Customers have accused Metropolitan Plumbing of charging outrageously expensive bills

Customers have come forward accusing Metropolitan Plumbing and Electricity and its partner companies of routinely overcharging, often without resolving the issue.

Ali Rodda at home in Campbelltown, who claims she was overcharged by Metropolitan Plumbing and Electrical. Picture: Matt Loxton

Metropolitan Plumbing, Electrical and Air Conditioning and partner companies routinely charge consumers outrageously expensive bills, often without resolving the issue, customers claim.

Ali Rodda, 71, and her partner of five years, grandfather Bruce Raymond, a 78 year-old musician, returned to their Campbelltown home in Adelaide’s northeast from a pleasant beach trip to find the electricity off.

Ms Rodda, a former radio presenter, called Metropolitan to fix the problem on a warm January 2nd day.

“What they do, which is really sneaky, is they have the cheapest call out fee – that’s where they get you,” she said.

The call-out eventually cost the couple more than $2500 in work.

Ms Rodda said the electrician first used a small device for a half-hour “electrical investigation”, at a charge of $1100.

He identified the fridge as the source of the problem, quoting $1250 to replace the safety switch, which Ms Rodda said she reluctantly accepted.

“I don’t mind paying a fair cost for a fair day’s work, but he was there for a little under one hour and charged us $2540.

“Brain surgeons don’t make that much an hour.

“It’s un-Australian the way they’re doing business.”

David Ellingsen, who is owner and founder of Metropolitan Plumbing, Electrical and Air Conditioning. Picture: AboutLeaders

David Ellingsen with his wife Natalia. Both have repeatedly not responded to requests for comment. Picture: Supplied

Another customer, Alex Binder, 28, was charged more than $2000 for an “airconditioning rejuvenation” – a unit clean – that he said did not fix the problem.

The hospitality worker called Metropolitan on January 1 to his Enfield home to fix his broken airconditioner.

“I called Metropolitan and the first guy arrived and told me a rejuvenation would ‘definitely fix it’,” he said.

“I paid him $2249 for the rejuvenation and waited an hour for the next person to come.”

It was during this time Mr Binder realised something didn’t add up.

“It was my first time using a tradie, I expected they would be trustworthy,” he said.

A second man arrived an hour later and did the rejuvenation, but said there were other issues.

“This second guy said all these parts were broken, and it would cost $10,000 to replace them with no guarantee to fix it.

“He then told me I should in fact replace the whole system for $20,000.”

Mr Binder had already spent $2249 with the issue unresolved, so decided an additional $20,000 was too much.

Friends recommended a reputable electrician to Mr Binder who fixed the simple issue for $220.

A litany of similar stories have been recounted online as scores of individuals claiming to be customers detail allegations of overcharging and poor customer service.

Other reviews were positive but followed a similar formula.

Another source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, recounted his elderly relative’s experience when she called Metropolitan for a plumbing issue.

“She said she felt pressured to sign and pay $1200 upfront – this is not the way business is normally conducted,” he said.

“She also felt ripped off because Metropolitan didn’t fix the problem and she was left with a $1340 bill.

Metropolitan owner David Ellingsen, 57, of Springfield, did not respond to inquiries.

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Originally published as Customers have accused Metropolitan Plumbing of charging outrageously expensive bills