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By Lookout Staff

April 25 -- An elderly Santa Monica couple recouped some $27,000 from an LA plumbing company after they complained to the City Attorney they had been overcharged for a shoddy job, City officials said.

Last week, Schuelke Plumbing reimbursed the couple all of the $27,030 they had paid, resolving allegations that included improper billing, overcharging, and substandard work, according to the City Attorneys office.

The California Contractors’ State Licensing Board (CSLB) investigated the couple’s complaint and backed their allegations, said Paula Rockenstein, a consumer affairs specialist with the City Attorney’s office.

The CSLB also determined that it will cost the couple an additional $12,000 to bring the plumbing work that was done up to code, Rockenstein said.

Schuelke Plumbing denied any wrongdoing.

The case began when the couple, who are both in their 80s, initially contacted Schuelke to repair the plumbing in their kitchen, Rockenstein said.

“After an exterior inspection, a Schuelke representative determined the couple had a ‘plumbing emergency’ and that all pipes needed to be replaced immediately,” she said.

“The couple agreed and the contractor did a complete re-piping of their house and property, both inside and outside,” Rockenstein said.

The couple’s complaint alleged that Schuelke failed to honor their warranty when problems arose with the job, failed to obtain City permits for the job, failed to give a breakdown of parts and labor on the bills and failed to list all payments received, Rockenstein said.

After investigating the complaint, the CSLB concluded that Schuelke’s work was below acceptable standards, that there were some 15 code violations in the work performed and that the contractor charged more than 20 percent higher than a reasonable rate for the work performed.

After an investigation, the City Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit helped the two sides reach a settlement without resorting to the courts, Rockenstein said.

The CSLB plans to continue its own investigation into possible discipline against Schuelke Plumbing.