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Date Of Complaint
03/09/2017
Complaint
On Thursday, February 3, 2017 water began backing up into my house from the septic/treatment system. I contacted Kelly Septic Services at 901-603-3919 as this is this information located on my aerator.
I spoke with Tim Kelly and he said he would be out the following day for a service call. Late the following evening I had not heard from him and called. He said he was tied up on another job and would come the next day.
On February 4, Mr. Kelly stood near the treatment system and told my husband and me that the tanks needed to be cleaned out & that this should be done every 3-5 years. I voiced concerns about the sprayers not coming on for at least a couple weeks and he assured me they would be back to normal after the system was emptied. I also told him the sound of water running underground was new. He laughed and told me (with water running underground that sounded like a washing machine) that it was supposed to sound like that. At one point he did open one of the concrete caps and briefly look in and that was the full extent of the troubleshooting. We agreed that I would call next week and schedule the cleaning.
I arranged with Kelly Septic to have the system cleaned and emptied on Monday, February 27. I paid someone in their office over the phone & let them know I would not be home but would be available by phone if needed. At the time I assumed Mr.Kelly himself would be going out to do the service work. When I arrived home from work it was evident a truck had been in the yard but the grass was undisturbed with the exception of tire tracks.
3 days later on Thursday, March 2 the toilets began to fill up with water again. I called Mr.Kelly the next day, Friday, March 2.
It was during this conversation that I became aware that "his helper" had actually been out to do the work. Mr. Kelly did not participate in the cleaning or emptying of my treatment plant from what I understood. He stated the only possible problem could be a bad pump. I asked him if he would look at it first and he said that was not necessary because there was literally nothing else that could be causing the issue of water backing up into the house. He said he would be out Monday after lunch to install a new pump.
On Sunday I missed 2 calls from Mr Kelly and I called him back once without making contact.
On Monday I waited all day but did not hear from nor see Mr. Kelly.
On Tuesday morning I called and spoke with a lady who said she would call him and have him call me. I never heard from him.
On Wednesday I called another company. When this man got out of his vehicle he said the water level was entirely too high because it shouldn't sound the way it did. He put a small pump in the tank and emptied a lot of water. When the water had receded enough to see the pump (I'm not positive it was a pump but it's what made the whole system work) it was not even connected to the side of the tank!!! It had been completely and PURPOSELY taken off and was just hanging in the tank. He screwed it in place which took no less than 20 full twists which reiterates the fact that this was intentionally removed. Within minutes of replacing this part the water level was down and the sprinklers were on. Neither of which Mr. Kelly or his helper accomplished.
To make matters worse, it has come to my attention that Mr. Kelly is not certified to work on DeSoto Concrete Equipment yet his stickers are on my aerator. I have spoken with DeSoto Concrete and Bo Sessoms installed the system.
My best guess is Mr. Kelly was hired by the bank to do an inspection when we closed on this house in 2012.
I was finally able to reach Mr. Kelly after his office personnel realized I was upset. I told him about the pump being off. His exact response was "well if he put it back on it ain't gonna work long". I told him I did not believe the system had been cleaned properly due to no digging having occurred and he told me this system doesn't require digging. DeSoto Concrete (the manufacturer) and the 2nd service man that IS certified with D.C. both stated there absolutely should be digging for this to be properly maintenanced. I told Mr. Kelly I expect a full refund of the $300 and he told me "you ain't getting no money back".
Date Of Resolution
03/10/2017
Investigation History
Not actionable by the Department
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