I wish I could give zero stars. If for some reason you end up hiring Rainmakers (which I would not recommend doing), I advise you to get every single detail in writing. We had never used them, but our contractor for other work set up a quote with them to fix some irrigation in the backyard from patio work we had done. The original quote (this part in writing), also included system startup ($200) to check the existing heads and adjust them as they went. While out here for that work, they supposedly found 32 heads that were broken and would be an additional cost (we had about 20 heads replaced a couple years ago through another company, so I was skeptical). I asked for a quote for this additional work, which for some reason seemed to surprise the repairman. He said he would call his boss, Ed, and check. He then gave me a verbal quote of $1000 to fix the 17 fixed heads and 15 rotating heads. I calculated based on previous dealings that it was probably $300 for parts, $700 for labor, and decided to give the go-ahead after discussing the numbers with my husband as he was going to fix them right then. I confirmed with the repairman that it would be $1000. I had appointments to get to that afternoon and left after a little while. When I arrived home, he said he was done and left. I had no opportunity to check the system and he told me with all the rain lately to leave it off. The very next day, I received a voicemail asking for payment for the repairs and giving me a price $500 higher than what was quoted. Just a voicemail - no invoice, no breakdown of the charges, nothing in writing. I had no opportunity to check the system and was not willing to pay until I could do so the following week. I called and left a message that I would need an invoice with the breakdown and they seemed put off. They begrudgingly sent it with the additional $1000 job now $1500, which also included $200 for system start-up (that was already supposedly included in my original separate quote).
I called and Ed argued with me yelling he KNOWS he said $1500 and that's what his repairman said - even though Ed was not on the phone at the time I was given the $1000 price that I repeated back to the repairman and he confirmed. The level of unprofessionalism is astounding. I have received many verbal quotes from repairmen over the years and have NEVER had this happen before - they have always stuck to their quotes. I wish I had recorded everything said. When I mentioned the double-charge for system start-up, he went back and took that $200 overcharge off because it was in writing in both places.
I received the invoice with a due date on it of June 16. I mailed the check last week on May 30 and got an extremely unprofessional and hostile voicemail today, June 6, demanding payment and saying they had not received it as of today. He also had the audacity to say he "gave me" $200 off - the same $200 that he tried to charge me twice for system start-up! I had left a note on the payment stating I would not use their services again nor would I recommend them. I called a couple hours after the voicemail to inform them that I mailed the payment last week (including the $300 overcharge and over 18 days prior to the invoice due date), and he said that yes, they did indeed receive it with my note and wanted to discuss it. I did not think there was much discuss if he was not willing to stand by the original verbal quote. He insisted that they could not have done that work for $1000, so I must have misunderstood them. Any misunderstanding should have been corrected prior to work and when I repeated the $1000 quote back to the repairman twice. (Once initially to give the quote to my husband and once when I was agreeing to the work). I probably should have fought harder over the $300, but this time it was worth overpaying not to have to deal with them anymore or go to court.
Also, the address listed on yelp is different from the Romeoville one I have, but the phone number is the same so I am reasonably sure it is the same place. read more
