Metropolitan Plumbing: ‘Rip off’ inquiry intensifies as retired organised crime cop called in
The nationwide inquiry engulfing an embattled South Australian plumbing company is intensifying as authorities hire more muscle to investigate surging complaints.
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The nationwide controversy engulfing an embattled South Australian plumbing company is intensifying as authorities hire more muscle to investigate surging complaints.
The official investigation of Metropolitan Plumbing, and dozens of national subsidiary brands, is now one of the state consumer watchdog’s “top priorities” with its illicit tobacco crackdown.
Consumer and Business Services, which has hired a retired “senior” SA Police detective with more than 40 years experience in organised crime and anti-corruption, has had a flood of new allegations of overcharging from disgruntled customers over the past fortnight.
CBS, which is investigating the tradie empire alongside the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission - with assistance from consumer authorities in two states - received more than 50 Metropolitan complaints since The Advertiser’s expose on March 10.
The regulator is already investigating more than 100 complaints lodged over the past three years against the company, which David John Ellingsen, 57, of Springfield, operates with his wife of 14 years Natalia Kate Ellingsen, 48.
The customer complaints do not relate to corruption or organised crime
As authorities urged any disgruntled customer to formally complain to CBS, officials revealed new examples of alleged overcharging.
A government spokeswoman said these included Metropolitan customers who claim they were:
CHARGED more than $1000 to fix a leaking tap, $2500 for an airconditioning part worth less $100, $1000 to replace smoke alarms that another company completed for “under” $200 and at least $2000 to replace a shower head;
INVOICED more than $10,000 to unblock a drain and install replacement concrete. CBS said the customer was “advised by another plumber that the concrete work was not needed and the drain could be unblocked for a few hundred dollars”.
ASKED to pay more than $1000 to replace a hot water service valve before another plumber advised “this work should have cost $90”.
QUOTED more than $10,000 for a job another company repaired for $4000.
TOLD to pay more than $2000 for an hour-long air conditioner servicing;
Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels urged any concerned Metropolitan clients to contact CBS.
“I have had a number of conversations with the new CBS commissioner [Brett Humphrey] about these and other concerning examples and to the status of existing complaints and investigations,” she said.
“The commissioner has assured me these matters are prioritised, as they should be.
“To assist with these investigations, I strongly encourage anyone who has experienced problems with Metropolitan Plumbing, and has not yet contacted CBS, to get in touch so that their matters can be considered through this process.”
She said “additional expert resourcing” included the detective, who has policing experience including as investigations manager at both SA Police’s Organised Crime & Anti-Corruption branches, will advise and support investigations.
The officer, who has led national criminal inquiries, has investigated several high profile public corruption inquiries, and has been officer-in-charge of areas including Internal Investigations, State Intelligence Branch and a Local Service Area.
She praised The Advertiser’s campaign.
“These inquiries provide important intelligence to assist with CBS’ ongoing investigations,” she said.
She said these complaints “generally relate” to situations in which customers felt they were quoted excessive amounts, told they needed unnecessary work done or were “pressured into agreeing to high priced work”.
The Ellingsens, who are embroiled in a separate liquidator investigation into another parent company’s debts, did not return calls or respond to inquiries.
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