Need help for an issue...

[Josephine]

I had a clogged sink in my kitchen. I had my raffle winner coming over tomorrow so I thought I would call to check if anyone was available. I called a company named New Canadian Drain. First on Google. I called and ask them for a plumber. I didn't ask for an emergency nor did I asked for it to be done today. I was just checking my luck. To my big surprise the guy told me someone could be there shortly! Awesome! So I have him come over.

I asked if I could get an estimate on the phone, noone could give me an answer
I asked the technician if I could get a price, he told me the company was charging that he didn't know.

737$ for 23 minutes. There is no breakdown on the Bill. Just a description of what he did. I called and asked why they charge me that much - emergency fee, holidays, booking fee plus the job. But there is none of it on the bill.

Can I do something?

 

[Josephine]

You have a few options, each with various consequences. You could simply pay as much as you think is fair in the situation. If they want whatever is left over, they can take you to court and make their own case....it's unlikely they will do this over a couple hundred dollars. I am not a plumber and unsure of the specifics of what they did, what was said/not said, if any equipment/replacements were involved, but that fee sounds extremely high if it was just general labour without installation of equipment, etc.

Alternatively, you could ask them for a detailed breakdown and that you will not pay until you receive said breakdown. After getting the breakdown, you can decide for yourself. What they cannot do is not tell you the price or give you the slightest inclination of what the price might be, do the work, and then charge you an astronomical amount above and beyond whatever the market price is. I used to shovel the driveways of neighbors when I was younger. Price was never discussed and I know damn well I couldn't ask them for $500 because "we never confirmed the price beforehand".

When I called they told me there was an emergency fee which I never asked for AND is nowhere on the Bill. Nothing was replaced just cleaned. 23 minutes like I said. I have no clue of their rates here. I asked for a resolution from human to human to avoid further problem. I paid. The technician refused to leave if I wasn't paying. I was litteraly forced to send a emt on the spot.

 

[downbound123]

I had a clogged sink in my kitchen. I had my raffle winner coming over tomorrow so I thought I would call to check if anyone was available. I called a company named New Canadian Drain. First on Google. I called and ask them for a plumber. I didn't ask for an emergency nor did I asked for it to be done today. I was just checking my luck. To my big surprise the guy told me someone could be there shortly! Awesome! So I have him come over.

I asked if I could get an estimate on the phone, noone could give me an answer
I asked the technician if I could get a price, he told me the company was charging that he didn't know.

737$ for 23 minutes. There is no breakdown on the Bill. Just a description of what he did. I called and asked why they charge me that much - emergency fee, holidays, booking fee plus the job. But there is none of it on the bill.

Can I do something?

Plugged sink and 23 minutes. Sounds like a plunger and or snake job. Easy fix. Looks like you got scammed.

 

[jeff2]

Worked for bathroom sink a few months ago.

 

[Josephine]

So if you've already paid the fee, there's not much you can do. You could try reporting them to the better business bureau (or whatever the name is). There is nothing wrong with asking them for a breakdown in the situation. If you felt intimidated, I would of called a family member/friend if you had any in the area. It's not so rare for these service technicians to take advantage of woman who are living alone. I always used to make sure I was home when my single mother ordered a technician to come by. It's a bit of an annoyance but it probably isn't worth the effort to tarnish their reputation, etc.

I am on the line with the bank trying to reverse my payment. I should not be intimidated to make a payment.

 

[alligator1]

Called a plumber to connect a new hose to a tap under the sink. Gave him a coffee. Took less then 10 minutes. Charged me $700. I paid him $200 double what it was worth. He hired a collection agency. I offered $2.49 to settle. They disappeared along with the plumber. Don't pay it!

 

[Butler1000]

That's nuts. I usually get a q00 buck service call fee, then maybe 80 bucks an hours after plus parts.

 

[Josephine]

Called a plumber to connect a new hose to a tap under the sink. Gave him a coffee. Took less then 10 minutes. Charged me $700. I paid him $200 double what it was worth. He hired a collection agency. I offered $2.49 to settle. They disappeared along with the plumber. Don't pay it!

I paid. I have a men in my apartment that refuse to leave and a company on the phone that refuse to settle. The bank cannot get my money back as well...

 

[tastingyou]

I had a clogged sink in my kitchen. I had my raffle winner coming over tomorrow so I thought I would call to check if anyone was available. I called a company named New Canadian Drain. First on Google. I called and ask them for a plumber. I didn't ask for an emergency nor did I asked for it to be done today. I was just checking my luck. To my big surprise the guy told me someone could be there shortly! Awesome! So I have him come over.

I asked if I could get an estimate on the phone, noone could give me an answer
I asked the technician if I could get a price, he told me the company was charging that he didn't know.

737$ for 23 minutes. There is no breakdown on the Bill. Just a description of what he did. I called and asked why they charge me that much - emergency fee, holidays, booking fee plus the job. But there is none of it on the bill.

Can I do something?

Contact Pat Foran at CTV NEWS [ consumer advocate ] - he loves to expose scammers on TV - 416-384-7148 - if he takes your case he will be successful- search his name

NEW CANADIAN DRAIN ARE THUGS AND SCAMMERS

Any reviews found on any company's website are almost always LIES and BULLSHIT and should be completely ignored

 

[oakvilleguy]

This is how they get you. They get their listing to pop up to the top of the search list. Pretty slimy not to give you an estimate upfront.

if it’s any consolation, I just paid $500 for a guy to catch a bat in my bathroom and it took him 10 mins, but he told me it took him an hour to get to my place. I had gotten an estimate and agreed to the $500. When you call last minute, they know they’ve got you.

 

[bazokajoe]

Plugged sink and 23 minutes. Sounds like a plunger and or snake job. Easy fix. Looks like you got scammed.

Or a jug of draino

 

[NHFL]

You have to be careful with plumbers for sure. Had many instances of attempted to be "taken" by them. There will always, however, be honest plumbers out there - you just have to take the time to find them.

 

[Josephine]

This is how they get you. They get their listing to pop up to the top of the search list. Pretty slimy not to give you an estimate upfront.

if it’s any consolation, I just paid $500 for a guy to catch a bat in my bathroom and it took him 10 mins, but he told me it took him an hour to get to my place. I had gotten an estimate and agreed to the $500. When you call last minute, they know they’ve got you.

Maybe I should start catching bat lol

 

[Shaquille Oatmeal]

If you are intimidated immediately call 911 or atleast threaten to escalate.
They will mostly leave.
Or call your building security or a neighbour or a friend.
Never cave in.
However that is easy for a guy like me to say.
They do take advantage of women and try to arm twist them.
Just brush it off. It is only a few 100 bucks.
Use this as a learning opportunity.
I never let anyone do work in my house without telling me how much it would cost.
If they cannot say, then buh bye! Next! lol

 

[Shaquille Oatmeal]

By the way did he atleast fix the drain?

 

[Josephine]

By the way did he atleast fix the drain?

Yes they did!

I am calming down now but I left a very bad review to help me overcome my emotions lol

 

[SchlongConery]

Does the invoice show their City of Toronto license?

Does the invoice show the plumber who attended name?

If not, WRITE them and ask for that information.

Chances are they are neither licensed plumber (which is a regulated trade in Ontario) nor are they likely licensed by the City of Toronto.

Plumbing & Heating

Anyone involved in the following work must obtain a licence: installing warm air, hot water or steam heating equipment contracting for the installation or repair of plumbing

www.toronto.ca

Either way you can complain to the City over them not being licensed or their business practices.

Be VERY careful of what and how you reply. If you say that you are going to file a legal complaint with the City and Province UNLESS they refund however much, that is a criminal offence of extortion.

 

[jerbear15]

I had a clogged sink in my kitchen. I had my raffle winner coming over tomorrow so I thought I would call to check if anyone was available. I called a company named New Canadian Drain. First on Google. I called and ask them for a plumber. I didn't ask for an emergency nor did I asked for it to be done today. I was just checking my luck. To my big surprise the guy told me someone could be there shortly! Awesome! So I have him come over.

I asked if I could get an estimate on the phone, noone could give me an answer
I asked the technician if I could get a price, he told me the company was charging that he didn't know.

737$ for 23 minutes. There is no breakdown on the Bill. Just a description of what he did. I called and asked why they charge me that much - emergency fee, holidays, booking fee plus the job. But there is none of it on the bill.

Can I do something?

Anytime certain trades come in on a weekend they charge you more they should have told you before what the charge was before they showed up and before they started work. If they can't tell you the cost for the "call out fee" pass on them. Anytime you have something like that you can always pm me for someone. What they did was unethical.

 

[Josephine]

The odd thing is that they are rated A+ on the BBB website. They seem to have been around for YEARS. Perhaps the issue was service person specific and not company specific. I could see why someone unsuspecting would use them. They seem credible on paper.

Right?! It's always the same guy answering. However, the name on the bill is not the name of the company that I called.which I find weird...

 

[jerbear15]

Anytime certain trades come in on a weekend they charge you more they should have told you before what the charge was before they showed up and before they started work. If they can't tell you the cost for the "call out fee" pass on them. Anytime you have something like that you can always pm me for someone. What they did was unethical.

I'm guessing all they did was snake the drain lol. $800 for that is bad and can't imagine someone handing you that invoice thinking that was ok