Benjamin Franklin Plumbing®

Arthur S.

Just wanted to share a terrible experience we had with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Bradenton last week. I had a plumbing issue at my rental property and they scheduled me for a jetting service from noon-4pm on a Friday. The night before the appointment, they sent me a text to confirm, which I did. On the day of the appointment, the branch manager called me and my property manager at 9am to ask if they could come early, but both of us were unavailable to take the call. The manager called again at 10am and left me a voicemail saying that he wouldn't send his crew later that day. A few minutes later, I received a cancellation email from Benjamin Franklin. All of these happened just two hours before my scheduled appointment. We rearranged everything to accommodate their schedule, hoping to get my plumbing issue resolved. I eventually spoke with the branch manager, Jeff, who explained that he cancelled the appointment because his crew had some downtime that morning and he didn't want them to be idle. That's why he called us to see if they could start early instead of waiting until noon, but since we didn't pick up the phone, he called OFF the appointment. I was shocked and extremely disappointed by the way Benjamin Franklin Plumbing operates. I have never encountered a manager who handles business in this manner. The most disappointing thing was that he showed no sincerity or effort to make things right. All he said was """"Unfortunately, we are all booked and the next available appointment is not until next Wednesday. There's nothing I can do at this point."""" I will never do business with this company again and would not recommend them to anyone.

Sandra R.

WOW-WATCH OUT FOR THESE SCAMMERS! Here's my story. My wife and I moved into our home in late October. These people just tried to tell me a """"toilet repair"""" today on 12/17 was OVER 700.00-for ONE TOILET-just parts not the actual commode itself. Obviously anyone with brains would look at this and question the bill. So, I did. Then I was REFUSED an invoice explaining the charges or information to their corporate offices so I could talk with them. Then I actually got an unsolicited call from """"some Manager from Tampa named James"""" who threatened to come to my house tomorrow to do a collection if I didn't """"pay up"""". Unfrickin' believable. They even charged my credit card, which I have now disputed (duh) and my advice to ANYONE who looks for a plumber is to look elsewhere as these people are RIP OFF artists whose corporate culture is apparently to lie to and then threaten clients who question bills. That's not to mention I waited some 5 weeks for these parts for the 2 toilets with stories that don't just add up. Like I said they tried to charge me 700.00 for 1 toilet repair. Talk about a crappy job. It's sad too because this gives hard working honest tradesmen a bad name. This company should be ashamed of themselves. Should corporate read this feel free to call me. Just ask James.

Marla M.

When called to repair/replace our tenant's hot water heater the technician said the elements were bad and it was leaking (which it wasn't).He said he could not get a hot water heater from their warehouse. I asked size and voltage and brought him a Rheem from Home Depot which he installed for an additional $550. Yet the tenants still did not have hot water. He never tested the power or he would have known it was an electrical problem . This company cost me $1100 unnecessarily. The manager I spoke with only offered excuses not reassurances.

Bethany G.

Very nice gentleman. Well-kept, knowledgeable, efficient. I called to correct a problem, which they did, and they noticed a water leak I did not know about. Good thing. Problem corrected. Give them a try.

Antonio L.

I purchased a service contract during a fridge line installation and shut off valves 6 months ago. The plumber did an excellent job. I purchased a plumbing contract at that time. BF sent me a text about 6 weeks ago, telling me to schedule my home maintenance visit. I scheduled a total of 4 times. I had no shows, no calls, guarantee """" visits"""" but never had a visit. Today, I did receive a call and was now told, """" oh, you can't have a maintenance visit for 8 months."""" I have come to the conclusion, unless you're handing them money, you won't see a plumber, if they even have one! I do not recommend them!!! Waste of time and money too. I rarely write bad reviews but they need to clean up their act. They deserve a 0 star at this time.

Steve G.

Thomas was amazing and knowledgeable about what we needed and how come we needed it. we originally had him come out to check out water pump system that was affected by Hurricane Milton. He went over everything that was wrong and the different ways that it could be fixed. We decided to show him another plumbing problem that we had in our bathroom, and he was able to completely fix it and do it quickly and also show us exactly what was wrong. He answered all our questions and gave us expert advice. If you are going to use this company , we would definitely recommend asking for Thomas.

Justin G.

We wanted an estimate for a garbage disposal installation and a waterline run from under the sink to the fridge, for the ice maker. Now, our sink is on the opposite side of the kitchen from the fridge and is on a block wall, so we were expecting maybe something a little higher than the estimates we were finding online. After 10 minutes of evaluating the kitchen, the plumber gave us our estimate: $1,137. What.... The waterline was $917 and the garbage disposal and various fees were the rest. Now I don't know ANYTHING about plumbing, but I guarantee you every other plumber in the area could install a waterline for less than $917. It was like a slap in the face that we had to pay Ben Franklin $60 to send a guy out to give us unreasonable estimates. The reason for my one-star rating is because the plumber was very nice about trying to rip us off.

Martha L.

I recently had to have my house re-piped due to a leak under the slab. I was given a choice to either do a repair (no guarantee) another problem wouldn't occur. I was told the job would take 2 to 2-1/2 days to complete they started on 6/10/2024 most of the work was done by 6/11/24 but, they had to replace a shower valve. No one called with a date for that service. After 3 calls to a customer call center I finally got someone that set up the service date. Lucky for me it took so long because there was a list of issues that had to be addressed. This list of issues would take more time that I care to invest. Suffice it to say as of today 7/15/2024 there is still one last thing to be done. FINGERS CROSSED. The most aggravating part of all of this is every time you call all you get is a call center and you have to give them your request. Roz P.

Barbara P.

Estimate to replace a moen hot water regulator in shower was $575.00 and there was no guarantee that the work would be successful. In fact the """"Plumber"""" more like a sales person pushing for more and more and more laughed. He stated the work was difficult and may require welding. What a joke, Shut the water off, take apart the shower handle, use the special tool to pull it out, Grease the new one and put it in. That is not $575.00. Also when asking about pricing on the phone they said that they could not give any estimates but when the plumber was onsite they had plenty of marketing materials with pricing. Do not use this plumbing company as it is scam to get you to pay the show up at your door fee and do nothing of $61...

Magdalena Johnson ..

Dallas, TX. I called to get an anti scald mixing valve replaced on my jacuzzi tub. Told the operator everything she needed to know. James showed up clueless as to why he was coming. Had to go get the part. I was also concerned because he could not find a listing for that part so he labeled it as a ball valve for the job pricing. He was unable to break it down to part, labor, etc. While he was gone for 34 minutes I called to complain. Eventually spike to operations manager Todd Dukes. He said that """"the customer is accustomed to a certain level of performance so the have to check the part to ensure it is replaced with the same part in order to maintain that level of performance"""". James came back and installed the new part. The water output was lower afterwards. James tried to check the screen over the faucet outflow but couldn't get it off. That night my wife complained that it was taking too long to fill the tub. I looked and James had installed a 3/8"""" valve in the place of the original 1/2"""" valve! So much for what Mr. Dukes had explained, huh!? He had previously offered to take $50 off the job and we are pending that payment. I called him back and had to arrange to have another person come to fix it correctly. He had the correct part but not the correct supplies to install it. He and who I assume to be his apprentice left for over 40 minutes then returned to install it. He was making so many small splices with pipe and crimp rings that it concerned me. I pointed out what I thought was a better option and he removed some of those splices and did a more direct approach. Once it was done it all appeared to be working appropriately. However, as soon as he turned the faucet handles on cold water started running down under the tub. (When I had removed the tile backer board for access it was bone dry down there, and the insulation directly under the handles showed no evidence of ever being wet). Now, miraculously, I had a leak. Cody said I had a bad cartridge. He offered to fix it for $400 which was, per him, the price for repairing a Roman faucet. I refused. He told me that as the original owner of the home I could get the parts for free from Delta. I contacted Mr. Dukes via e-mail and never heard from him. Two days later when I discovered my outside faucet insulated cover in my flower bed I went to check that area. Cody had told his apprentice to open that spigot to release the pressure. I don't know if the water supply was turned off yet when he opened it and I don't know if he left it open while the water was turned back on. In any case, fresh dirt that I had placed around my foundation and flower bed in that area got washed away. And, the insulated cover that I had on the faucet was left off by them at the end of the job exposing it to 25 degree temperatures. I once again e-mailed Mr. Dukes to express my frustrations and have still not received a reply. Your slogan is """"if there's any delay it's you we pay"""". What about the delays for going to get parts? Supplies? What about me spending over two additional hours having the workers come back to put in the correct part? Cody tried saying the problem was the box was labeled correct but had the wrong part inside. The initial installer, James, has 16 years experience per Mr. Dukes. Seems he would know a 1/2 inch (yellow) valve from a 3/8 inch (green) one. I explained to Mr. Dukes that I spent 25 years in the military. I initially worked on B-52 and then on B-1 bombers. I eventually went through a physician assistant program and, later, an emergency medicine fellowship. In both jobs I had to have, and continue to have, attention to detail to prevent bad outcomes. I would at least appreciate the same consideration from your company. I try to do everything I can on my own. In my 52 years on this earth this was the first time I have ever called a plumber. I can honestly say it was a terrible, terrible experience. I can not in good faith recommend your company to others as I would not feel comfortable they would get satisfactory service