For Immediate Release: September 9, 2014
ALERT: Complaints Pile In on Septic-to-Sewer Contractor
BBB and Citizens Energy Group Offer Consumers Tips
Indianapolis, Ind. – An excavator targeting homeowners with failing septic systems has been the subject of eight separate complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau® Serving Central Indiana (BBB). As a result of unanswered complaints, BBB has opened an investigation on D & H Excavators, LLC.
The excavator has been focusing on neighborhoods involved with the Septic Tank Elimination Program (STEP) run by Citizens Energy Group, which aims to help homeowners in Indianapolis replace failing septic systems with sewers.
As part of STEP, homeowners must hire a general contractor or plumber to construct the lateral from the home to connect to the sewer line or stub constructed by Citizens. Citizens has provided resources for consumers from day one of STEP to help guide them in making this decision. More information can be found here.
Complaints filed against D & H Excavators, LLC include unreturned calls by the company to consumers, incomplete projects, damaged yards and damaged fences. Often times, the contractor left gaping holes in these consumers’ yards that run six-feet deep from the house to the easement. One consumer spent seven months with his septic tank open and sewage left pooling in his backyard. The company eventually returned to complete the pump installation.
For the majority of cases filed with the BBB, the contractor required 100% payment upfront for the work.
After hearing similar complaints, Citizens mailed a letter to residents living in STEP neighborhoods with reminders on what to look for in a contractor. (See letter attached).
“Unfortunately, this contractor is targeting a group of people he knows are in need,” said Tim Maniscalo, President of BBB Serving Central Indiana. “Requiring 100% payment upfront should be a red flag for consumers. It is important to take time in making a decision to hire a contractor and not be tempted by high-pressured sales people at your door or deals that sound too good to be true. In most cases, they are just that.”
“Our customers are our top priority,” said Jessica Castellanos, Public Outreach Coordinator for Citizens Energy Group. “We encourage homeowners to be diligent in their research before hiring a contractor and talk with neighbors for references or check with organizations like the Better Business Bureau.”
BBB Serving Central Indiana and Citizens Energy Group offer the following tips for consumers hiring a contractor:
- Contractors in Marion County must be licensed. Visit the City of Indianapolis Department of Code Enforcement website to confirm whether a contractor is licensed.
- Make sure the contractor is bonded. Ask for the name and phone number of the contractor’s insurance company and follow up.
- Talk with your neighbors and friends for references.
- Ask the contractor for local references.
- Get estimates from three different contractors. Make sure they include the same services, labor, and materials. Read the fine print.
- Be cautious if the contractor requires 100% of the charge upfront. BBB recommends paying no more than one-third of the cost upfront.
- Resist high-pressure sales tactics, such as the “good deal” you will get only if you hire the contractor on the spot.
- Remember FTC’s Cooling Off Rule. If you sign a contract in your home over $25, you have up to three business days to change your mind. Learn more here.
- Visit www.bbb.org/indy to research before hiring a contractor. D & H Excavators, LLC has an “F” rating with BBB for unanswered complaints.
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About Better Business Bureau
For more than 100 years, BBB has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2013, people turned to BBB more than 132 million times for BBB Business Reviews on more than 4.5 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. BBB Serving Central Indiana, founded in 1916 and serving 46 counties in central Indiana, is one of 112 local, independent BBBs across North America. www.bbb.org - Facebook
About Citizens Energy Group
Citizens Energy Group is a Public Trust providing safe and reliable utility services to more than 800,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Indianapolis area. The Public Trust means its utilities are managed only for the benefit of customers and the community. Additional information is available online at www.CitizensEnergyGroup.com - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube
Media Contacts:
BBB Serving Central Indiana - Leah McGrath
Sease, Gerig & Associates
317-502-9996 (Cell)
Citizens Energy Group - Sarah Holsapple
Media Relations
317-927-4341 (Office)
317-363-6800 (Cell)