First Call Plumbing

Google R.

Unprofessional and disingenuous. They will, admittedly, overcharge their customers. And, it is their philosophy that it doesn't matter what the job costs, but rather how much they can extract from the client. Their service "pro" replaced a 2 inch piece of 1/2 inch copper pipe in under 30 minutes and charged us $1500. I complained to a manager , and he agreed that their plumber had indeed over charged, and that a refund would be sent. Several weeks later, and no refund, I was told that the plumber no longer worked for the company, and that the refund check got mixed up in the office. Several more weeks, still no check, and a new manager told me that the previous manager was talking with is no longer with the company. And it was the new manager's opinion that $1500 was indeed, fair. No invoice was provided, and no details of the charges given. I was also told by yet another manager that the plumber that over charged me is in fact, still working for the company. Apparently lying is common practice within this office. It's the same office that provides support for the electric and pool service division of the company. Don't waste your time with any of them. Learn from my mistake and look elsewhere. There are plenty of other service professionals in the DFW area that provide work at a fair price.

Richard E.

My seventy-five year old mother was told her gas line would be replaced in 3 days. It took 3 WEEKS. Took First Call Plumbing over a week just to get their insurance filed with the city. Then when they finally did, the city inspector failed the job twice and the First Call Plumber that was suppose to meet with the city inspector both times didn't show up either time. Then first call asked my seventy-five year old mother to call the city inspector to work things out. Why would a reputable company ask a seventy-five year old woman to call the city to do their job??!! Why did a seventy-five year old woman have to go 3 WEEKS taking cold showers, not being able to cook her meals on the stove, or dry her clothes (her gas line feeds all of these). My mother called crying because she did not know what to do. I tried hiring another plumber to get the job done but First Call Plumbing would not release the permit (there can only be one permit on the job) so my mother could get gas to her house.
First Call Plumbing was very unprofessional and very undependable in handling their business.

Jenny H.

We called First Call to come out because our sink and dishwasher backed up. They advertised a first call special of $50. Being new to the area we thought we'd try them. They came out and snaked our pipe and it ended up costing us $250. 2 weeks later it was backed up again. We released the valve to let the water out because we had to go out of town and didn't have time to have them come to the house. Less than 2 weeks from draining the valve everything is backed up again. When I called to see if they'd come out and look at it again they said they wouldn't without charging us again. I asked him about any sort of guarantee since it clogged less than 2 weeks later and was now clogged again. He said were outside of 30 days by 2 days anyway so they wouldn't do it. We will definitely not be calling them again.

Dennis T.

Plugged bathroom sink drain. I paid the quoted rate. Stupid me. $412 for 20 min total visit. Tech was very nice and professional BUT never again will I call these folks. And don't believe their service charge will be waived if work is done (ya gotta print off the supposed internet coupon).

Mike B.

I called/used the Dallas county franchise 972.351.8866. I should have done more research. They contract out their work to independent plumbers. Thus, First Call just provides marketing and there is no quality/service control.
I broke a water main to my house near the driveway. I knew what was wrong, and if I had the time could have repaired it myself, but I needed it fixed NOW. First Call say they price by the project. Eric showed up and quoted me $600, max $700 to repair the pipe. I knew it was high for the job, but he was here, and I needed it done. When he finished the job the next day he docked 13 hours of work - actual was 7.5. I'm home based and monitored all his work. He then handed me a bill for $950.
I refused to pay him $950 and called him out on his "times" and reminded him of his quote. He tried to get me for $850, the $775. I told him I'd pay $650 and no more. That was what I agreed to prior to beginning. He took $650 but left the driveway covered in mud and excessive dirt above the digging repair - far beyond what normal settling will cure. I had to go back in and ensure the dirt was packed/filled around the repaired pipe, and tamp down the repaired hole.
I'll NEVER recommend or use this company again. The company has no control of pricing/ service/ or quality of work. They just want their marketing cut of the $$. I could have done better calling blindly from Craigslist. I wish I could give ZERO stars.

Kim H.

If I could give no stars I certainly would. On Sept. 9, 2013 our hot water heater in our Ft Worth home broke. We called First Call Plumbing and they sent a technician out to our home very late that night.

To summarize, we paid for a new hot water heater to be installed. We were told we had to have a new inspection for the unit and we were charged for the inspection up front.

Every week we called to find out when someone would be to our home to inspect every week we got the run around. We were told that someone would be to our house later that week or that we would get a call back. Neither happened.

I finally spoke with Todd (the manager) and explained to him how I should not have made over 10 phone calls to get something resolved. He apologized and assured me we would be taken care of right away.

Weeks later we finally had someone show up to inspect and guess what...the job FAILED!

It is now Feb. 7, 2014 and I am writing this review as I continue to wait for Todd to refund the money we paid for the inspection!

Stay away from this company!

K G.

As a previous consumer stated.....if there was a half of a star....It would certainly explain the service of these shysters. I contacted first call plumbing for a toilet install in my master bathroom. Plumber comes to my house...to install a toilet that I had already purchased...$299.00 bucks for the install. Then the lying greedy ba&*$%d had the nerve to tell me that the toilet needed to be moved 2 feet...and that I needed a flange/bend...etc another $597 bucks. Do yourself a favor...STAY AWAY from this company.....they are dishonest....and take advantage of people!

Bob B.

If there was a half star......that is what I would have elected for this company. Apparently....First Call Plumbing is franchised all over the DFW area. I used First Call Plumbing Dallas recently when a tankless water heater failed in our rental home. They went out (3) different times...and gave me (3) different explanations as to just what I needed in order to get this thing fired up again and producing hot water. At one point, they didn't have the "special equipment" they needed to correctly do the diagnostics.....as it was on another truck...and it would be $199. I felt sorry for my tenants after 4 days of no hot water...and wanted to act quickly...so I agreed. Apparently while one of the techs was standing in front of the unit in the basement...it began to rain....that is when he discovered that water was getting into the system from the outside vent. They concluded that hail had damaged the outer venting...and was allowing water to get into the pipes. The cost for repair was $800. Hmmm...the unit was a (5) year old Bosch that we bought for $1,000...so...what's the point? I asked them for an estimate on a new install (we buy the unit-and they install)....that was quoted @ $1900. Hmmm...all of the venting, and gas lines for the most part were already installed...so unless I bought a totally obscure unit where it would have to be reconfigured,....why would all of that need to be redone? (I was looking at a Rannai) I told them I needed to make some calls. I called Hayes Plumbing...a very reputable company that we use...who was just too swamped to get to it....but the owner found time to go check things out. His conclusion.....he had no idea how $1900 would come into play on an install......he said he would get to it....but not for a week. I then asked my contractor who installed it (but was out of town)...to give me a referral. He gave me Speck Plumbing's number out of Dallas. Trevor Speck went to the house.....and in 2 hours .....the water was removed from the intake pipes...and the unit fired back up. $150 was the bill.
Wow........was I ever going to pay $1900 for a new install that my contractor originally handled for $300 (who could build a house from the ground up) .....no. Was I going to pay $800 to fix a unit that cost $1,000 (5) years ago........no......will I ever use First Call Plumbing again.....absolutely not. They might as well answer the phone "Hello, First Call Plumbing, how may we rip your face off today?"
Also note: They recommended Eternal Tankless Water Heaters when they quoted the $1900 on the install. The parent company is in Garland, Texas. I found them via a google search......then went to amazon.....and 9 out of 12 reviews on Eternal Tankless were blatantly negative. One star. Beware here as well.

Kerry W.

These guys offer to come by and provide a "FREE ESTIMATE"... the trick is that they are more than twice the price of other plumbing companies (I contacted four companies for bids). In addition, they told my wife that we had several water leaks and that the repair would take at least four hours!

It actually was only one leak and it took 45 minutes. I had estimated it to be a one hour job! These guys are snakes in sheep's clothing.

KSW