DO NOT USE A-1 SEWER AND SEPTIC! (Kansas City, Kansas)…read more
Our septic system was starting to back up some in our toilet and shower, although we could still flush and run water. A-1 Sewer and Septic quoted us $175 to clear the line. When the technician arrived, Bryan, he told us he would have to remove the toilet to access the line, adding another $135 to remove and reinstall it. We've had our lines cleaned out before and they were able to bring the Roto-Rooter machine down in our basement never has anyone said that they had to run it through the toilet. We were never told this might be necessary when we scheduled the service. When I expressed surprise, he said, "Or you could do it." I had no idea how to remove a toilet! In nearly 40 years in this house, we've always had this type of work done through the basement. We wish they had given us a heads-up before arriving.
The technician ran the Roto-Rooter approximately 75 feet, but afterward, our problem was much worse. We couldn't run any water without it backing up into the shower and leaking downstairs. We later discovered that the outlet pipe leading into the septic tank was broken, preventing wastewater from flowing into the tank. A-1 Sewer and Septic never identified or fixed this problem.
The next day, another technician, Dan, came out, "supposedly" to run a camera through the line. He said he first needed to locate the tank. I showed him a diagram provided by the previous homeowner indicating where the tank was located. Once we pinpointed the location, he said he would have to charge extra to dig it up. We refused to pay additional charges for digging, so my 10-year-old grandson and I started digging, with help from my wife. We couldn't finish that day and had to have our daughter come over the next day to help.
The technician mostly watched us dig while taking pictures and making notes. He had brought a shovel, which was lying on the ground in case we wanted him to help, but he never meaningfully assisted us with the digging. While taking pictures, he said something to the effect of, "I have to move my shovel so they won't think I helped, or I should have charged you that also." We found that comment ridiculous, especially considering that my 10-year-old grandson and I were doing the digging while he stood by taking pictures and notes. When I later complained to the manager, Tim, about the charges, the manager contacted the technician, who claimed he had helped us dig. That was simply not what happened. He never ran the camera, yet we were charged for the visit anyway.
A-1 Sewer and Septic was also supposed to arrange a septic tank pump-out, but when my wife called to confirm, nothing had been scheduled.
At that point, we had enough. We cut our losses and hired another septic company that we had used in the past for pump-outs. We had always been satisfied with their service and found their prices reasonable. Our next-door neighbor also uses this company, and they replaced his septic tank riser about five years ago. He has had no problems with their work.
The company pumped our tank, discovered the broken outlet pipe leading into the septic tank, and cut off the damaged section so we could use our water again temporarily while awaiting repairs.
A-1 Sewer and Septic proposed work costing approximately $2,700 to install a riser so the septic tank could be accessed from above without digging. We decided to cancel their services. The company we hired instead installed the riser for just $600. They still need to return to complete the repair to the broken outlet pipe using PVC, but the rain has delayed that work.
We paid A-1 Sewer and Septic $465, and they left us with a much worse problem than we started with. We were quoted approximately $3,265 for their proposed work, and that still would not have addressed the broken outlet pipe that was preventing wastewater from entering the septic tank.
We feel we were constantly nickeled and dimed, charged for work that was never performed, and left to do the digging ourselves. We're extremely glad we hired another company. Save yourself the frustration, unexpected charges, and wasted money. Avoid A-1 Sewer and Septic!
