishwasher out and tells me I have to get a new drain hose. And then he tells ME to go to Home Depot, (about 1 mile from my house) and get the part. He wrote the name down on a piece of paper. So I go and get what the sales guy gave me, drove back to my house and am told it is the wrong part. I ask him to go himself because I know less than nothing about these things and he goes on this bullshit story about how it would cost me more that $600 if he had to "take his truck" to the store.

In the end he found it on Amazon and it should come today.

I am so mad that he either didn't have the part with him or wouldn't run to the store to get it. That is what every other worker in my life has done.

I didn't mention that all of a sudden, when he was working on the dishwasher the garage started filling up with water and he convinced me my water heater needed to be replaced so I ended up buying a new one that he put in.

I still have no hot water. Second guy reached under the sink and said he "turned it on"

What I want to know is if the sending me to the store thing is ever OK. (He sat in his truck the whole time. I gave him $40 to clean what was left under my old dishwasher)

I am going to get to their home office and register a formal complaint and ask for money back. I can't say how much because I don't have paper receipts yet and I can't get into my online bank

I know I said this would be quick and there are several things they fucked up. But the sending me to the hardware store is what is pissing me off right now.

Anyone know if that was kosher or not?

[LuckyCharms]

1. No, he should not have sent you to the store.

He was hired to repair it, and that includes providing the parts. Plumbers making a house call typically take care of all of that for the homeowner.

What's with the $600 to take his truck to the store? He's bullshitting you.

[questionseverything]

2. I would be way more worried about the rats

[Maraya1969]

4. The pest control people set traps and caught one and my cat caught the other. They also went all around the

house looking for holes or however they get in. They also put this electrical thing in the attic that will sense movement and they will get notice if it does, I might get a couple more traps just in case

All of this happened after hurricane Milton. The main electrical wire to the house was sliced right through. And I was told that it caused electrical surges.

I've been here almost 30 years and this is the first time I have had rats. I have been looking for a nice place to rehome my cat. She goes in and out a dog door and she just used to bring in lizards. I have set up an obstacle course that she has to go through to get in and I am hoping it will make it too hard for her to drag anything with her

[questionseverything]

7. If you had 2 in the house, you could have hundreds

It’s their access you have to find and close that off

Even if you only have 2 inside somewhere near outside there is a rats nest, there are always two entrances, that’s what the pest control guys have to find and clean up

I grew up on a farm and the corn cribs were infested when we first moved there, i am still traumatized from it

[Maraya1969]

8. Thank you. But this is a professional pest control company that I pay monthly. I am in south Florida

I think Hurricane Milton screwed up a lot of things here. I am going to contact them again though and tell them I want a few morel traps

They did go all around the house and put things in the attic. I have a huge bush in the backyard that I have not cut back because of global warming. I wonder if I should make sure that it is not up against the wall

[questionseverything]

9. When you say, " they went around the house ", did they find anything?

[Maraya1969]

10. They said "No" and that they believe it was my cat coming in from the dog door. It kind of makes sense

because the first one I saw was laying right next to my couch, where I sit - dead

[Shermann]

3. If a job is time-and-materials versus fixed price, contractors can and will charge for procuring parts

So that detail should be negotiated up front. That said, $600 is excessive and I would have kicked him off the property.

[Maraya1969]

13. I remembered today that that guy was the second plumber they sent. The first just told me the drain

hose was busted but he didn't even pull the dishwasher out. He showed me tiny pieces of plastic and said that was the problem.

So when they sent the other guy the next day they knew that the drain hose was broken. There was no reason to not come with the part!

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I often have gotten parts for a repair. Saves money if the work

is being done by the hour. And I control the cost of the part. Most times, I only need the labor or knowledge of the repairman.

[hunter]

6. If I was your neighbor I'd fix that for free, using rodent resistant drains and supply lines.

Trades people who give you any kind of B.S. need to be kicked out of your house immediately.

You are right to protest.

If you live in a place where they have to be licensed report them to their licensing board too. ( In most places a simple dishwasher drain hose replacement probably doesn't require any license. )

[OldBaldy1701E]

11. With all regulations being removed by the rethugs, you can expect more of this.

There is no enforcement mechanism anymore. There is nothing to do except take matters into your own hands.

This is just the start of crap like this. Just wait till your food is no longer examined. Wait till they start putting in dangerous chemicals because it is cheaper, and then not be held accountable for the deaths they cause, because there are no regs that would make them accountable.

'Carpe Diem' is now the law of the land, not just an interesting saying. And, the oligarchs do not care. Why should they?

What can we do to stop this now?

[Figarosmom]

12. When you left that guy there alone likely caused

Your water heater to flood your garage.

What makes you believe he stayed in his truck the whole time you were gone?

[Maraya1969]

14. I agree and I felt uncomfortable about it.

[Marthe48]

15. I use Mr. Rooter

I've had them out to replace faucets, and the water heater. After they assess what I need, they go to Lowe's, about a mile away, and get the parts they need. They do the work, quickly, efficiently, and behave professionally. I would recommend Mr. Rooter.

In another instant, I had a contractor come out to give me a quote on doors and gutters. I ended up with a new roof and gutters. They said they'd do the doors. but wanted me to go pick out the doors. I shopped online, realized I was out of my depth, and asked the contractor to go. Neither he or his crew went to get doors. I still need doors. I'm not recommending his contractor or asking him back.