On a Saturday about two weeks ago my sewer main plugged up inside the pipe headed out to the street. I called Mark's Sewer and Drain to have them bring out their snake and clear the simple clog.

When the guy got to my house he ran the snake for about 2 minutes before telling me that it wasn't a simple clog and would require about $1500 worth of repairs (to install a new clean out). He then refused to snake the line and clear out my drain. He then packed up and left.

I was irritated and smelled a scam so I called another plumber who came out and snaked the line and unclogged the line in about 15 minutes. They're prices were very reasonable (thanks Castroville Plumbing and Heating).

To my dismay, I got a bill from Mark's two days later for $150. I called and told them I didn't feel like I should be responsible for any bill because the guy refused to clear the drain. The guy from Mark's then called back and fed me some sob story about how he makes a percentage and not an hourly rate (which is illegal in california). He then went on and threatened to turn this over to "big Mark" and that "they would handle it that way", whatever the hell that means.

While I was relating this story to a friend he told me that at his business he had a sewer issue and he called Mark's Sewer and Drain as well. He told me they did the exact same thing to him! Refused to fix the issue unless he agreed to have thousands of dollars of other work done - and then charged him $300 for the visit! What a rip off!

I would avoid these guys if you live in the Monterey area.