TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – It’s been a nightmare that Sally Rendon never thought would drag on for almost a year.
She is still unable to live in her home on Tucson’s southside after she hired the company Elite Rooter in August to do what she thought would be some simple plumbing work.
She needed two brass ring replacements for the toilets in each of her two bathrooms. She told the News 4 Tucson Investigators that she was shocked when she realized an account was opened up in her name and she was billed over $12,000 for the work, which was not completed.
“I asked for the replacement of two wax rings and ended up paying $12,087. They opened up an account in my name but attached their name to the account and were able to withdraw the money they wanted and still my house is in disrepair,” she explained.
She accuses the company of forging her signature.
The work the company did do she said possibly further damaged her home because they dug into the concrete, despite her home having a post tension warning.
She brought her case to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors which began investigating and confirmed many of her alleged issues with the company.
For example, the company did not receive the proper permits to do such work and the ROC Investigator believed they did damage the homes post tension.
The case had to be brought to court and went before an administrative law judge who ruled against Elite Rooter and recommended suspending the company’s license for 10 days.
Rendon was happy to see her case get heard by a judge but feels a 10 day suspension isn’t justice for the dozens of days she has been left without her home and her money.
“I’ll have to hire a lawyer to see what they can do to help me, I am here talking to you in the hopes that somebody will step forth and put a stop to this and make them accountable,” she said.
Her son Charlie Rendon, who has been helping her throughout the situation, called the 10 day suspension a slap on the wrist.
“Now I have to get an attorney to go get the insurance license and bond to try and see if we can put this house back together, then we have to go try and sue them to get the $12,000 back it’s like going in a big circle,” he explained.
In February, News 4 Tucson’s Chief Investigative Reporter Chorus Nylander interviewed a manager with Elite Rooter named Armando Salazar. He defended their business and believed they didn’t do anything wrong.
“We’re running a very honest business it’s not just me involved there are several people and several moving parts and if I didn’t believe we were running an honest business I wouldn’t be here,” Salazar said.
We requested another interview after the judge’s ruling in April but never received a response.
It’s now been well past the company’s 10 day license suspension but ROC records show that Elite Rooter’s license has been revoked, meaning they can’t legally be providing plumbing services at this time.
The company has now faced three separate disciplinary actions from the ROC and still has one open case against them.
As for Rendon, she is still unable to live in her home and plans on taking legal action.
“The stress level has been tremendous,” she said.
If you have a story you’d like the News 4 Tucson Investigators to look into email us at [email protected] or call our tip line at 520-955-4444.
If you have a story you’d like us to investigate, email us at [email protected] or call our tip line at 520-955-4444.
