ComplaintsforArthur H Price Jr., Septic Tank Service, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  03/17/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In March 2021 I contacted Arthur Price as my septic was needing pumped too often and they told me it needed a new drain field at a cost of $5600. I agreed to have them do the job and was told 2 months. By the time they got me paperwork and started it was 4 months. 2 Teenagers showed up and started to dig. 1 hour later the older teen (19 maybe) came to the door saying he needed $2500 more for a different type of system with a pump. In addition, now I need to hire an electrician for the pump. I called the office and they said the water table had changed for the area and what did I want to do? I had no choice with a swimming pool sized hole in my yard and no working septic. They completed in a little over a day total but when covering the new drain field, they piled most of the dirt on one side of the yard. The water all runs toward my house, you can see the huge slant toward the house with the untrained eye. They though a little seed down 1 hour before a good rain so it all washed away. There were black tubed from the old drain field sticking up and they buried 2 parking stops. The water running toward the house almost immediately started eroding the ground and started flooding next to the house. It flooded and eroded my fence until it just fell over. I discussed this with Dan the crew boss and he told me they are not responsible for water run off per the contract, in fact he doesn't even train his guys on run off. I through my back out 2 times trying to fix this sloppy $8100 job and they can make it right in about 1 hr. I feel they sent an unexperienced crew that did a rush job and left me with a big problem. I have contacted them several times and they will not do anything to help.

  Business response

  04/29/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 8, 2022/04/06) */ ***Document Attached*** I will start by saying although our Technicians look youthful, they are much older then 19. They together have successfully installed 100's of septic systems through the Tampa Bay area. They both have worked under their fathers instruction for many years prior to being on their own. It is stated in our contract as follows: See Attached Doc. Note: Stormwater runoff drainage planning or remediation is NOT INCLUDED. We did come out and offer you some suggestions on how to direct the stormwater and mentioned at that time this is not our area of expertise and recommended that maybe you could contact a landscaper that could assist further. We are not a licensed electrician which is why we told you to contact an electrician. The State Health Department is the one that required the dosing tank to be installed because of the higher water table. This is not something we have a say in. If gravity can not be obtained to the Health Department specs then they require the dosing tank and pump be added. So you would have to speak to them about the pump needing to be added. Our suggestion is that you talk with a licensed landscaper with Stormwater experience for the best way to redirect the water flow. The area that you are talking about has large square pavers that our technicians do not reinstall, this should be done be a trained expert in that field. If they are install improperly some can trip and hurt themselves. Please note that the State Health Department provides the permit to install a system and are in charge of the install inspection which they passed with no issues. Gutters, French Drains, removing and installation of pavers is not part of our contract. Dan S. Operation Manager Arthur H. Price Jr. Septic Tank Service, Inc. In Business Since 1980 Consumer Response /* (3000, 10, 2022/04/12) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Let me start by saying your youthful-looking employees need to be trained in at least trying to put the property back in as close to the condition as it was when they started. Even the Health Department that issued your permit says it should be put back the way it was when you got there . They don't have to be trained in Stormwater runoff drainage planning or remediation to be able to tell that all this water is going to run down to my house and erode my foundation. I've never had a problem with standing water there or anywhere around the pavers . The pavers would not need to be removed or reinstalled to do the job they were supposed to be doing. When you're charging $8,100 for a finger system, your employees should be trained to some degree on water runoff. I would not need a landscaper as you say if they had done the job properly to begin with. It seems to me that your company has created a contract that alleviates them of any responsibility for mess-ups or shotty work. My intention with this complaint is to see that you fix your youthful looking employees mistake and that you learn from this and teach them to do a better job in the future.

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