After 12 years (guilty) my pump tank and the holding tank have backed up and set off the alarm. I call Celtic Risers, the company I had used in the past with no issues, and ask when Eamonn can make it out. Not right away he says, besides it first needs to be pumped. He refers me to Bob with South Sound Pumping, who gets out in a couple of days, pumps the tanks and says they are some of the worst he's seen. I don't ask why... quantity? Smell? Bob sends Eamonn some photos. Eamonn comes out the next day, then calls me to say that the pipe connecting the tanks needs to be corrected. I expose the pipe for him to work on and leave a message saying so. No response. I leave several messages over several days, asking him to call and let me know when he can return. I want to make sure the pump is operating properly and see what he would recommend doing with the pipe before closing up. When Eamonn does call back, he tells me he's very busy and asks what I need him to do. I'm sure I sound exasperated but say I'd like him to check that the pump is usable and the pipe is as it should be. He sounds hesitant so I have to ask if he works on pumps. He assures me that he does. I'm in a bind with relatives showing up for a week. I ask if he's still interested in coming out or should I get somebody else. He says he'll check his calendar and get back to me.
No return call for 2 days. I had been calling his cell but decide to leave a message on the office phone. His wife answers and asks "what can we do for you?" Now I'm getting apoplectic. I'm beginning to feel that I'm being toyed with. But I explained who I am and that I'm trying to get in touch with Eamonn. Carrie then extends me the courtesy to tell me that Eamonn does not want to do my job (6 days later). When I ask why she tells me I have "rubbed him the wrong way." I'm sure I did but I believe it was a direct result of not having my phone calls returned.
I thank her for leveling with me and ask if she would relay a message to Eamonn - as a professional he might want to return customers' phone calls, especially when an initial level of commitment has been made, and if he isn't going to take a job let the customer know as soon as possible so they can make other plans.
Happy ending: I did make other plans, summarized in a separate review of Safe Harbor Septic, who did a good job at a fair price. read more