Wolcott Services

Stacy J.

I operate a senior living community in Troutdale and we recently contracted with Wolcott when we had an issue with our hot water valve. Of course it was a Friday, and by the time they determined what the issue was, it was late in the day. They did not want to fix the issue that day (late on a Friday) and instead suggested that they could put a ""temporary bandaid"" on the problem and schedule it for a different day the following week. Because this is a residential long term care facility, we needed to have the work completed after normal working hours because the water would need to be shut off for approximately 5-6 hours. We picked a date, scheduled with Wolcott, and sent the appropriate notices to the residents. An hour before our repair services were to start, the technician showed up and asked if our water was working ok with the ""bandaid"", which it was (thankfully). He then informed us that he would not be completing the work that day as he had some other emergencies come up. We tried explaining that we have given notices to residents and staff and made arrangements and this needed to be completed. He refused to do the work and left.
This was horribly unprofessional. I will not be using their services in the future.

Corry S.

I had a trap primer break and needed it fixed same day. They were the first ones to schedule a technician and I booked the appointment. Tech came, diagnosed the problem, sourced the part then returned to do the repair. I needed the repair done, and was told the cost before agreeing to the repair. I shouldn't have paid $480 for a $30 part and an hour labour, but I did.

Job was completed quickly and properly but $480 is a comical price to pay for this small job.

The company and the tech were upfront about the pricing before they started the repair - I reluctantly agreed to pay due to me being in a rush.

I would hire a different plumber for the next job just due to cost.

Kelly D.

Contacted this company because my usual A/C guys said I needed a lennox dealer to warranty the part I needed.
When I contacted them I told them I had a broken part that should be under warranty.
The guy who came out was a total jerk. Hostile, abrasive, and really just seemed like he didn't want to be here.
Almost immediately he told me they probably couldn't warranty the part because we weren't the original purchaser of the system. Which I feel like the first person I spoke to should have told me.
So after they came out, and diagnosed the problem I already knew I had, they charged me $500 with a vague 'we'll try our best to warranty it, but no guarantees. We'll call you.'

A week later I had to call them myself, only to be told that there was nothing they could do to warranty the part. In a way that made me feel the tech was very dishonest in saying there was any question about that at all.

I honestly feel like I was lied to and jerked around and taken advantage of from my first call.

Do not recommend! Try anyone else!!

Bryan B.

I bought a new house and Wolcott plumbing was the busness that installed the plumbing.
When I discovered a vent pipe in the attic was not connected it took over 2 weeks for the scheduler to contact me to send someone out. When the guy final came out he said he would come back next morning to fix it. He didn't come back and no one called to let me know why. I made several calls and had a less the helpful person say a manager would call me back by end of day. No one called. I left multiple voice messages the next day but no call has been returned. It seems like since this job is covered by the warranty and there is no money for Wolcott Plumbing to make my issue is of little importance to them. It has been a terrible customer service experience. The only positive thing was the man that came out to look at the issue was professional, informative and friendly. He just never came back to fix things.

Tonja T.

Super disappointed in all of my dealings with this company!!
called mid June to schedule an appointment I was involved in a house fire and my front out side water facet was affected and the water would not shut off, and I had some bathroom shower issues the facet needed to be changed out, got an appointment 2 weeks later...The guys show up ""fix ""the water facet out side said ""it just needed a new washer it was melted in the fire"" took a look at at the bathroom shower facet said they needed to order part and would set another appointment later that day to come back out and install.. I asked for new hardware and requested a lever on/off for my mothers bathroom due to her arthritis, they said ""no problem"" .I was quoted $670 upon next visit.......I paid 187.00 for fixing the washer in out side facet but I never received a next appointment date call by the next end of the work day so I called and was told some one would get back to me by the end of the day to set up the appointment....nothing so I called again, and again, and again...5 times total and 10 days later before I finally got my follow up appointment date set up.I reminded them about the lever hardware for my arthritic mom she said ""yep its in the notes"" Mean while my outside front facet still leaking(my water bill going up) a new guy come out yesterday 7/14 I ask do yo need me to explain he assured me ""no its all in the work order"" very friendly guy, I let him know the water was still leaking out front he said he would check it out again.
So upon paying for my services he said he was sending me an invoice for services and price ,I thanked him , he also said he replaced the washer in out side facet should be good again. I go into bathroom to check out work and to see if its working right....The only hardware that was replaced was the knob!it was the same style I asked to be replaced!! not a lever shut off,they reused the rust facet, and drain cover and shower head were all the same.I go look at the invoice he mailed its blank!! I check my bank account he charged me $870, I call the office and request the invoice with the break down,and let them know I did not receive what I asked for??!! send me an invoice for what they did... to this day I have still not received a invoice for what I was charge... my water is still leaking outside and I did not get what I requested for new hardware the job was terrible and no one will call me back!!

B Kate D.

This company did some work for a neighbor on my street. They filled the street with multiple work trucks, backhoes, large metal plates and large heap of gravel on and off for 1.5 weeks. They scraped up the street with their equipment and blew dirt from the gravel pile into the air to ""clean up"" the smaller particles from gravel pile but got it all over and on cars. They also left spray paint on the street after they spray painted their tools...seemed to be just a general disregard for the space where people live.

Kevinn H.

Ready to empty your wallet? - fuzzy math and deceptive rates --

At the Initial call I was told the cost would be $95 for the service call and if i Agreed to the repair price, that amount would go toward hourly labor and I would pay for parts. So, I made the appointment for a plumber to come out: upon his arrival I asked for an estimate of parts which was under $20 and a time estimate on how long it would take. He said under an hour.

Here's the thing, the overall price he presented me was $500. I asked how much they charge by the hour, which he replied $165. Then I asked how did he arrive at $500 when the cost for parts was under $20 and the scope of the job was under an hour. Appears I asked a trick question because he said that he doesn't set the pricing his office does. Then he went into a convoluted diatribe defending book pricing, contract pricing and journey man hourly rates - none of which had anything to do with my project. He should be commended for foolishly attempting to talk himself out of a bind. Nonetheless I needed to have the small project done and asked if we could together call the office to straighten up the confusion, the Wolcott plumber said ""I don't have time for that"" ran to his truck and left.

So when you are ready to be presented a fuzzy math estimate specifically designed to empty your wallet. This is the place for you!
UpDaTE -- This project was just completed the same day the above took place by a plumbing company called rescue rooter. they did it in less than a half hour and it cost less than $200.

Susan M.

I recently had a new washer and dryer delivered, come to find out the hot water outlet had a small but persistent leak. I had to turn off water to house. After calling the company I had always used, but became very dissatisfied with their response and service, don't call Mr Rooter BTW, even though somewhat an emergency, they could not see me until possibly the next day. Another company I found directed me to Wolcott. The receptionist was so kind, and had someone that could come out at 07:00am. Dave showed up and got the job done. After many problems over the years, leaks, shoddy work, and bad pipes, I agreed with Dave to re-pipe my entire house. Granted I have a small house with all plumbing in the back of the house, so maybe less costly, but I am STOKEDI have hot water more quickly out of bathroom sink. Now I have not gone into the crawl space, ick, but all the piping inside is well done, no more cracked pipes, no more leaks and/or flooding possibly damaging my heated floors. I have even discussed with Dave to put in a soaker tub and within days he had found several tubs that would fit in the bathrooms small footprint, without changing the layout.

Sheena P.

Stay away! They don't answer my phone calls, they delayed my project and cost me my reputation with my client. I hope they go out of business. Horrible horrible service!

B K.

Had a plumber come out and replace a water heater in my apartment building. The first time I spoke with them they were very friendly and kind, and gave an accurate estimate of when water would be available again.

Later in the day, I went out onto my steps to do some chores, and found my gardening supplies moved, tools scattered on my steps, and access to my storage closet blocked off by a 10ft pipe suddenly jutting out of the wall. My compost/worm home had it's cover removed, and was directly beneath the work (drilling holes into the building). It was now filled with paint and wood debris (from an old building likely containing lead).

I waited for the worker to return. They spent a minute in eye line very friendly chatting with a passing dog walker. When I tried to ask for an estimate of when the work would be done, I was cut off before I could even get to the question. The plumber became hostile. A 5 second flip from friendly dog chatting to being hostile to me. When I expressed that it bothered me that I hadn't been notified of the work, and that my things had been moved without consultation (when they knew I was home), I was met with aggressive condensation. Their manner and body language was, quite frankly, frightening. I was not comfortable in my home, and as they had taken over my stairs, felt I couldn't leave it.

I later heard them in the basement on the phone with the head office speaking about the tenants. The plumber repeatedly exlaimed ""They're scammers! They're just scamming! They're scammers!"" Which was bewildering (what is the scam?) and offensive.

I believed they knocked twice afterwords, but I did not answer as the event and the overheard phone conversation left me very uncomfortable. Their name was Matt.

I do not know what caused this sudden switch from friendly to hostile. I emailed the office, but received no reply. Not looking for anything, save acknowledgment that this behavior was unacceptable.

The work left a hole drilled in the wrong place a jagged eyesore, leading to a second hole with the pipe. I do have hot water though which I guess is the goal, but that behavior was not really worth it.

It took them several visits to figure out how to replace the water heater, but I believe that was a little more due to poor management from Portland General Contracting, which is a more frightening tale.