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10 reviews about PlumbFirst

verified email - 12 Apr 2023

Called them to clear a blocked bathroom sink. A quick plunger job that, later, I found they advertise at $77-. The dubious sales method by their guy "Kent B" was one of pure artwork. One minute to look at the job, write a quote on his I-Pad and then come out with $354- (pause) membership gets you free callouts and other discounts for life making me think he is offering membership at that price. I asked him why the same company's electrician did not offer me membership that morning and he responded with "It's because the work was under $1,000-". Very odd considering that his work would also be under $1,000- He then offered a discount to $326.37. It started to sound like a hard sell by someone who works on commission. I said to him that I only wanted to get the work done. He showed me the I-Pad screen where it stated the $354- and then the $326.37, with the next line showing approx $150-. This I thought was the overpriced charge to plunger a standard "P Trap" under the sink. He took a picture of the front and back of my debit card (Very suspicious) and only later realised this also had my signature (Card now cancelled). He took less than two minutes to clear the drain blockage. Later that night, found that he had charged the $326.37. Phone calls and emails to this company only result in stern emails back from the Customer Care Manager who does not care about the customers, only supporting the thieving tactics of the staff. AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS.

Approximate cost: $326

verified email - 03 Jun 2022

I booked them for compliance safety checks.
Firstly they will take full payment upfront, so you're locked in and then if at all any issue/compliance fails is detected then they will quote 5 times more (because they charge for job and not for time).

I was quoted $600 (by Glen) for the hot water gas leak and $401 for compliance check. Total $1001. I paid compliance check cost upfront but then called another company to fix the issue and provide compliance certificate, they charged me $220 for everything.

Approximate cost: $1001

verified email - 07 Feb 2022

Very impressed with the quality of workmanship of Electrician Jesse.C from Plumfirst with the Hot Water System Replacement. Prompt Service, great attitude and good communication.

verified email - 03 Feb 2022

Absolute rip off. Can't find the problem with an overflowing garage drain. Saying I need new plumbing for 29 k plus an electrician for around 600.
Charging 638 for CCTV and jet blast.
Scammers. Stay away
Problem was fixed by another plumber for 1.2 K

Approximate cost: $29000

verified email - 21 Oct 2021

They pressure you to signing an overpriced quote rushing you into committing to a job you cant afford. They work on commission and rip people off.. DO NOT TRUST HOPPERS CROSSING PLUMBFIRST

Approximate cost: $8000

verified email - 02 Sep 2021

We were one of Plumbfirsts many victims. False quoting, high pressure sales techniques etc

Approximate cost: $4000

Anonymous
verified email - 18 Apr 2020

Rip off. Stay away. These cunts cant be trusted

verified email - 12 May 2019

Scam artists with VERY overpriced, flawed 'services'

We called PlumbFirst with a blocked toilet.
Was told that the pipe was cracked & roots had grown in.
Quote for the work to clear the roots & fix the pipe was quoted around $6000-7000!!!
Considering the ridiculous nature of the 'quote' we opted for a 'temporary fix' which involved the clearing of roots & a patch of the cracked pipe - which still hit the $450 mark (!!!)
The 'temporary fix' lasted all of a few days before the same problem was back again...
We promptly called PlumbFirst for resolution, only to be be reminded that the receipt stipulates 'no warranty' & the work is NOT guaranteed.
Further insult to injury, we were 'offered' another 'assessment' if they came out again. Knowing that at the LEAST we'd be up for another $450 only days later we gave them a miss.
Quite the near extortion tactic to offer a clearly flawed 'quick fix' only to peddle a HEFTY actual 'solution'.
Horrible experience all in all. NEVER have I encountered such dishonest conduct (while masquerading as 'transparent' by openly writing on receipts 'no warranty' - this alone SHOULD'VE served as a major red flag but we were desperate at the time to have the problem fixed).
Fact is, when a company can have such a VAST variety of experiences - mine on one end & 'good' & 'great' on the opposite end, it goes to show this one in particular does NOT provide 'consistent value' or 'service'.
I would warn anyone & recommend them to better assess their options FIRST if they want to avoid having a hole ripped in your wallet (while leaving you with the SAME problem they came to fix).
Caveat emptor -'let the buyer beware'!
If in doubt, read the MANY negative reviews posted by others - many of which people were ripped off hundreds & thousands of dollars for sub-standard 'work'. Staff should be ashamed to exploit others for a 'living'

View all 6 comments
trentr154 20 Jun 2020

interesting that the ONLY comments that fervently disagree with what i said (both comments here) - are clearly STAFF of this company. i DID say in my review, the next plumber we called not only fixed the problem at any infinitely cheaper price, without ANY need for fancy equipment, digging etc etc & to this day, the work still holds. this plumber on the other hand within SECONDS told us that we nearly got scammed BIG time & the content of what the 2 comments to my review harp on about is FAKE only used to justify exorbitant prices & UNNECESSARY work. have some self-respect, integrity & honesty guys!! & don't waste your time spamming/harassing me! for the potential CUSTOMER, have a read for yourself, MANY, MANY people echo what i have written, STAY AWAY!!

Slickrick123 20 Jun 2020

Maybe your on to something there then again if i worked for the this company i don't see why i would spend time defending a company i dont own. I am mearly stating that across the trade people think that plumbers are a rip off and that they make heaps of money neither of which are true..your paying for a guarantee,experienced and qualified persons ,materials,maintenance of equipment, admin fees ect there is alote of overheads to consider. Can i ask and be hounest here please. Did this work come with a guarantee? Was a certificate of compliance logged with the victorian builders association?

trentr154 20 Jun 2020

i never claimed that ALL plumbers are dishonest, unethical, etc - only the staff we encountered at plumbfirst - hence the review. if this were isolated, then negative reviews for plumbfirst would not be found - yet, they are plentiful. where there's smoke, there's a fire...
CUSTOMERS as opposed to the STAFF of companies do NOT have anything to gain monetarily, as i do not.
i just have no tolerance or time for dishonest conduct especially when another person within the trade openly sees the situation for what it is (honest work/advice vs dishonest/unethical).
the plumber we used afterwards: yes, they were certified & yes, they provided a guarantee.

verified email - 26 Apr 2019

Called plumbfirst to repair a hot water service, was told about the call out fee, no problems, plumber arrived on time, told us of the part that needed replacing and quoted us $450.00 for a $30.00 part (understand he needs to charge for labor) part he replaces doesn’t fix the problem, was then told it could be something else which he quoted $800.00 to fix but couldn’t tell us that it was actually going to fix the hot water service so he then quoted us for a whole new unit plus labor etc. $3850.00 decided to get other quotes, job done with another plumber (whole new unit and labor) for under $700.00. For the same brand and unit plumbfirst were quoting!!! Plumbfirst still robbed us of $450.00 for a part that didn’t fix the issue and is now in the rubbish along with the old hot water service. STAY AWAY FROM PLUMBFIRST, just out to take advantage of you and rob you of your hard earned money. Seriously who can charge $3k for an hours work???
This matter will be taken further.

Approximate cost: $450

verified email - 16 Feb 2016

Not 100% happy but review may change pending refund from company.
Not 100% happy but review may change pending refund from company.

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