COMPLAINT: Clinton Queen, Tucker, Ga.

"I hired The Affordable Plumber LLC to pump my father's septic tank. While pumping the tank, the tee filter "supposedly" was broken or no longer there. They took no photos at the beginning of work to show the tee filter was gone or broken before they began.

"My father had to pay $450 to have this replaced. Several days later, water started bubbling up in the area where the tank was pumped. The company had busted a water pipe, which they replaced at no cost. Still, several days later, water began pooling again in the same area.

"This time, I met with company president Rick Rhoden, who told me the water was coming from the leach field where it had been backed up and the tree roots had destroyed the pipe.

"The tee filter is supposed to keep this from happening. They also left a mess of pipes and tools in the yard, not to mention the mess that was left where they dug up the septic tank lid."

DESIRED RESOLUTION: "I would like for The Affordable Plumber to take responsibility for the problems they've caused and repair them at no cost. Yes, the pipes are old. However, the problems didn't exist until they started work."

RESPONSE: Rick Rhoden, president, The Affordable Plumber LLC

"We are very sorry for the customer's expenses and problems associated with the septic tank system. However, this is a common problem with old systems. We absolutely cannot refund the money for pumping the tank because we have to pay for proper sewage disposal.

"This was not a routine maintenance call. They had absolutely no use of the system because it was totally full. A working septic tank will not be full to the top of the lid.

"I suggest they check their previous pumping bill to see if the previous company also recommends that they replace the outlet tee that is missing. A missing outlet tee will not keep a system from draining.

"This is simply a maintenance code to help protect your system and its drain field so it will last longer. The best we can do is deduct $800 from the cost of $4,000 for new city sewer connection."

STATUS: Stalemate

Editor's note: The member informed Angie's List they had already replaced the sewer connection for a third of the quoted cost and refused the company's offer.