A 7 year relationship with Master-Services came to a halt when they showed their true colors. A young CNA friend of mine bought a new fixture for her bathtub and asked for my help installing it. There were no shut-off valves so we had to pull one lever to shut off water to the entire home. The supply lines were new and easily accessed through a panel next to the tub. Problem: I was unable to snug the lines tight enough so it would not leak. Very frustrating, because this should be a DYI project. I was out of time. I had to go to work and then leave town for a week. I was able to get it down to a slow drip going directly down he drain. I have been a long time club member with Master-Services and trusted them to do the job. I gave her a check made out to Master-Services and left the amount blank. She could pay me back over her next 1-2 paychecks.
Later, she emailed me the invoice: $498 (less a $30 first-time customer ''discount''). I was furious! There was no cutting, threading, soldering, or sweating. There was no hardware at all; not so much as a 10-cent washer. This was scheduled two days after I left; not an emergency or after-hours call. All he did was attach a new fixture to existing lines. 30-minutes if he took his time. He saw the little girl with the blank check and took advantage like a predator. This is the worst behavior I have ever witnessed.
It gets worse. I called Master-Services for an explanation and they gave me some bizarre story about having to take the fixture apart and ''inspect'' it. This is crazy! He justified $400+ in man-hours to ''inspect'' a $120 fixture made up of what? Six pieces? He put no effort into that series of lies.
The cherry on top of this BS-sundae is that he wasn't even able to finish he job. He install the shower standpipe due to the angle. We had no difficulties finishing what the ''professional'' could not. $498 for a job he couldn't complete.
They refunded me about half when I called to complain.
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