Donlon Plumbing, INC.

Two weeks ago I notice strange gurgling noises coming from my home's drains, and a scent of sewer gas in my front yard. A plumber from Donlon arrived at my house about 1pm, Feb 26, 2019 to clear out an obstruction in the main line from my home as it reaches out to the street line. The plumber was surly and generally non-communicative, but no matter, I let him work away. At one point he did tell me there may be roots obstructing the line. I came out to check on his progress around 5-5:30. He was gone. I thought this was startlingly unprofessional. However, the drains seemed to work better, and the sewer scent had abated. The next morning, I could see the disaster the Donlon plumber left behind. See photos, attached — I have a green, verdant garden that reaches across the front of my home (as illustrated by the picture of lush greenery I've attached for purposes of comparison). At the site of the sewer drain, there was literal shit piled around plants broken and stamped to death, mulch shoved aside. I was surprised, and sickened. A few days later, after the drain gurgling noises and sewer gas returned, I called Donlon to report that the plumbing project had not only failed, but that the plumber left a disgusting mess in my front yard. The customer disrespector I spoke with was defensive: That was the condition of the garden when the insolent plumber arrived, she lied to me, at first. Then she claimed they had photos attesting to this supposed slovenly condition of the garden upon his arrival. Impossible, I said, as I didn't even know where the access drain was located, since the entire area was covered in a blanket o mulch and the aforementioned lush greenery. Finally, as a last resort, she informed me that their plumbers are not responsible for clean up after their work, and that this is something, this level of cleanup, that will have to be handled by another company. A sham excuse that I'm sure doesn't hold water (which is odd, coming from a plumbing company — "#1 Plumber in Ventura"!). After that mini-torrent of lies and evasions, I was then told that the plumber was not able to fix the problem, that there was a "massive" obstruction due to roots clogging the line. She said that the matter had been referred to another company, one capable of digging out the blocked line and replacing it. And, one would hope, one capable of cleaning up after itself. I deduct one half star for the rudeness of the plumber. And three -and-a-half stars for pervasive unprofessionalism and downright dishonesty.