Reviews and how we handle them

Why are there no reviews here?

San Diego Plumber Pros is an independent information and referral-request website, not a plumbing company. We do not perform work, so there is no work of ours to review. Reviews of contractors would only make sense once we have introduced homeowners to contractors and those jobs are finished. That has not happened yet, so this page has nothing to show.

We will not publish invented reviews, star ratings, testimonials or customer counts, and we will not pay anyone for a review.

The federal rules are clear. In August 2024 the Federal Trade Commission issued the Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials, codified at 16 CFR Part 465 and published in the Federal Register on August 22, 2024. It bans fake reviews and testimonials, buying positive or negative reviews, undisclosed reviews by company insiders, company-controlled websites that pose as independent review sites, suppressing negative reviews through threats or intimidation, and fake indicators of social media influence.

What feedback will we publish in the future?

• Only from real homeowners. Feedback must come from someone who sent us a request and then hired a contractor we introduced.
• Only about an actual job. We will confirm the job happened before publishing anything.
• Positive and negative alike. We will not filter out critical feedback or let contractors approve what is published.
• With clear labels. Each item will name the type of job, the city and the month, and say plainly that it describes the contractor's work, not ours.
• No incentives. No discounts, gifts or payments in exchange for feedback.

How can you check a San Diego plumber's track record yourself?

1. Start with the license. Search the license number, business name or a person's name in the CSLB license check. CSLB says the lookup is meant to verify license information including complaint disclosure. Confirm the license is active and that the classification fits the job; plumbing is C-36.
2. Match the person to the license. CSLB suggests asking to see the pocket license and a photo ID. It also notes that a license number on an ad or card does not prove the license is valid, so check its status.
3. Read the BBB profile. The BBB suggests checking a company's profile on BBB.org for reviews, its rating and any complaints, including how the company responded.
4. Read online reviews critically. Search the company name together with words such as "complaint" and look at the most recent reviews, not just the average. Bursts of short five-star reviews, or reviews that describe a different service or city, are reasons for caution.
5. Ask for references. CSLB recommends talking to recent customers who had similar work done. It adds that material suppliers, subcontractors and your local building department, consumer protection agency or the Better Business Bureau can help you judge a contractor.
6. Check the salesperson too. If a salesperson rather than the contractor signs you up, CSLB says that person must be registered as a Home Improvement Salesperson. The same CSLB lookup searches salesperson registrations by number or name.
7. Compare written bids. CSLB recommends at least three written bids for the same scope and warns that an unusually low bid can mean a mistake, omitted work or cut corners.

What if something goes wrong with a licensed contractor?

Put the problem in writing to the company first, with photos, the contract and the invoice. If that does not resolve it, the CSLB accepts complaints against licensed contractors. Its complaint process page explains that CSLB reviews each written complaint, notifies the contractor, may try to mediate, and may investigate. Mandatory arbitration can apply to disputes with alleged damages of $25,000 or less. Citations can carry civil penalties of up to $30,000, and CSLB notes that it does not guarantee restitution.

For help choosing in the first place, see our guide on how to choose a plumber in San Diego, or read how this site works. To send a referral request, use the contact page.