I recently hired a contractor to set up a new French drain system in my basement, which includes two sump pits. Our contract clearly stated that I would be getting a "Zoeller battery-operated sump pump system," but instead, the contractor went ahead and installed a cheaper PROFLO system, claiming it's a better option. I later discovered that the PROFLO is known for being a budget-friendly choice and often receives negative reviews compared to the Zoeller, which is typically more reliable. To make matters worse, the PROFLO pump failed after just six months, and the contractor was very hard to reach for a year. Now, he's finally willing to rectify the situation by replacing the broken pump with the Zoeller brand that I originally wanted, but he's asking me to pay $695 to replace the second pump, which is still functioning. He justifies this by saying that he wouldn't switch it out since he uses the same one at his house. What should I do? Is this a scam?
1 Answer
Honestly, it sounds like you already got taken for a ride when they swapped the pump brands without your approval. If the contract clearly stated Zoeller, then they should have stuck to that. My advice? Cut your losses now and find a new contractor. Get a few quotes to see what the market is like. It’s not worth the headache to keep dealing with someone who dodged you for a year just because he thinks the PROFLO is fine. You deserve to have what you paid for.
I hear you! I wish I’d known sooner that they had switched brands. I was so focused on getting it fixed while it was under warranty that I didn’t even check the installation details until it broke. Just wondering—is the PROFLO really considered better than the Zoeller, or was the contractor just trying to save money?