My Question: What rights does a consumer have in getting an estimate from a water damage restoration company?
I was hit by the floods in the Midwest from the heavy rainstorms a couple weeks back. A resoration company came out and refused to provide me with a written estimate at the time of arrival (promised to fax me one when they got back to the office). They told me they would set up the equipment (dehumidifiers & fans) to draw the water out while they worked on the estimate because the water was so bad. They didn’t provide it to me for 3 days and it was 5 times the price of what another franchisee had quoted of the same company. I immediately told them to remove all equipment and I wouldn’t work with them, now they are trying to get me to pay 75% of the “estimate” because they did “work”?

the list should grow, but I would start with
1- the better business bureau
2-your state attorney general
3-your local county attorney
4-your local newspaper
5-call FEMA, they may can help
6- your rep and senator, this may be federal violation

If they are 5 times as high, chances are they have jacked prices because of the flood, this is not good.

I have told people that I dont mind being the highest bid , just as long as I am not twice as high.
My theory is you get what you pay for , but this falls out of this catagory.
Good luck with your project, come back and tell how it turned out.
As good as you can,,Have a great day, dont loose faith in mankind because of these crooks

I would definitely follow the advice given to you by the prior poster “daorangejell”. In addition send them a letter with a copy of the competitors written estimate and send a copy to the Franchiser telling them in no uncertain terms that what they are doing is tantamount to extortion. Further inform them that you will be taking all necessary steps to denounce what they are doing publicly. I am quite certain that they will not want the bad publicity and the Franchiser will very likely get involved.

The most important thing is for you to keep at this. If they threaten to sue, let them and take all your documents including that other estimate to court–I am sure that any judge after hearing the evidence will not award them a dime.

Unfortunately unscrupulous operators like this one are banking on your sense of desperation and vulnerability. Shame on them!

Also do not feel bad this happens everywhere–I am in the Mid-Atlantic and when we have large windstorms that knock down some of our large oak trees you will have companies come and tell our clients that they will remove it and not to worry that the insurance will pay and then bill for 4 and 5 times the amount and most of the time if the tree was not directly on the house the insurance company will not pay and the client is in big trouble. Your case is much stronger because you have the other estimate.

Good Luck.

Please leave your answer in the comments! Thanks.