Benjamin franklin plumbing

Chris Crafter · 12-15-2011, 05:14 PM

Called them to repair or replace my 1/2 H.P. well pump and was quoted $3,500 . Told them to get off of my property immediately. Called American Water Systems who pulled and replaced the pump for $1000 including pump, all materials and labor. They asked for the $69 dispatch fee and I told them that if the owner had the gnads to collect it in person I would pay it. Never heard from them. Stay away from this outfit!!

TomC · 12-15-2011, 05:40 PM

... charged to come out and look at installing a gas log. outrageous quote -i had the gas company come do it for 1/3 the price. i also got the "while i am here, want me to look at anything else" pitch. i had a drippy single-knob shower valve and i asked him to look at it since i hadn't gotten around to dismantling the thing myself. He quoted $500 to repair - i fixed it with a $6 o-ring kit... no lie.

"run away" is my response as well. actually "run away FAST" is more like it!

Slickcraft · 12-15-2011, 06:10 PM

I did a Google search, this was the top non paid link:

http://benjamin-franklin-plumbing.pissedconsumer.com/

Irish mist · 12-15-2011, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Crafter

Called them to repair or replace my 1/2 H.P. well pump and was quoted $3,500 . Told them to get off of my property immediately. Called American Water Systems who pulled and replaced the pump for $1000 including pump, all materials and labor. They asked for the $69 dispatch fee and I told them that if the owner had the gnads to collect it in person I would pay it. Never heard from them. Stay away from this outfit!!

I agree. This company is a bad joke. I swear they just pick an inflated price out of thin air & see if you will pay it ! These are nasty people. I've used Don Morin out of Laconia for years & had no major issues.

Pineedles · 12-15-2011, 09:06 PM

I may get trashed for this, but there are quite a few businesses in the Lakes Region that will try and soak you for whatever you got. It's no big deal if you don't go with their inflated prices, they just move on to the next sucker. There's one around every corner.

Resident 2B · 12-16-2011, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pineedles

I may get trashed for this, but there are quite a few businesses in the Lakes Region that will try and soak you for whatever you got. It's no big deal if you don't go with their inflated prices, they just move on to the next sucker. There's one around every corner.

We might get trashed, but you are 100% correct.

There are many contractors in the area that are looking for the quick buck. This is not to say all contractors are like this. Some are great, hard working and fair. There just seems to be too many looking for the quick buck.

R2B

MarkinNH · 12-16-2011, 09:13 AM

I have run into many contractors of various trades that vary their prices depending on how much $$ they feel a person has.
Many years ago I had a contractor who was looking at a job for me, tell me that the homeowner apparently has plenty of money and it was his job to get as much of it out of the homeowner as he could. Needless to say he did not get the job nor have I ever called him again.
A job is worth what it is worth ! A person or homeowners possible net worth should play No role in the cost of that job !
On the other hand, their are also just as many, if not more contractors that are honest hard working people that want to give you an honest days work for a honest days dollar. The challange can be weeding out the bad from the good.
Word spreads and the actions of the "soak it to em" crowd will eventually catch up with them.

tummyman · 12-16-2011, 12:20 PM

I had exactly the same issue of a clogged toilet. Called them and they came down and looked into the toilet. Said the same deal...$69 to just come down, and then there was added charges if they touched anything. I had already removed the toilet, so they did not even have to do that. All I wanted was a short snake of the line, as it is only 15 feet to the septic tank and I wanted to be sure it was open. They said it would be $250 to snake the 15 ft. or I could go with a new toilet for $400. Needless to say, I did everything myself and solved the problem. These people need to be put out of business by EVERYONE on the forum NOT calling them for anything. They are an embarrassment to the good plumbers that are out there. Stay far away from them or they will clean your wallet before they clean your drain.

songkrai · 12-18-2011, 03:24 PM

I think that this is the same company that used to have the owners last name. Not the best reputation then.

Some franchises are good. Food franchises maybe some auto franchises. But a plumbing. In this case on top of plumbing fees they have to pay the franchise fee.

Well, some people do pay and they need something right away.
Sadly, some plumbers here do not answer calls, do not respond promptly, and don't show up when they state. So for some, if plumber shows up when stated customer is happy at any price.

bclaker · 12-18-2011, 05:42 PM

I saw a Benjamin Franklin truck at a home in Briarcrest yesterday. Guess they don't frequent the Forum.

Belmont Resident · 12-22-2011, 06:49 AM

I did a bit of work in Briarcrest, mostly retired people and elderly.

12-15-2011, 05:14 PM	#1
Chris Crafter Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Total Ripoff Artist Called them to repair or replace my 1/2 H.P. well pump and was quoted $3,500 . Told them to get off of my property immediately. Called American Water Systems who pulled and replaced the pump for $1000 including pump, all materials and labor. They asked for the $69 dispatch fee and I told them that if the owner had the gnads to collect it in person I would pay it. Never heard from them. Stay away from this outfit!!

12-15-2011, 05:40 PM	#2
TomC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 745 Thanks: 29 Thanked 139 Times in 89 Posts	same story ... charged to come out and look at installing a gas log. outrageous quote -i had the gas company come do it for 1/3 the price. i also got the "while i am here, want me to look at anything else" pitch. i had a drippy single-knob shower valve and i asked him to look at it since i hadn't gotten around to dismantling the thing myself. He quoted $500 to repair - i fixed it with a $6 o-ring kit... no lie. "run away" is my response as well. actually "run away FAST" is more like it!

12-16-2011, 12:20 PM	#8
tummyman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 845 Thanks: 261 Thanked 698 Times in 246 Posts	Ben Franklin Plumbing is outrageous...DO NOT CALL THEM I had exactly the same issue of a clogged toilet. Called them and they came down and looked into the toilet. Said the same deal...$69 to just come down, and then there was added charges if they touched anything. I had already removed the toilet, so they did not even have to do that. All I wanted was a short snake of the line, as it is only 15 feet to the septic tank and I wanted to be sure it was open. They said it would be $250 to snake the 15 ft. or I could go with a new toilet for $400. Needless to say, I did everything myself and solved the problem. These people need to be put out of business by EVERYONE on the forum NOT calling them for anything. They are an embarrassment to the good plumbers that are out there. Stay far away from them or they will clean your wallet before they clean your drain.

12-22-2011, 06:49 AM	#11
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 410 Times in 251 Posts	I doubt they do I did a bit of work in Briarcrest, mostly retired people and elderly. __________________ "better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, then a long life spent in a miserable way.."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

12-15-2011, 06:10 PM	#3
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,343 Thanks: 1,249 Thanked 2,121 Times in 970 Posts	I did a Google search, this was the top non paid link: http://benjamin-franklin-plumbing.pissedconsumer.com/

12-15-2011, 09:06 PM	#5
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,549 Thanks: 1,074 Thanked 672 Times in 369 Posts	I may get trashed for this, but there are quite a few businesses in the Lakes Region that will try and soak you for whatever you got. It's no big deal if you don't go with their inflated prices, they just move on to the next sucker. There's one around every corner.

The Following User Says Thank You to Pineedles For This Useful Post:
MarkinNH (12-16-2011)

The Following User Says Thank You to Resident 2B For This Useful Post:
MarkinNH (12-16-2011)

12-16-2011, 09:13 AM	#7
MarkinNH Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 392 Thanks: 177 Thanked 146 Times in 76 Posts	I have run into many contractors of various trades that vary their prices depending on how much $$ they feel a person has. Many years ago I had a contractor who was looking at a job for me, tell me that the homeowner apparently has plenty of money and it was his job to get as much of it out of the homeowner as he could. Needless to say he did not get the job nor have I ever called him again. A job is worth what it is worth ! A person or homeowners possible net worth should play No role in the cost of that job ! On the other hand, their are also just as many, if not more contractors that are honest hard working people that want to give you an honest days work for a honest days dollar. The challange can be weeding out the bad from the good. Word spreads and the actions of the "soak it to em" crowd will eventually catch up with them.

The Following User Says Thank You to tummyman For This Useful Post:
CTYankee (12-19-2011)

12-18-2011, 03:24 PM	#9
songkrai Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 734 Thanks: 35 Thanked 147 Times in 99 Posts	I think that this is the same company that used to have the owners last name. Not the best reputation then. Some franchises are good. Food franchises maybe some auto franchises. But a plumbing. In this case on top of plumbing fees they have to pay the franchise fee. Well, some people do pay and they need something right away. Sadly, some plumbers here do not answer calls, do not respond promptly, and don't show up when they state. So for some, if plumber shows up when stated customer is happy at any price.

12-18-2011, 05:42 PM	#10
bclaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Laconia Posts: 479 Thanks: 545 Thanked 147 Times in 66 Posts	I saw a Benjamin Franklin truck at a home in Briarcrest yesterday. Guess they don't frequent the Forum.