From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
MOODY –Alabama attorney general Steve Marshall announced on Tuesday that his office obtained a court order that permanently shut down Plumbing 911 in Moody.
The company website listed a Moody address, but had separate phone numbers for Trussville, east Birmingham, Leeds, Pell City, and Over The Mountain.
“Plumbing 911 must cease plumbing and gas services, and its owner Tony Curtis Gowins must surrender his state license and never again work in the plumbing and gas industry in Alabama,” according to a statement issued by Marshall’s office.
Marshall said the action resulted from repeated violations by Gowins and Plumbing 911 despite an earlier settlement agreement with the Attorney General’s Office and the Alabama Plumbers and Gasfitters Examining Board.
The December 2016 settlement required the company to reform its unscrupulous business practices, specifically that it must honor estimates and abide by State plumbing and gas regulations, Marshall said in his statement.
The Attorney General’s Consumer Interest Division continued to receive serious complaints regarding overpricing and substandard work that was not compliant with plumbing and gas codes, the statement read.
The Attorney General’s Office conducted an investigation and subsequently filed a motion for the permanent injunction that was granted by the Jefferson County Circuit Court on October 18. The court’s order directed that the company and its owner must cease operation by October 31.
The AG’s office said complaint that led to the December settlement cited numerous violations of the Alabama Deceptive Trade Practices Act and State plumbing and gas regulations, such as charging consumers double the price of estimates, performing substandard and unnecessary work, causing major damage to property, failing to obtain required permits and licensing, and more. That settlement required the company to pay $109,044 in compensation to five consumers, and per this month’s court order the company was required to pay $3,535 to four additional consumers.
“This case should serve as a strong warning that the Attorney General’s Office will hold dishonest business operators to account for their wrongdoing, that they will be made to adhere to settlement agreements and follow consumer protection laws and regulations, and that continued violations will not be tolerated,” Marshall said.
“The State of Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board remains committed to the protection of the good people of Alabama from unscrupulous contractors,” said Executive Director David Wilcox. “We were glad to partner with the Attorney General’s office and express our appreciation to (Assistant Attorney General) Noel Barnes and (plumbing and gasfitters board officer) Michael Leonhardi as well as all the staff from both agencies who aided in the pursuance of Mr. Gowins. We are pleased to reach this resolution in this matter.”
36 Comments
Faith Brewster Summers
Anita Thompson Brewster
Henry Brock Allen
Jon Wells , Marion Pettus ,Cody Crouch, Ryan Crouch
Henry Brock Allen
Scott Kelly
Henry Brock Allen
Dan Beavers
Brad Glover
Finally these scumbags get what they deserved!!
Jenney Bryant Byrd
Daniel Byrd
Johnny R Kelly
Next to go after Leeds Mayor next….Crooked as Hell
Diane Cochran Tatum
Its about TIME!!! Good job AG
Cindy Cody
wow glad to see this they 900.00 to fix a bathtub faucet that water line had leak going to tub
Cindy Cody
was not fixed had to make them come back
Jae Everett Skinner
Good. this company was so crooked. We called them the night we closed on our house bc water was coming out of everything. Inside, outside…it had been sitting for quite sometime. He walked around for less than thirty minutes. He didn’t even get tools out. The other guy sat in the car on his phone. When they were leaving, they handed us a bill for close to 500.00. They said it was a full “inspection.” The proce to fix everything was close to 10k. We had someone else do EVERYTHING they listed for less than 1200. Crooks!
John Patterson
Used them one time 10+ years ago at our Lake house. I was tied up and couldn’t get there. One small pinhole in copper pipe. Easily accessible in crawl space. Tech repaired with shark bite fitting in 15 minutes. Charged my wife $430.00. I called because I was sure there was some mistake. No that was what they charge. I went back behind him and soldered the fitting properly with a torch. I’m glad to hear that finally others will not be victimized.
Linda Hamilton Vickers
Johns not much better in my opinion. Will never use them again
John Michael Brewer
Why did it take so long?
John Michael Brewer
He has been doing people wrong for many many years
Chris Clark
About time
Philip Sharpe
About 10 years too late….
Lucy Jackson
Surrender his license !!!
Kayla Wilbourn
Scott Wilbourn
Janet Lang
Mark Lang
Judy Hulsey Acton
Thank goodness! Got my money and I still had to hire someone else to do the job.
Jessica Skipper
Brent Skipper
Melanie Saunders Hightower
He charged us 5000 emergency visit to replace pipes for blockage!
Brent Skipper
?
Janice Erwin
They charged me $500.+ to replace a toilet which I bought last year I still have the receipt.
Adam Rhymer
Jennie Short Rhymer
Cindy Logsdon
Let me guess!! Disposal issues! I helped create that law and proud of it!
Lacey Alvis
Call Kris n Co Inc for all your plumbing/ gas needs!!!!
Amy Williams
Kevin
Melanie Rozelle
About Damn time.
Kevin Cantrell
ITS ABOUT DANG TIME!!!
Cynthia Moore Alldredge
That is great…. I wish the AG would have been there a year ago to help us with American Built Windows. Luther Stranger’s office would not even try to help and this company has been ripping off folks for years.
Thomas Frost
Anna Kate Gruendler show this to Louis
Peggy Dorriety Jones
Cathy LeGore, this is what I mentioned to you today.
Anna Kate Gruendler
I will!
James Farley
Brett Lee