Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/07/2025

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  In June 2025, a payment was submitted for $35.00 to Howz it Flowin Again for the annual backflow inspection, and the tag was stamped showing service conducted for June. The homeowner has a double check valve assembly 925/950. After the test was conducted and passed, there was a leak in the valve. The backflow preventers are not designed to leak. On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, a text message and video were sent to the company, and a phone call was placed with *******. After 10 minutes of the homeowner explaining herself repeatedly, the company could not resolve the issue and only charged the homeowner $105.00 to fix the leak. Please note that a similar situation had occurred the year before with a leak and the company wanting to charge the homeowner. On Saturday, July 5, 2025, the homeowner received a letter from Manatee County Utilities indicating that they had not received confirmation that the backflow test had been conducted, and the due date was for June 3, 2025. The homeowner incurred a charge of $50.00 on their water bill in addition to the $35.00 to the company. The homeowner would like to be reimbursed for the $85.00 from the company, for the results of the testing from the company to be submitted to ************************, and for the leak to be fixed at no cost to the owner.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/08/2025

  Ms. Grahams backflows, a ******* .75 975XL (reduced pressure valve) and a ******* .75 950 XL (double check assembly) were installed in October 2011 and are approximately 14 years.  A backflow typically starts to have issues after 7-8 due to normal wear and tear. The 975XL (the backflow in the photos with previous leaks) has a weephole and a vent on the assembly that can start to leak as the assembly ages.  This backflow is also designed to release water when there is a sudden back pressure in the county system.  This assembly also has a pressure relief valve on the riser that can leak as it ages or debris gets in the water line.  There is no way for a backflow test to determine if a pressure relief valve is going to leak or has issues.

  I verified that the county had not charged the customer $50 for the ********************** report being submitted late. There was a technical issue with the report for her second backflow, and it has now been submitted and resolved.  The customer wasnt charged $35 from us.  She was invoiced for $30, and she paid it on 5/2/2025 to test both of her backflow assemblies which were completed.  We are unable to fix the pressure relief valve at no cost on the riser of the backflow as this is a plumbing related matter.

  A timeline of events for 2024 & 2025, inspection results for both assemblies, the call log and texts with Ms. ******* emails with Ms. ****** and her 2025 invoice are attached.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/08/2025

   
  Complaint: 23559852
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Non of this was explained to the customer and the homeowner was charged and received a letter from ***************** saying otherwise. The homeowner paid for the services and HowzItFlowin stamped both tags on backflow system, but yet the statement to the BBB is contradicting. The homeowner received a bill from the ******************** for $40. More and a letter stating that HowzItFlowin never turned in a pass or fail to ******************** The homeowner received a letter stated that if service was not completed by 7/8/2025 said homeowner would be charged $50.00. for the service to be completed. The homeowner is requesting reimbursement of $235. 00. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ********* ******

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/08/2025

   
  Complaint: 23559852
  
  Please find the attached pictures and video of the backflow inspection that was conducted on June of 2025. Please note that Manatee County Utilities is saying that I have passed the date of inspection, that it was not done and I'm getting charged $50. more . I requested now a refund of $135.00
  
  
  

  
  

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/08/2025

  The letter from ************** is dated 7/1/25. Today's date is 7/8/25.  The letter states that a contact plumber WILL BE scheduled to test the assembly and once it has been tested a $50 charge will be applied.  There is no report filed by the County contract plumber showing that a test has been completed.  The customer hasn't been charged $50 from the county, which is shown by the email from the Cross Connection Control Supervisor. 
  
  There was an internet issue and the report for the ******* .75" 950XL (serial #********* didn't go through on 6/2/25. The technical due date for the county was 6/3/25.  The county gives you 45 days from 6/1/25 to have it tested and the report entered.  However, that issue has been resolved as was submitted today on 7/8/25.  (shown on the backflow report) The customer can also look online where she receives the water bill and view the reports there.
  The tags on the backflow assembly tags show an expiration date of June 2026, which is valid.  The customer was only charged $30 to perform the backflow tests which were completed.  I do not know why a refund of $135 is being requested.  The services were performed and no additional charges were accrued.
  
  The customer denied our services to replace her leaking pressure relief valve and told us that Accurate Backflow was going to repair it for free.  The video that was supplied by the customer shows that it is still leaking.  This device is separate from a backflow test.  A FIELD TEST guide description is attached so show that a pressure relief valve isn't tested during a backflow.  A spec sheet of the backflow assemblies is also attached.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/09/2025

   
  Complaint: 23559852
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  Email have been provided to the Better Business Bureau from ***************** stated that the homeowner will be charged the $50.00 fee due to HowzItFlowin being non-compliant with providing service on both backflow systems. In addition, the backflow system was not leaking until HowzItFlowin performed and stamped the tags on the unit. The homeowner wanted the company to come back out and fix the leak at no charge. The homeowner should not have to pay for a service if the company failed to provide and submit the report to the ******************** resulting in an additional $50.00. The homeowner is under the impression that since both tags were stamped that the  inspection passed, however according to ***************** department only the right side passed because that what HowzItFlowin submitted and didn't even submit paperwork for the unit on the left resulting in ***************** stated that it failed. Why wasn't the homeowner made aware of this from HowzItFlowin? The homeowner paid $35.00 for a service, the testing was only passed for one unit and not the other (but not notified), a leak resulted in the unit that was not passed (costing the homeowner $105.00 to fix from HowzItFlowin), the water bill going up an additional $40. 00 due to the leak they caused, and not lastly not making the homeowner aware that one unit didn't pass , resulting in ***************** to come out to rested the system at an additional $50. Per the email sent to BBB. The homeowner is requesting a reimbursement of $230.00

  I am beyond disgusted and disappointed with how this company has conducted themselves in rectifying the issue with the homeowner that they were in business with for over 6 years and their lack of transparency with this on going issue. The homeowner has emails that prove inconsistency with what HowzItFlowin is stating from *****************. 

   
  Sincerely,
  
  ********* ******

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/10/2025

  
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  

  Please see email form ***************** from yesterday 7/8/25. HowzItFlowin statements are inconsistent with the information provided to the customer and Utilities. 

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/10/2025

  The email from the utilities customer service is dated for 7/8/25 at 9:02 am.  Our email from the cross connection Control Supervisor from 7/8/25 at 11:13 am confirms that the customer hasnt been charged $50.  The customer can verify that both *********************** have passing results on her water utilities website login.  As a good faith, we will refund the customers $30 due to the one ********************** being late.  We will then part ways with the customer.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/10/2025

   
  Complaint: 23559852
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  The homeowner received an email correspondence from ***************** stating that HowzItFlowin failed to turn in the report for the unit of the backflow system resulting in the utility department to conduct the inspection. The homeowner has since then paid for the valve to be replace at $50. However the leak that was caused by the initial inspection resulted in a higher bill and for utilities to be sent out due to the incompetent inspection. The homeowner would like to be reimbursed $150.00 for the said issues as provided above. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ********* ******

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/29/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  There is no transaction at this time; I 1st got a door tag stating my backflow is in need of repair. I have lived at this residence for 4 years and have not heard of this fee. I do understand that things do break down (as all things do). I have no beef with that. What I don't understand is what is in need of repair. This company comes out of the blue with these fees without any evidence of proof that this is in need of repair. I understand paying for electricity, water, and gas where we all are given a bill of usage. Show me what is in need of repair, not you just saying it is in need of repair; that does not seem right to me.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/09/2024

  ************ reached out to us (through our website Make a Payment portal) and paid $32.00 for us to go to his house to conduct the Annual Backflow Prevention Assembly (***) Certification Tests (he has two ***s) (He also gave us his email address, phone number and address when he asked us to come out and test).  We tested his ***s on January 24, ****, and one failed the test.  As per Manatee County Code, we are required to notify the homeowner that the *** failed. An approved method is to leave a door hanger to notify the homeowner of the failure and that a repair is needed, which we did and which is what ************ posted with his complaint.  We also notified ************ of the failure via email which STATED THE SPECIFIC PART THAT FAILED (in his case the Relief Valve failed) and OFFERED our repair options with the associated prices.  There were no "fees" other than the testing fee of $32.00.  He knew who we were and where to send the fee for us to test his ***.  We were not charging ************ any other fees - just providing options for us to do the necessary repair.  He can have any other company do the repairs.  Even repair it himself.  We were providing what our price is for the repair -- nothing more.  

  If he had any questions, he could have called us or sent us an email asking for more details -- he did not.  If he wanted us to come out and do a retest, with him present, we would have done so -- but he didn't ask.   His choice was to file a complaint with BBB.

  Furthermore, ************ has access to the Certification Report through his account with ************************.  All the annual test reports (since ****) are filed with the County and are accessible for him to review and to see the test results. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/15/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  This company found a problem with our water back flow system and reported to the county for repairs. This same company made an appointment telling us it would cost $185 to fix. Then a old lady came to our house and told us it would cost $285 to fix it. I asked the lady to leave and she through a tantrum on my property. Then her husband came out and threw another tantrum. We asked him to leave and we eventually had to call the police. We called another company and they fixed the back flow for only $45. This is crazy.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 08/17/2023

  I stopped by the Complainants property to repair a backflow preventer as requested by a woman who is co-owner of the property.  I apologize for being offended by Complainants very first words to me: Are you a liberal? And Who did you vote for president? He asked me these questions over and over again.  I also apologize for being further offended by his next statements: I dont trust the County,I dont trust your company, and I dont trust you.  Yes, I tried to explain to him that we had made a mistake when we provided a quote for repairing a relief valve only ($175), as a check valve had also failed; thus, a complete repair was in order ($285).  I would have reduced the price to just a relief valve repair, as it was our mistake; but, unfortunately, he did not give me the chance to offer that proposal.  He continued ranting that I was a liberal and he doesnt trust liberals.  At that point I told him that, since he doesnt trust me or my business, it would be best if I didnt work on his backflow preventer.  He then began yelling at his neighbor, trying to get his attention, ******* something about me not doing any work for him; he was yelling over my head. At some point, a boy stepped out of the house (I believe this was Complainants son, but I have no knowledge of this fact).  All of  a sudden, Complainant started shouting that I was a racist over and over. 
  

  I finally got in my vehicle and described this interaction to my husband, who is the operations manager for the Company. He later stopped by Complainants property to find out what the issue was.  When my husband knocked on his door, the Complainant told his son(?) to Go get my gun!
  

  The next day, I sent an email to the woman who requested the repair explaining why we would not be doing the repair that she requested and that she had a limited time to obtain another company to repair her backflow preventer and submit a passing test result to the County.
  

  A few days later, Complainant felt it necessary to call our office.  He left two (2) voicemails just to shout that we were a bunch of scumbags, liberals, and racists. These voicemails are available to BBB if necessary. 
  

  I recognize this is not how a business should reply to a customer complaint, but I believe that there is nothing I could say or do that will change Complainants mind.  Therefore, all I can do is set the record straight as to the facts of our interactions.   
  

  Finally, I see where Complainants desired settlement is No further contact by the business.  That may not be possible.  We are contractors for the County.  If he does not hire a private company to test his backflow preventer next year, the County will issue a service order to us to test it.  Therefore, if he doesnt want any contact with us, he needs to hire a private company to test his backflow preventer every year.