Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain

We have a problem with tree roots in our old sewer main. Every year Hal from Hal's drain cleaning comes over with a snake and removes the roots for $80. This year we were taken by surprise by a sudden backup that caused flooding in the mid-afternoon. Hal came and couldn't get to it. He didn't charge, and said he thought this year we might have to use a high-pressure water jet. We called every plumber in town but everyone was having the same problem. Roto Rooter told us they would call and never did. I engaged a local company for the following morning. Then, at around 6, here's Roto Rooter at our doorstep with no explanation. I asked him to jet the drain, which he did not do, nor did he tell me what he was doing, or how much anything would cost. After spending 4 hours in the basement he told us he had cleared the clog but he couldn't guarantee the work, and that it might back up again tomorrow. Then he handed me a bill for $800. It was not itemized. It said we needed a camera in our drain, despite the fact that he had been pulling out tree roots and we have the same problem every year, which we reasonably expect to cost between $80 and $200. I asked him why he hadn't used the high pressure jet and he told me several different, contradictory stories. I spoke to the plumber I had actually hired the next morning. He said that an after-hours drain clean-out with a snake would never cost more than $200-$300 at the most. In fact, last year we had to use Roto Rooter for the same thing and it cost $210. A high-pressure jet would cost between $500 and $800, but we were never given a price quote or an opportunity to decide for that procedure which, again, was not done. I felt pressured to pay and sign the invoice because it was late and we were exhausted, but I am canceling my check and reporting this company. Do not use Roto Rooter. They are inconsistent, they try to up-sell you, and they don't follow through. Pros: they always show up, even when you don't want them to Cons: price up to ten times the competition, bad service, lies more