Repairman Demands $4,000 from Elderly for Kitchen Water Leak Fix That Failed

While many hail Google reviews as one of the best inventions, second only to the air-conditioner, they didn’t come to the rescue for 60-year-old housewife Li Li. She nearly spent $4,000 to fix a water leak, but the problem persisted.

Repairman Demands $4,000 for Kitchen Water Leak Fix That Failed

In an interview with Shin Min Daily News, 60-year-old Li Li revealed that she received a notice from the authorities at the end of June stating that a leakage in her bathroom floor was affecting her downstairs neighbours.

Initially, she had asked the authorities for repair professionals, but was told she had to wait in line for two to three months. Having to use the kitchen and bathroom daily, she worried about explaining the situation to her neighbours, so on 1 August, she found an advertisement online that promised repairs without having to break the tiles.

Considering she might not find matching tiles for replacement if broken, she promptly contacted the repairman.

The repairman swiftly responded and visited within two hours, proposing to fix the issue by filling the holes with adhesive. Li Li agreed to the repair.

“Then, they brought two big buckets of adhesive from the car, saying it was sold by 500-gram increments, at $168 each. They claimed they wouldn’t use much, perhaps three to five kilograms, so I agreed to the repair.”

However, after nearly half an hour on the job, Li Li grew suspicious and discovered that there was barely any adhesive left.

Upon calculating the adhesive usage, the repairman demanded more than $4,000.

After a dispute, the repairman agreed to lower the price to $3,400.

Li Li, having no other choice, paid $800 after a disagreement on the total payment when the repairman didn’t provide a receipt or shown a business license.

Fearful for her safety and her husband’s, Li Li paid the reduced price as she was worried that if the men didn’t receive their money, they might become violent.

Even after believing that the problem was solved, Li Li found out the leakage still persisted.

“On the day of the repair, I received a notice from the authorities, saying that the leaking problem had not been resolved.”

She immediately contacted the repairman for an explanation, only to discover that they had disconnected their line of communication.

Left with no other choice, she had to seek help from other repairmen, hoping to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

A Restaurant Was Once Charged for Repairs That Didn’t Work, Too

A similar incident unfolded earlier this year.

In March, Uncle Leong Seafood restaurant faced a power outage late at night. As the 35-year-old manager, Sun Baoling, and her father were closing, they lost power. Concerned for their refrigerated stock, Ms Sun found a 24-hour electrician online who charged a $350 “transport fee” regardless of repairs.

Arriving past midnight, the electrician claimed the circuit breaker was defective and proposed a $2,300 replacement. Skeptical, Ms Sun and her father declined. They paid the $350 and dismissed him.

Later, a trusted electrician identified the real issue: a short circuit from a fridge. Once unplugged, power resumed. Another electrician fixed the fridge the next day for a mere $60.

Always Google before you commit.