Last fall, I hired a fencing company associated with Home Depot to put up a new fence after a hurricane took the old one down. During the installation, my neighbor informed me that his bathroom was draining poorly and suspected the fencing crew had accidentally hit his sewer line and possibly filled it with concrete while setting fence posts. A plumber confirmed that this was indeed the case, providing photos and videos as evidence. I contacted the fencing company's salesperson, who seemed to suggest they would reimburse me for the repairs. However, after I paid $5,700 for the plumbing work, both the general manager of the fencing company and Home Depot denied responsibility, claiming I was at fault for not marking the neighbor's sewer line. I'm wondering if I should just accept this loss or if pursuing small claims court might be worthwhile.
3 Answers
You should definitely raise some hell with Home Depot! They might not have your back when it comes to the contractors they hire, but persistence could pressure them to take responsibility. Don't let them brush you off—escalate your complaint up the chain if needed!
Honestly, it’s tough dealing with big chains like Home Depot, especially since they just acted as a middleman in the transaction. They don't tend to directly manage disputes. I’d say you're justified in taking this to small claims—after all, you shouldn't be out that money since you're not the direct cause of the issue. Definitely escalate this with corporate!
Did you have utilities marked before the dig? If not, that might complicate things, but Home Depot usually claims their contractors are licensed and insured, so they should handle the liability. If they aren’t cooperating, pursuing small claims could be your best bet.