Chimney Sweepers - Rob Riemer - 847-220-7830 - SCAM new # (630) 589-6217

This past weekend I learned a costly but important lesson.  Do your research, ask friends for recommendations, and check with the Better Business Bureau before hiring.  I know nothing about chimneys which is why I should have been more careful.  I was told by my home inspector that I needed a liner installed in the two chimneys in my new house in Chicago.  So, I looked on the internet and called The Chimney Sweeps, Robert Riemer who came out to my house to give me an estimate.  There were so many warning signs but I didn’t pay attention because I wanted to get the fireplaces taken care of as soon as possible. 

The Chimney Sweeps, who service all of the Chicago area, drove up in a black unmarked truck, warning # 1 – no business name on vehicle.  Rob Riemer was very nice, outgoing, personable, friendly, etc.  He said that during the week he worked for Early Times Chimney Sweeps of Chicago who also do chimney cleaning and repair.  Rob and his partner then started talking about what needed to be done to the chimneys and how much it would cost.  Rob said that my home inspector was wrong and that I did not need a liner, what I needed was sealant placed on the inside of the chimneys.  He claimed he had just saved me $1,000.  The sealant cost $35 per foot.  So, Rob and his partner started figuring out how much it would cost… this is when it started to feel wrong.  They started throwing out numbers and sort of playing off each other.    At one point his partner walked away and I asked if he was going to write up the estimate.  Instead, he came back a few minutes later and said “we got our other two jobs do early today so we can do your job right now for $600 cash”, warning #2, #3, & #4.  #2 always get a written estimate.  #3 don’t jump into anything.  #4 don’t pay in cash when you have no idea what good complete work looks like.  My gut was screaming at me that it was wrong but I ignored it.  So, an hour or so later Rob said they were done.  I could see that the chimney caps were replaced, I saw them with their wet/dry vacs cleaning the fireplaces but I had no proof that the sealant was applied.  When I asked Rob “well how do I know that you applied the sealant?” he got flustered, stammered a little and said there was no way to tell unless you watch them apply it.  He gave me instructions not to use the fireplace for the next 24 hours.  I felt bad for putting him on the spot and let it go at that.  I paid him.  Warning #5 – Rob told me that the appointment before him had over paid because Rob significantly over estimated the height of the chimney.  They were going to keep the money.  

After he left I started thinking a bit more.   It seemed strange to me that a sealant was applied but I couldn’t smell it and that there would be no dripping or leaking.  I took a look up the chimney and saw that nothing had been applied to the interior of the chimney.  I am now concerned that they may not have attached the caps to the chimney.

I have left several messages for Rob asking him to either apply a sealant or to give me back half of my money.  I am sure you are not surprised to read that I have not heard back from him. 

While this lesson hurt financially what really hurts is my pride.  I thought I was smarter than that.  In my frenzy to get everything done as quickly as possible I made the wrong decisions.  However, this is a good lesson too.  Although I am out several hundred dollars in the big scheme of things I got off cheap.  I now know that I am going to do my research not just on the companies that I am going to use but on the work that is going to be done.  I am going to get 3 estimates.  I am going to check the BBB.org website.  I am going to pay more to a reputable company to get guaranteed work.  I hope that reading this will prevent you from hiring The Chimney Sweepers http://mysafechimney.com/Home.html or anyone who prays on the trust and naiveté of others.  Ohhh, it burns me that he lied right to my face.  My guess is that in a few months his phone number, business name, and maybe even his name will change in order to avoid the bad reputation he is earning but he will keep on doing it.  As they say there is a sucker born every minute and this weekend I was defiantly the sucker.  Remember, if your gut is screaming take a step back, you may never know how much you saved.