This was by far the worst experience with a plumbing company I have ever had. For background, i used to be a plumber. My wife called these people for a clogged kitchen sink. Their tech showed up, and proceeded to try to plunge the clog, despite being told that we have tried that. He then left to get a snake. He came back with a 1/4" 15' hand crank snake that might as well have come from fischer price. A plumber going to a clogged line call without a snake is just about the most idiotic thing i had ever heard . . . or so i thought.
By this point, i was on a phone call for work when i hear blood curdling screams for help coming from the basement. This genius had decided to cut a hole in the pipe (without talking to anyone) and was trying to catch the drain water with MY bucket while standing on MY step stool in my finished basement. He then tried to tell me that he had to cut the hole, because his 15' snake couldn't reach the clog. He then claimed that because there was grease in the line, the whole line would need to be replaced, which couldn't be done until the next day. He wouldn't leave without getting paid and promised to send me an estimate to replace the line.
To sum up, they demanded $330 for doing absolutely nothing, except making a mess and cutting a hole in my pipe. The next morning, i called because i had received no estimate. I was told that it would cost $600+ to replace the pipe, and that i would be charged a cancellation fee if i refused.
Instead, i called a real plumber who came with a real snake and had the drain cleared inside 30 minutes. That and repairing the pipe cost less than what Burnell had charged for nothing. These people should be arrested. Except wait, they already were. https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Owner-of-Hudson-Falls-plumbing-business-used-17380012.php read more
