[carlizabeth]

We had the downstairs toilet overflow when the, right above, upstairs toilet was flushed. It was quite a lot of water. We called a plumbing service. They tried to unclogged and said they couldn't get their around the neck of the bowl. They came back the next day, the estimate was for about U$600,00. Then, they made a huge hole in the basement floor and set all the concrete and mud right against our wood panel walls. They broke the terracotta pipe to get a camera through. I waited for hour for their supervisor to bring the camera. By then, the price had jumped to $1,200.00. They got the camera through but they said that there was so much water in the pipe nobody could see anything. We were now advised that they need to change 40 feet of pipe because ours was cracked. Now, we were at U$4,700.00. Well, by now, I was starting to worry because they also said it had to be done next day because of the water. Early, next morning I called another company for another estimate. Well, surprise-surprise, they told me I was probably been taken advantage of. They put their own camera through the pipe and it was clear, no water accumulation at all, no cracks and the joints were all nicely sealed. But, they couldn't get their camera past our terracotta because we need to have the valve replaced and for them to undo the things the first company had done, plus replace the valve it would cost us U$5,200.00. By, then I was already feeling heartsick. So, I had to call a third plummer to give us another opinion (someone who had worked on our shower drain before).
Well, now he said that the first two plummer were absolutely trying to get our money. The whole job from start to finish should have cost us no more than a couple hundred dollars. The toilet just needed do be unclogged. He found a couple of baby-wipes.
But, now for him to undo the terrible mess the first plummer had done, cover the huge hole, fix the broken pipe and check the shower drain and tile for any leaks (we have mold around the bathroom wall), it would all come to U$ 2,400.00. I was so disgusted by then I could cry, and lost a couple nights of sleep.
He brought three of his young kids to help him (a girl and a boy about 11/12 years old and a daughter about nineteen). Well, the two younger ones filled the hole by putting back about 80% of the mud and concrete that was taken out. The hole had been made on both side of the wall that separates the bathroom and the bar. I was very unconfortable by the way things were been done but by then I just wanted things to be finished.
He finished the job (it took about 6/8 hours), and because plumbers are not contractors he didn't put the sink back in place or the floor tiles, and that was fine. He did also leave the rest of the concrete and mud in plastic bags in the basement because he wouldn't take it. But, it is so heavy we can't carry it up either. We decided to leave the floor unfinished to make sure that the pipes wouldn't still be leaking. Now, the concrete is turning into a rusty kind of color and there seems to be water coming from under the tile around the toilet and getting the concrete wet. I called the plummer who told me it would cost me another U$135,00 for him to come back and fix the toilet. I was so disheartened. I decided to wait and see for another couple of weeks.
So, after all this my question to you guys is: Is there anything I can do to get the U$600,00 back from the first plumber who made that big unnecessary mess? Is there a place were I can report some complaint about them? And, finally what can I do to get this job finished without getting "burned" again?
I will wait anxiously for an answer from some kind soul out there!!

[letmetellu]

I don't know where you live but where I live we have an organization called "The Better Business Bureau" you can report all of your dissatisfactions to them, it might not help you in any way but it might keep someone else from getting burned.
I also think I might call the City Plumbing Inspectors, have them look at what had been done and find out if the company hand taken out a permit for their work.
And then there is always a lawyer that you might call and see what your options are.
Most plumbers are honest people trying to make a living and people like you got give others a bad name. I am sorry this happened but there is not much you can do about it.