City Attorney Helps Elderly Couple Recoup $27,000 From Plumbing Contractor

April 22, 2008

Contact: Paula Rockenstein, Consumer Affairs Specialist  (310) 458-8364 

City Attorney Helps Elderly Couple Recoup $27,000 From Plumbing Contractor

Last week the Santa Monica City Attorney’s office successfully resolved a complaint filed by a local senior citizen couple against a Los Angeles area plumbing contractor. The contractor, Schuelke Plumbing, has reimbursed the couple all of the $27,030 they had paid. The repayment comes in the wake of the couple’s allegations that included improper billing, overcharging, and substandard work.

In July 2007 the Santa Monica couple, who are both in their 80s, initially contacted Schuelke for a plumbing repair in their kitchen. After an exterior inspection, a Schuelke representative determined the couple had a “plumbing emergency” and that all pipes needed to be replaced immediately. The couple agreed and the contractor did a complete re-piping of their house and property (inside and outside). The total price of the job was $27,030.

The complaint alleged the following improprieties by Schuelke:

            • failing to honor their warranty when problems arose with the job;

            • failing to obtain City permits for the job;

            • failing to give a breakdown of parts and labor on the bills; and

            • failing to list all payments received on the bills

The California Contractors’ State Licensing Board (CSLB) investigated the couple’s complaint. The CSLB hired an independent expert who investigated the job. He concluded that:

            • Schuelke’s work was below acceptable standards;

            • There were some 15 Code violations in the work performed; and

            • Schuelke charged more than 20 percent higher than a reasonable rate for the work performed (which he concluded should have been between $20,000 and $22,000)

The CSLB also determined that it will cost the couple an additional $12,000 to bring the plumbing work that was done up to Code.

Schuelke Plumbing denied any wrongdoing.

After an investigation, the City Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit helped the two sides to reach a settlement without resorting to the courts.

The CSLB plans to continue its own investigation into possible discipline against Schuelke Plumbing.

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This page was last updated on 04/23/08.