Blackbird Plumbing

Martin S.

To begin, I've owned my house for 24 years. The furnace and boiler were replaced and upgraded in 2009.

On Sunday March 19, 2017 we had no heat. I called Muller Plumbing & Heating, my regular maintenance company, and was glad to see Kurt Muller himself come to get the heat going. Seems there was air in the oil line. He cleared the blockage and had the heat running fine. We discussed replacing the tank and running new overhead fuel lines to the furnace. Mr. Muller assured me things were fine for the time being, and we could do the major work in June. I paid Mr. Miller $150 for the visit. With confidence, I left for a four-week trip.

We returned on April 19 to a cold house. Burner was not lighting. I called Muller, and they sent over a technician. He said there was air in the fuel lines, cleared the blockage and said there would be no charge for today's visit. As he was packing the truck, I got a call from the Muller office with a message for the Tech man to call in. He did -- then handed me a bill for $110.50! He said it could be applied to future work if I ran ground-level oil lines (through my finished basement?) or installed something called a Tiger Loop(?) I wrote the check because I pay my bills.

I immediately called Mr. Muller, and let him know I was not pleased. He explained the problem was with my overhead oil lines. I responded that I've lived here 24 years, and the only problem I ever had was a month ago, and today -- after he'd supposedly ""fixed"" it. Mr. Muller said it wasn't like that $110.50 went right into HIS pocket... I responded that I understood how a business operates, but that the $110.50 does come out of MY pocket... and was I paying for a job he had ""fixed"" four weeks ago.

Mr. Muller went on to say that the air bubble problem could come back at any time, and he can't send people out to work for free. (If he fixed it right the first time, maybe it would be another 24 years before it happens again?)

Suffice it to say I will file a complaint with Better Business Bureau, state regulators, town code enforcement officials... and I'll re-post here if Mr. Kurt Muller eventually decides he should stand behind his work - and writes a refund check.

I paid $150.00 to fix the problem; I should NOT have to pay another $110.50 for Muller to re-do their own work!

(And good luck getting me to spend that $2,600.00 he estimated for the new oil tank!)