Shoddy workmanship, poor business practices and customer care. I know this is long review but well worth the read.
I had Johnny, the owner of Desert Pool Co, do a quote on a repair of my pool equipment. I needed non-functional equipment removed and inline cleaner added. He told me the cleaner equipment would not fit due to space constraints but he would remove the obsolete equipment and replace my heat sensor for $450. I asked what would it be to just have my heat sensor replaced and he quoted $100.
On the day of repair we found the heat sensor was functional and would not require replacement. I pointed out by reading the instructions and looking at photos of the cleaner installation, the cleaner would in fact fit my equipment if the instructions were actually followed. He agreed to install the cleaner but we did not discuss the additional cost at that time.
I had checked on him prior to installation of the cleaner equipment when I had a call I needed to take. The call lasted less than 30 minutes. I promptly went back to check of Johnny and the work. He had already finished the installation, cleaned up and left the site.
On initial inspection the work appeared to be complete other than a few things did not quite meet expectations. The pool deck he had left my cover off to the water fill valve and he did not adjust back my pool fill float. He had also removed a silicone cap over a conduit line for repairs and during the course of his repairs let it fill up with water.
They emailed my bill for $600 later that evening. It seemed high given the numbers we had previously discussed. I figured the quoted $100 dollars should have been deducted for the heat sensor that was not repaired. I called the owner to discuss the bill and to pay the appropriate amount owed. I asked about how much the installation of the pool cleaner added to the bill. He told me $150 and that added to his bid of $450 equaled the $600 bill. I than reminded him that the bid included the removal and replacement of the water heat sensor and that I wanted that subtracted from the overall bill as that work was not done. I reminded him of his quote $100 for that repair and his $600 bill minus the $100 for work not completed should be $500. He did not agree with that and told me that he could not go that low for his repairs. I asked what he thought was fair and he told me the full $600. He stated the cost of the part and time required for the heat sensor repair was low and that just because he said it would be $100 for that repair that did not equal $100 of his overall quote. I offered what I thought was more than fair, meeting me halfway between the discrepancy at $550. He said no way and that if I insisted he would be willing to deduct $10, his cost, for the part that was not installed but that was all he was willing to do.
We ended the conversation at odds in our positions on what was a fair payment. Within an hour Desert Pool Co texted me 5 times, called twice and emailed me. The calls were followed with text threatening civil action and additional fees if I did not pay in full immediately. I responded that I would mail in my payment. They answered they do not accept payments in the mail. Shortly after this rapid escalation of payment demands the owner texted that he would be willing to meet me at the $550 amount that I had previously offered and that this 'isn't cool'. I agreed to terms and promptly paid him.
The next day I checked the operation of the pool equipment. Upon closer inspection of repairs I noticed that the replaced valve was not in the same location as the previous one and now was higher as well as too close to an adjacent valve. Due to the improper placement, the actuators could not properly reseat next to one another. He has one actuator leaning on the other in a cockeye fashion. Due to the ill placement of the actuator, he had to bypass the 2 of the mounting screws and did not attach them to the actuator frame as they were designed. Due to his high valve placement he compensated for this mistake by cutting and raising 3 addition pipes to match his poor placement of the valve. One of his plumbing joint leaks due to the poor alignment.
I notified Desert Pool Co of the misaligned actuators which he clearly would have known about (Might explain the disappearing act and rapid escalation on demand of payment). And how they were not fitted per manufacturer's recommendation (I called the manufacturer). I also notified them of the leak. They answered 'we've opted to no longer do business with you of any kind after the events that occurred yesterday.' In a follow up text he said 'If you're feeling up to doing it yourself, you can get a handsaw, PVC primer, and a 2" coupler at Home Deport for around $50.'
My pool equipment is worse than before he 'worked' on it. I've paid him $550 and Desert Pool Co refuses to stand by Johnny, the owner's work citing the previous payment escalation/discrepancy. read more