This Calgary area plumber is rated 3.0 from 2 reviews with a TrustScore of 1.4. Services offered include plumbing, sewer and water heater installation work. Read their reviews, ask about license and insurance information, and request a quote.
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"I didn't pull a permit for your plumbing because I knew it would never pass inspection" - Phil Black, Black's Plumbing.
I sent an email to Phil asking why he didn't pull any plumbing or gas permits for work he was doing in our home and this (above) was his response. He didn't comment specifically on the gas permit, but nonetheless, I think it's a good example of the level of service and professionalism his company offers.
In short, my dealings with Black's Plumbing has been the worst experience I've ever had with any company, bar none. So I hope my review keeps you from getting into a similar situation. If you'd like to read more - please do.
We originally parted ways with Black's (Phil Black) when he repeatedly failed to show up to complete his work. But the big surprise came when we asked a couple different plumbers to quote what it would cost to complete Phil's work.
Independently, they said the work couldn't be completed, because it was done incorrectly. Then both plumbers asked the exact same questions, 1. Did this guy (Phil, Black's Plumbing) pull any permits for his work? 2. Are you sure he was a real plumber? - I guess that says it all. None of the work was up to code and the majority of it had to be re-done.
Among the major problems:
1. A gas line they moved had several slow/small leaks in it - something that was only discovered when we pulled a permit and had the proper testing done.
2. They used undersized drainage pipe and tied them incorrectly into existing lines. The plumber who fixed us up explained to me best. "The first time you did a load of wash and it hit the rinse cycle - or had multiple fixtures draining at the same time, it would have overflowed everywhere."
It scares me to think that I ever trusted Black's Plumbing, but we were referred to them through our insurance company and their preferred restoration vendor following a sewage backup. The irony is not lost on me that their shoddy workmanship could have caused a worse disaster (i.e. flooding/another backup or blowing up our home).
UPDATE: Just read Phil's response. I'm glad they all had a good laugh at this, it's truly at my expense. If anyone cares to see a record of our communications to verify the accuracy of my complaint - feel free to contact me at noel.blix@shaw.ca This correspondence includes; 5 different emails/texts where Phil provides a variety of excuses for not showing up and his admission of not pulling a plumbing permit - without his newfound reasoning.
To be honest, I know very little about plumbing (the reason we hired a plumber), so the assertion that I told Black's or any plumber how to do their work is ridiculous as is his claim that I simply 'ordered' them to do work that wasn't up to code. I hired people that I thought I could trust and briefed them on what I was looking for - had Black's told us that it was impossible to hook up a washer/dryer upstairs or complete any of the work for any reason - we simply wouldn't have proceeded. But I guess what really needs to be asked is - even if Phil's claim is true (that I instructed them on how to do the work and ordered them to do work that wasn't up to code), what kind of qualified professional would do this? And as a contractor wouldn't you want the home owner to sign off on a waiver or release of responsibility for any potential future problems associated with the work they ordered you to do? I would.
And for the record, the plumber who fixed Phil's work - was able to bring it up to code to pass city inspection. He told us exactly what the job required, noted where Phil's work was deficient, provided a detailed estimate, showed up when he said he would and completed the work properly. Additionally, he was paid in full within 2 days of project completion.
As for moving the gas line - no permit was pulled by Black's. I didn't know anything about pulling permits at that time - and was only educated on their importance afterwards. A gas permit had previously been pulled for the furnace installation but was closed prior to Black's moving the gas line. He clearly had no intention of pulling a permit or getting it inspected or he would have had one pulled prior to starting the job and would have included it in his estimate. He also had ample opportunity to have an inspection performed prior to our parting - he just didn't do it. I work outside of the home and wouldn't care about having the heat off for a couple hours on a cold day. The contractor who fixed his work pulled permits at the start of the job and had the entire line inspected. Three different leaks were discovered/repaired and it passed inspection immediately. This contractor was also paid within 2 days of project completion.
I didn't sign off on any of Phil's work or pay him in full. I negotiated with him for a reduced price that accounted for his incomplete project work and the cost of fixing his work that wasn't up to code. Nothing was put infant of me to sign off on and I would challenge Black's to produce evidence otherwise.
We all had a good laugh at this one at the shop today, and I am so glad our friend Noel posted this, because now we can inform everyone of what really happened...
"I didn't pull a permit for your plumbing because I knew it would never pass inspection". Noel, twisting words and changing what someone said, and then quoting them on it, can have serious consequences. The reason a plumbing permit wasn't pulled at your house, because you wanted your laundry relocated above your COLD, UNINSULATED, UNHEATED crawl space, which is where the plumbing would be. After explaining this to you, you just asked us to install shut offs on the water lines so you could close them on really cold days. Noel was aware for the entire job that this could not be inspected because the plumbing, again, was run in a COLD, UNINSULATED, UNHEATED crawl space by his request. I'm glad we could clear this up.
Secondly, the drain line where the new laundry was to be connected, was already exposed without having to remove drywall. By Noels orders, we were to connect to this existing line so no more drywall had to be removed. And now it's my turn to quote you Noel, "We've run out of money". Something that every contractor wants to hear (not). We were simply doing what we were told by the homeowner.
Thirdly, addressing the concern of not showing up. It is time for everyone to learn something about Noel. Noel will ask us to complete a task, his way. When that task gets completed, Noel likes to change his mind on how it was supposed to be done, but Noel doesn't tell us during the work, he likes to tell us AFTER it has been completed. Multiple parts of this job had to be redone, because of Noels constant mind changing. Noel also believes that all these change orders should come at no cost to him. Since we were so deep in this job, and also knowing Noel had run out of money, we just wanted to get the job done so we could get paid. So yes, there were 2 days that had to be rescheduled because of the amount of work added by Noel, conflicting with our already very busy schedule.
Now to address the gas line. We moved a small portion of Noels gas line going to the mechanical room. When running a gas line during the cold winter in Calgary, priority is to get heat back to the house. After the gas had been run, heat was restored to the home, and a leak test was performed on the gas line that WE ran, with no leaks. This house is pushing 100 years old and has many existing gas lines, that we are not responsible for if it has a leak. Another thing Noel fails to mention, is that a gas permit was already pulled for his home because we replaced his furnace (which passed city inspection by the way), and was to be inspected during a warmer day where the furnace could be turned off for a couple hours to perform a pressure test. Of course this could never be completed, because Noel decided to part ways with us.
Another important detail that Noel has so conveniently left out, is the amount of work completed in his home, which he signed off on and paid in full. His hot water tank was supplied and replaced, his furnace and majority of heat runs and return air runs was supplied and replaced, a new main line backwater valve was supplied and installed, radon venting/coring/jackhammering completed in full, breaking open concrete floor and moving floor drain into mechanical room, and all concrete patching. All this work was completed (most had to be redone because of Noels indecisive mind) to Noels specifications.
In the end, we're sorry Noel that the way you wanted us to run your laundry didn't fly, and that you never gave us the opportunity to finish our work and have it inspected. It is because of people like you that we do most of our work through respected contractors, to avoid having to deal with lying, nightmarish, impossible to please homeowners, like yourself. I hope people will read this reply and know to NEVER do work for you. Good luck with everything sir.
These guys just did a complete change out of all water lines in my 2 story walkout. I got rid of all of the Grey Poly B junk and installed new Pex lines. I asked a lot of questions of a lot of plumbers and chose this company. On a job of this size I was worried about the job dragging on but they did everything on schedule and did everything they said they would do even re-plumbing for a future water softener with dedicated hard water to hose bibs and kitchen faucet at no extra charge. I had a few follow up items and they were there the next day. I expect a lot and Phil, Mike, Al, and Josh really impressed me with their competence and professionalism.
Blacks Plumbing and Drain Cleaning has a TrustScore™ of 1.4. The average TrustScore™ for other businesses providing similar services in Calgary and the surrounding areas is 2.9. For detailed information on how TrustScore is calculated, click here to learn more.
The following elements are used to calculate TrustScore:
Customer Reviews | Last 12 Months | All Time |
---|---|---|
Total Received | 0 | 2 |
Approved | 0 | 2 |
Unverified | 0 | 0 |
Suspicious | 0 | 0 |
Overall Rating | 3/5 |
Complaints Received | Last 12 Months | Last 3 Years |
---|---|---|
Suppliers & Creditors | 0 | 0 |
Employees & Sub-Contractors | 0 | 0 |
Transparency | |
---|---|
Posted License Information | Not yet provided |
Posted Liability Insurance | Not yet provided |
Posted Workers Compensation | Not yet provided |
Company Website | No |
Social Media Profiles | Not yet provided |
Endorsed by Peers | Not yet endorsed |
In Business Since | 2011 |
Member of TrustedPros Since | 2012 |
TrustedPros does not validate certain information provided by contractors and vendors in conjunction with the creation or maintenance of their profile and we cannot endorse or guarantee the performance of any contractor. TrustScores are provided for informational purposes only. We urge you to use the TrustScore™ in conjunction with the tips provided in our Hiring Guide to maximize the probability of hiring the best professional for you project.
This Calgary area plumber is rated 3.0 from 2 reviews with a TrustScore of 1.4. Services offered include plumbing, sewer and water heater installation work. Read their reviews, ask about license and insurance information, and request a quote.
Main contact(s) | Phil Black |
Listed with TrustedPros since: | 2012 |
Residential work | Yes |
Commercial work | No |
Warranty | Warranty details not yet provided |
Accepts credit cards | No |
Year established | 2011 |
Offers financing | No |
24 Hour emergency service | No |
Legal structure | Incorporated |
Licensing information | Contact Blacks Plumbing and Drain Cleaning to request licensing info. |
Insurance information | Contact Blacks Plumbing and Drain Cleaning to request insurance details. |
Check local laws pertaining to license requirements and verify license and insurance details provided by the contractor prior to hiring.