Complaint Rating:

Company information:
Permaseal Basement Systems
513 Rogers St.
Downers Grove, Illinois
United States
Phone: 630-512-0002
www.permaseal.net

This is a letter we sent to Permaseal which details our complaints. Thank you.

June 11, 2008
210 S. Nolton Ave.
Willow Springs, IL 60480

Roy Spencer
President
Permaseal Basement Systems
513 Rogers St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515

Re: Fraudulent and unlawful business practices by Permaseal in the installation of waterproofing system on 4/16/08
Notice: This letter was written before I found out that you refused to pay the plumbing bill. Why you think we would lie about this leak is beyond me. I have included the response that I sent to the BBB regarding that claim. I am so sorry it has come to this, because I have nothing against your system or the crew who installed it.
June 10, 2008

Dear Mr. Spencer,

I think you should know that we have filed a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General’s office regarding fraudulent and unlawful business practices by Permaseal Waterproofing. The complaint lists Bill Nicholson as the employee perpetrating the fraud.

As a Permaseal Estimator, Mr. Nicholson had us unnecessarily spend $5200. to replace an entire already-existing Permaseal waterproofing system when there was only one area that was leaking. The Estimator told us we had clay drain tiles and that it was likely impossible to find clay tiles to replace the clogged one. He said that, in fact, no one was even making clay drain tiles any more. Both these facts are untrue. Clay drain tiles are still made and repairs can be made. See the web sites below.

We should have been suspicious from the very beginning. We told him that Permaseal installed the system we presently had. He vehemently denied that Permaseal could have installed it, until I showed him the original bill.

On top of this we found out, after our entire basement perimeter had been trenched, that the drain tiles that were taken out were, in fact, not even made of clay!!!, as Mr. Nicholson told us they were. When I mentioned this to a member of the installation crew, Spencer (are you this Spencer?), he said that Mr. Nicholson did not list the drain tiles as being made of clay. My son and the Willow Springs Building Superintendent both are aware of the fact that Mr. Nicholson told us we had clay tiles.

Another lie Mr. Nicholson told us was that we had to install an additional sump pump because the water needed to go out to the back yard because of the codes. I said I did not understand this because we were replacing an already-existing system, not installing a new one. He insisted that we were installing a new system and that as soon as he goes for a permit the Building Superintendent will refuse to give him a permit if he does not put the drain out to the back yard. I spoke with the Building Superintendent and he told me that whatever law was in effect when the first system was first installed would be in effect now. We would be grandfathered-in. The biggest lie here is that a Building Permit was never even applied for.

On top of all this, after the crew left, my husband discovered a leak in the basement sink drain. Right from the start, before installation began, we asked if that drain needed to be disconnected and were told it was not necessary. Your “Inspector” said that if we had any trouble, to be sure to call him, which we did. This was on Friday and he said he would get back to us the next day. We did not hear from him, so we let things slide over the weekend. He never returned our call anyhow. In fact, no one ever returned our calls. Finally, my husband said someone called from your Customer Service Department and said Permaseal would not pay for any repairs to the pipe because we had no proof that Permaseal was responsible. How ridiculous!!!

That was absolutely the last straw. It was after this incident that we decided to take action. I’m sure you have heard from the Better Business Bureau by now.

P.S. Subsequent to this letter and a BBB complaint, we were sent $250. for the plumbing repairs. They still admit no responsibility for anything. Money is not our primary concern. We just don’t want anyone else to be fooled by this company. Consumer Beware!!!

Virginia and Ralph Kriho

www.bestplumbingheating.com/pumps.html The vast majority of blocked drain-tile repairs calls for the excavation and replacement of the clogged section.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Home-Improvement-General-688/Interior-drain-tile-clogged.htm Call a basement waterproofing company or foundation contractor and ask them to dig up the clogged portion of the perimeter drain and replace it.

www.kcmaster.com/free/home-repair.htm#Drain Clay or iron tile systems may be "snaked" or "rooted" out to remove clogging if access is available.

www.schlatters-inc.com
Schlatters, Inc
16179 W 500 S
Francesville, IN 47946-9158
Products Description:
Manufactures clay drain tile; wholesales agricultural machinery & equipment; machine shop, jobbing & repair services; wholesales general construction machinery & equipment

Haviland
100 W. Main St.
Haviland, OH 45851
Product Description:
Manufactures clay drain tile


June 11, 2008


Better Business Bureau
Attention: Diana Mendez

Re: Complaint # 94181751


Dear Ms Mendez,

Thank you for your patience on the phone this morning. Needless to say, I was quite upset with the response from Permaseal. I would like this case reopened.

If what the company alleges i. e., that the leak was already present before they started work, why is it no one mentioned this fact to us? I can’t believe they would proceed without notifying us of the problem, lest (as has happened) they be accused of making the leak.

The response the crew received from my husband regarding reading of the contract may well be true, but that was not my response. I read the contract thoroughly and I asked the crew if the drain should be disconnected. I was assured that would not be necessary, because that they could go under it. At the time of this discussion, we all (myself, my husband and someone from the crew) were standing there looking at the drain at the same time and there was absolutely no leak.

This company, specifically Mr. Bill Nicholson, who calls himself the Estimator, lied to us from the very beginning. He told us repairs could not be made because we had clay tiles and no one was making clay tiles any more. Even though there was only one leak in the whole system (which was a Permaseal system), he said we had to get a whole new system installed at a cost of over $5, 000. Everything Mr. Nicholson told us was a lie. Because we are seniors, he must have thought we were easy marks.

I cannot let this person, as a representative of Permaseal, get away with this. For a further explanation of the circumstances involved in the waterproofing installation, see below for a letter I was going to send today to Permaseal. This was before I found out their response to the plumbing issue.

I think I have a very good case as far as the plumbing issue is concerned. Why didn’t they tell us they found a leak? Does it make sense not to, when they could be blamed for it?