This January Meeting

At the Last Meeting

Sponsor was J & H Aitcheson

Winner of the 50/50 drawing was Andy Baumbach. He won $47.00 and donated all back the PHCC auxilary. Congratulations.

Coming Up Soon at Our Meetings

$20.00 per person for NVPHCC members per seminar

PICK WHICH DATE BEST SUITES YOUR SCHEDULE AND LOOK FOR REGISTRATION FORMS AT THE NEXT PHCC MEETING, IN THE NEWSLETTER OR CALL 323-1776 AND REQUEST A BROCHURE BE MAILED TO YOU. SEMINAR TOPICS ARE THE SAME FOR BOTH DATES.

PHCC-NV will be having another Vegas Nite on November 14^th, 1998 at Westwood Country Club so you have plenty advance notice to mark your calendar. Look for more details in future newsletters.

 "Super Plumber" Tom Warner asks for HELP!

Maryland’s Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr, has filed charges against Warner Plumbing and its owner Thomas F. Warner.

December 29, 1997

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has filed charges against Warner Plumbing and its owner, Thomas F. Warner, alleging that the company

(2) Advised customers to replace plumbing fixtures without disclosing that less expensive repairs would solve the problem

The charges seek an order requiring that Warner Plumbing, which acted as an authorized licensee for Sears from 1989-95, use only licensed plumbers to perform repairs and disclose material information to consumers.

The charges also ask that Warner Plumbing and Thomas F. Warner be ordered to pay restitution to consumers, civil penalties and costs.

"Sending unlicensed plumbers into peoples' homes only invites trouble," said Attorney General Curran. "Not only does a license ensure that the plumber demonstrate a minimum level of skill, but licensing also demands that plumbers are in compliance with health and safety regulations."

In order to obtain a license, plumbers must serve an apprenticeship of 7500 hours and pass an exam testing their plumbing knowledge. Curran recommends that consumers needing a plumber contact the State Plumbing Board at (410) 333-6322 to check whether any plumber they are considering is properly licensed.

OAG@oag.state.md.us

http://www.oag.state.md.us

The fact that Maryland's Attorney General filed charges against us is disheartening, to be sure. They further malign the reputation of a company that is devoted to pro- viding a high-quality service for a reasonable price, in a manner that addresses consumer interests to a degree still unmatched by any comparable company nationwide.

The charges stem principally from Warner's work with Sears. In 1989 Warner became the "Sears-authorized plumber" for the greater Baltimore area. Based on our solid performance, Sears expanded our responsibilities in 1990, to include the Washington area as well.

The Warner Companies' direct, day-to-day involvement in Sears work ended in 1991. In that year, and at Sears' request, I established a new company, American Mechanical Systems, Inc. (AMS), to handle Sears work. AMS was a separate company, with its own technical and office equipment and systems, as well as its own technical, managerial, and executive staff. In January 1994, AMS operations were consolidated and AMS's name was changed to Warner Plumbing of Maryland, Inc. Then Warner once again served Sears customers. As for Warner's and AMS's relationships with Sears and Sears customers, the record is clear:

* During the period 1989-1995, Warner or AMS was audited at least once annually by Sears staff. This audit included an evaluation of the quality of work performed and compliance with Sears policies.

* In 1994 and, again, in 1995, Warner and AMS won awards for outstanding levels of quality improvement in Sears' Eastern Region and were consistently recognized by Sears as among its finest "SFI" contractors nationwide.

In fact, relationships with Sears and Sear's customers were so successful, AMS became the "Sears-authorized plumber" in other cities. Our relationship with Sears was concluded amicably. At that time, neither Warner nor AMS had any outstanding Sears complaints against them for any of the more than 20,000 Sears jobs performed. In fact, I am aware of only one consumer affairs department complaint (for work performed in Baltimore) filed against either company as the "Sears-authorized plumber" and that complaint was resolved immediately.

The work in question is relatively simple and often is performed on a do-it-yourself basis by home handymen. None- the less, the people we assigned are trained and qualified journeymen plumbers. Most of them simply do not want to have to sit for the written examination required to obtain licensure.

Local plumbing inspectors understand the issue and interpret the law to mean that unlicensed plumbers can be permitted to perform certain routine services as long as they work under the authority of a licensed master plumber who takes ultimate responsibility for their work. (In a similar manner, unlicensed engineering technicians are permitted to important construction inspections when they work under the authority of a licensed professional engineer who ultimately takes responsibility for the quality of their work.)

Stated simply, what we have done is a common practice in this area and, until the Attorney General's recent action, was considered wholly in compliance with the law. If the Attorney General's interpretation of the law is upheld, consumers will have to pay more (licensed journeymen plumbers are in short supply) for no real benefit.

I am absolutely confident that we will resolve the state's charges against us in full. We were in the midst of negotiations when the state unilaterally decided to curtail them and file suit. I had hoped to be able to conclude the matter through a settlement that would have cost less than the attorney's fees and time that now will be necessitated, but at least we will achieve vindication.

As for the allegations previously leveled by WUSA-TV and Montgomery County, we have patiently been abiding by the judge's preference that we not create publicity. This has been very costly for us and, more significantly, for the more than 200 men and women -- many of them Montogmery County residents -- we have been forced to lay off.

The wheels of justice grind slowly, and hard, so even more time will be required for Warner to show that, in fact, we have not knowingly defrauded anyone of so much as a dime.

For what it's worth, let me note that Warner was the first plumber locally, and possibly nationally, to insist on employee drug screening, to help ensure that those we sent into customers' homes were not users of controlled substances. We were the first plumber locally, if not nationally, to provide a five-year unconditional guarantee on all parts we install. We were the first plumber locally to offer special services for the hearing-impaired. We were the first to offer weekday evening and Saturday service at no additional cost. and we were among the first locally, if not the first, to quote a total service cost (flat rate) before doing the work, and after diagnosing the problem, so customers can obtain other bids.

As damning as some of the charges against us sound, they are based largely on a lack of understanding occasioned in particular by a lack of research, unwarranted assumptions, and, in some cases, ulterior motives. Ours is a good, honest company with which I proudly associate my name. Our low tolerance for bad attitudes and lackadaisical performance has created enemies.

The record will ultimately show that Warner is not guilty of the allegations. Until then, we will continue to rely on a large core of loyal customers wise enough about "the ways of the world" to recognize that their own experience is the most effective litmus of reality.

"Would you please post the address where I can mail the keys to the front door of my office and shop to avoid the rush once the decision in this case is handed down . This might be the simplest way to resolve this B---S--- situation .Let the Federal Judges run all of the plumbing company's in the good ole' U.S.A. I have always wanted to have a government job, mainly for the benefits and now maybe my prayers will be answered." Columbia, SC

As far as skill levels go ... the license don't mean squat (as proof, I have a master's license.. :-) I've got a master plumber who has to be shown most of what he needs to do... diagnosing abilities are weak indeed but I keep him because he has a card. The Plumbing Professional

For the latest on Warner see: