I just got ripped off!
Complete scam by this Champion AC and Plumbing Company! I called them after checking Google reviews, and the operator quoted an $89 trip charge. I mentioned other companies charged $39 and asked if they could match it. They said no but claimed the $89 would be part of the service cost, making it sound reasonable. She never mentioned they’d charge $341 just for looking at the issue—I’d never have agreed if I knew!
When their plumber, Thomas, arrived, he said, ‘Here’s something you need to sign before I go up and look in the attic.’ I said, ‘Okay,’ but then he showed me a $341 charge. I was shocked and said, ‘Oh my god, this is shocking!’ I had no clue they’d charge that much before even looking or earning my trust. I told him, ‘No, I’m not agreeing to pay this.’ Thomas replied, ‘No, no, no, it’s just a formality. I have to get this signed and agreed by you before I can look at it. This is only if I do some diagnosis or try to fix something.’ I agreed, expecting a real diagnosis—like testing the gas valve, checking airflow, or aligning the exhaust—actual work to solve the problem.
Instead, he took a few photos in the attic, did nothing, then went to his plumbing service vehicle.
He came back after 35-45 minutes after I called the operator that what’s going on - he is not even working on it and left telling me he’ll be back in just 5 mins, made it sound like a huge deal, and wasted a full hour—still no hot water!
He quoted at least $1200 for one of the solutions, and the rest were even more expensive, pushed me to replace my water heater, and tried to sell with financing options. Not only that he clearly stated “Even after you pay $1200 there’s NO guarantee that heater would turn on AND I need to sign some sort of liability waiver”.
On top of that, he was like a pushy salesman, going on and on about their memberships and random parts costs, completely unrelated to my issue and what I actually wanted. He was constantly derailing from genuinely helping me, treating me like a fool.
In the end, he handed me his iPad or something to sign and pay $341 right there, looming over me and insisting it was for a ‘diagnosis.’ I said, ‘What? You told me I’d only pay if you did something!’ He claimed, ‘Yeah, I did a diagnosis.’ I told him, ‘There’s nothing new—you gave me nothing I didn’t already know! I knew the vent was misaligned; I just needed you to fix it!’ He doubled down, saying, ‘No, that’s the diagnosis I did,’ and wouldn’t leave until I paid. I only paid because I signed, tricked by their scammy words. They charged me $341 for nothing!
They charged me $341 for nothing!
Then I called another plumbing company actually recommended by my dear friend, who were absolute lifesavers. They quoted a $39 trip charge for an emergency call—way better than Champion’s $89—and when their technician got delayed, they were so professional they waived the $39 entirely, no charge for the trip! Their plumber was kind, skilled, and knew exactly what he was doing.
He was so professional that he didn’t ask for any agreement or signature prior to looking at the issue and he only had me signed after guaranteeing me that he would fix it and get the hot water running without any kind of BS.
And he did exactly what he guaranteed for.
He fixed the issue in two and a half minutes, turned on my hot water, and said, ‘This was a piece of cake, a very easy problem!’
They charged just $149 for the fix, sent me a payment link, and didn’t even pressure me to pay on the spot—just trusted me to handle it. He was prioritizing sending me email with his photos and diagnosis first than payment link after he left my home. Instead of hovering over to pay first.
This Champion AC and Plumbing Company are dishonest, manipulative crooks— avoid them at all costs and hire a company that genuinely cares!
