Defective Lateral - City's HELP loan or my own plumber?

[petefm]

After bugging the city about a sinkhole in my street for six months the water department finally came out yesterday to tell me my lateral is defective. Great. Obviously I'll get quotes, but does anyone have experience with the water department's HELP loan program vs. a private plumber? The interest-free loan sounds great, but not if I have to pay more for the job. Also, any plumber reccomendations are welcome. I found some on here already, but anything up to date is definitely appreciated.

Thanks,
Pete

[O.H. Lee]

The PWD has a set price that is supposed to be used and the plumbers who partake come up on a wheel.

For example $250 for a trap, $50 per foot of drain pipe, etc.

So technically any plumber in the program should charge the same for the same job.

Not all plumbers participate. Not sure if it is because the rates are low or the city is a slow pay.

Get a few estimates from non-participating plumbers and compare it to the PWD estimate.

The one good thing is the repayment is interest free, so a $3000-$4000 job will cost just that and not more.

[petefm]

Just wanted to post a follow up for anyone looking for the same info in the future. The city's loan program was more expensive than what I got it done for privately. Not that it's always that way - definitely glad I checked it out. Ended up going with Bill Frusco. They were great. Did a really good job, were really professional, and had the lowest estimate of the four I got.

[O.H. Lee]

How ironic. I had Frusco do mine through the loan program.