We bought this house recently and been advised by the last owner that the septic tank is working fine. Being so naive, we didn’t check the full details as we didn’t know anything about this.
Had a blockage in a drain from the house a month after we moved in. Called a company to check and the tank apparently needed emptying. Fine. Sorted. This was in November.
Beginning of Feb, the drain blocked again and thought it needed jet wash. Called same company, turned up when I was not at home, jet washed and then said to me..’Oh sorry, actually your tank is full, need emptying. You have to book it again but pay separately for today’s drain clean.’ I asked him why he continued cleaning the drain if he knew the tank needed emptying especially when he told me in November, this tank should last 2 years! He said sorry that I missed about the soakaway pipe which was placed higher, so, but you have to pay for today. I was speechless and just paid.
Called another company for 2nd opinion. They came, said, we need to empty and then go in to check the soakaway. 2 separate costs. Of course I have to get this done and there is no other way.
2 men came to diagnosed and said that the soakaway might be a little higher and water not soaking away but we’ll come in and check on the day the tank is emptied. Fine. After spending £350 previously, I now have to spend another £350. A different guy came from this company and I asked if he is aware of the problem which was diagnosed by his colleagues previously and he said ‘I dont’ know but I’m here to empty the tank.’ Deja vu! I called his office to confirm all the communications among all the people who visited, diagnosed and to do the work to make sure that everyone is on the same page as this guy said he thinks it’s a different problem. The lady is the office was pretty much shouting at me and said, ‘I don’t know what answer to give you and if you dont want us anymore, we can stop all the job.’
I was so shocked and shaken by the way this lady of this company behaved over a simple question of confirmation I was asking for.
My question here, is this a normal behaviour of this kind of drainage companies and apparently you cannot re act as you might not have them come back to service the tank. If anyone, who knows about septic tank, can you go back to the solicitor to claim from the previous seller who has hidden problems with the tank and the soakaway? Thank you for all your help. Julia.