I called Bishop on MON September 28th, 2009 to come in for a re-piping job (need to raise 4 boiler hot water cast iron pipes to finish my basement). They asked for $79.95 just to send a truck and I agreed.
Before they sent the truck I asked twice their truck be equipped with the right replacement pipes such that once we agree on the work they can get started. Little did I realize they are using this as bait. Once they showed up on TUE (09/29/09), Johnny S., the 'manager' and his junior in-training colleague immediately said they cannot do it but need to charge me a diagnostic fee of $343.50. They asked me to sign some 'waiver' papers (should have known better something was wrong) and promised to get back to me on the details and quote by end of WED 09/30/09. Before they left I ask John how many days will it take and he said "Oh! this is a very complicated job and will take many many days and the copper pipe to replace the cast iron pipe is VERY EXPENSIVE!!!". Didn't call back by end of WED as they promised and no detail plan for me to review. I called them THR 10/01/09 morning around 8am and Johnny S. told me he was on an emergency WED and 'worked really late WED night to finish my quote...'. He then asked for two more hours to give me a quote. I don't believe he has done anything at all on my quote. I told him don't spend the two hours for I don't want to pay for it and don't want to go with them. In 5 minutes, John S. called back in a retaliatory way and told me that to raise 4 pipes will cost me $15,000 (yes, 15 thousand!!??) for they are union plumber and I can get the $341.30 credit back if I do it. Bishop wants to charge me 15 thousand for they are union plumber just to raise 4 cast iron pipes???
Seems like their quote is to scare me off and make an easy and dishonest $343.50. Note that initially John S. wanted to add the $79.99 on top of the $343.50 and after I argued back then he took it out as a 'courtesy'. Complained to Diane, Bishop's person handling complaint on this fraudulent practice, but she didn't really help but kept saying that they have spent the time. I then asked for the details of my quote to see why they are charging me $15,000.0 to raise the 4 cast iron hot water pipe but to no avail. If I pay for $343.50 for some diagnosis, shouldn't I get some detail proposal/plan in return? Not just a phone call asking for $15,000.0. This is a very indecent and fraudulent sales practice and stay away from this Bishop Plumbing.
Pros: none
Cons: Dishonest and way-over-the-line quote to get your quote $$$$
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