Area Consumers Hurt by Pennsylvania Plumber’s “Damage Control”

 Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland 

Something going wrong with your plumbing can set you in a panic. And unfortunately, panicked decisions can lead to losing money or finding companies who’ll do more harm than help to your plumbing. BBB Serving Greater Cleveland is issuing a consumer alert for one such business named AAA Damage Control and offering tips to consumers for choosing a reliable plumbing company.

AAA Damage Control is based in Conneaut and is run by Nolan Ryan “Scooter” Stahl. Nolan Stahl and his father Howard Stahl previously ran a father-son plumbing business in Pennsylvania where they were first accused of scamming consumers. The duo were accused of recommending unnecessary replacement of sewer pipes and using pre-recorded video footage of damaged pipes to trick consumers. While many restrictions were places on the father/son team, those restrictions only apply to their work and presence in Pennsylvania.

Since the decision, Nolan Stahl has now started soliciting work and customers in Ohio. A consumer from Perry filed a complaint in February and told BBB “when our septic system failed in Oct, we required someone to come look to see how to fix it. We went to Angi’s list and were given AAA Damage Control as an option. We called AAA Damage control who said they could help us. The owner Nolan came out to the house and started to dig. After digging it appeared the current brick system was not holding up and Nolan recommended we install a new tank…It was a lot of money ($11,000), but we felt it best to just get it done as he told us.” A few weeks later, the homeowners noticed a smell and puddles. After using plumbing dye to confirm sewage was seeping from their septic tank, the homeowners contacted Stahl to fix the issue; Stahl never returned to the property. When the consumers contacted the local health department they were advised to replace all of Stahl’s work with a new system. 

Another local consumer from Jefferson hired AAA Damage Control to snake a drain and paid upfront, but the work was never completed. Both complaints from consumers went unanswered by AAA Damage Control and the company currently has an “F” rating from BBB due to the length of time the company has been operating and its failure to respond to complaints.

BBB offers these additional tips to consumers who may be considering hiring a plumber. 

• Start With Trust – Visit BBB.org to read reviews of local plumbers and BBB Accredited Businesses. Consider choosing a plumber who has a professional affiliation and who is a member of organizations like The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials or the Plumbing- Heating-Cooling Contractors Association. Also verify state licenses.
• Read estimates carefully. Review the estimate to see if a flat rate is provided for materials or if materials will be charged separately. Make sure the estimate is clear and detailed in what it contains, including specifications such as the quality, type, and number of fixtures. 
• Check warranties. Both the products and a plumber’s labor will have warranties, but they may not be for the same time period. Keep copies of all warranty information and understand what it covers.
• Pay by credit card when possible. Purchases made by credit card are protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act which allows you to dispute charges. Steer clear of any establishments or requests to pay with a gift card or other, non-traditional, method.
  

If you have spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Additional Questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216.241.7678 or [email protected].  For more news and tips visit BBB.org.