SimplexGrinnell Tyco Recalled Fire Sprinkler Head Dishonesty Santa Rosa California

This is a case of attempted fraud by SimplexGrinnell in Santa Rosa, CA a business unit of Tyco Fire and Security against the Candlelight Inn located in Napa, CA.

In February 2007, I started to help Wendy Tamiso, owner of the Candlelight Inn with her 'to-do' list. One of the items on the list was to replace the fire sprinkler heads in the Bed and Breakfast. Apparently one of the guests had mentioned to her that these were 'Omega' sprinkler heads and they had been recalled and needed to be replaced. She had called the Santa Rosa office of SimplexGrinnell.

In November 2006, Mr. Tim Madura of SimplexGrinnell in Santa Rosa, CA had apparently told Wendy the sprinklers were the Omega brand and that the guest was correct in saying they had been recalled. He continued by telling Wendy that the company that made the sprinkler heads was out of business and the recall period had expired. And, unfortunately she was going to be stuck with 100% of the replacement expense.

Wendy showed me an 11/17/2006 quotation for replacing approximately 80 fire sprinklers. This quote was for $5700 and was created by Tim Madura. I met personally with Tim Madura of SimplexGrinnell in Santa Rosa, CA a business unit of Tyco Fire and Security during the 3rd week in March 2007.

We walked around our Bed and Breakfast and looked at all three types of sprinklers in the building. At that time Mr. Madura told me the following:

1. We had Omega sprinklers. The recall for the Omega sprinklers had passed and while it is unfair, ('people have hired lawyers to sue but to no avail') they needed to be replaced.

2. He had been in this business for 35 years and knew what he was talking about.

3. That one needs a C 16 license to touch the sprinklers.

4. That these sprinklers were no longer UL listed and were now in fact 'illegal' sprinkler heads.

5. That unfortunately we would have to pay for the replacement of ALL the sprinkler heads.

When I asked again, 'Are you are sure there is no way we can get compensation for ANY of these sprinkler heads?' He said no.

The final straw from Mr. Madura was when he told me that his dad taught him a lesson: 'Don't take advantage of any customer.' Well it turns out that Mr Madura was trying to rip us off.

I sent an email and pictures of the sprinklers in question on Friday, March 02, 2007 to Ms. Fran Gery, Call Center Representative, Central Sprinkler Company - owned by Tyco Fire and Security.

Here is her response:

Good Morning D.R.Peck, Turns out that your photos #6 and #8 ARE, in fact, part of the current replacement program. However, the remaining six photos are of Omega sprinkler heads, which are part of the expired recall program.

I can send you a claim packet to arrange replacement of all heads which match photos #6 and #8, or you can download the claim packet from our website www.sprinklerreplacement.com.

In our website you need to look for the current program, which is called the VRP, for Voluntary Replacement Program.

If you want me to mail a claim packet today, please send your address.

Have a great day, and by the way, I like your humorous email subject!!! Fran Fran Gery
Call Center Representative
Central Sprinkler Company
2 N. Towamencin Ave
Lansdale PA 19446
Fran.Gery@TycoFP.com
800-523-6512 X 198
Fax:215-393-0260

Turns out that SimplexGrinnell was trying to get us to pay to replace about 40 sprinklers that were part of a FREE Voluntary Replacement Program.

With me ALREADY knowing that our claim for the non-Omega sprinklers had been accepted as part of the current replacement program, I found Mr. Madura's whole presentation unseemly. He is either incredibly incompetent ("been in this business for 35 years") for not knowing about the existing replacement program OR he was dishonest and was trying to charge us for all the sprinklers rather than being honest and saying half of them will be free (eventually) while the other half you will have to pay for.

Our belief is that Tim Madura saw an easy target in Wendy Tamiso; single woman, sole business decision maker and tried to make a few extra bucks for SimplexGrinnell. When he met with me, a man in March 2007 he was already in too deep with his November quote and never in his wildest dreams did he think I'd take the time do the research and find out these sprinklers were in line to be replaced for free.

D.R.
Napa, California
U.S.A.

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