Roto-Rooter Plumbing of Tampa
Plumber · Riverview, FL · Open 24 hours per Google listing
Our verdict
Big-name 24-hour shop with 3,551 Google reviews and a 4.8 — but 25 of the last 100 are 1-star, and complaints cluster around overbooking, surprise after-hours fees, and a review-bribery offer.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Ranked #13 of 15 plumbers we've reviewed in Dunedin, FL · compare all →
Our opinion, based on the 100 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated May 2026 · How we decide ↗
Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.
What reviewers praise
Same-day and after-hours dispatch comes through for many callers — one tech was on the roof running a snake within 30 minutes of a Christmas-morning call.
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Individual techs (Vincent, Scott Bowers, Marcus) called out by name for honest diagnosis after other companies couldn't figure out the issue.
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
What reviewers report — the concerns
Other directories bury these. We think you should read them before you call. Every concern below comes from the reviews it cites.
Red flag
One reviewer says the tech offered 75% off the bill in exchange for a positive Google review — review-bribery behavior that may explain inflated ratings.
“wanted to give us a fee for service being "late" or "overnight" when that isn't our fault to begin with because they came so late. then they said we get 75% off if we just leave good reviews for them on google.”
Red flag
After-hours surprise fees: a $500+ bill stacked with a 'late' or 'overnight' surcharge after the tech showed up nearly 4 hours after the scheduled window.
“wanted to give us a fee for service being "late" or "overnight" when that isn't our fault to begin with because they came so late. then they said we get 75% off if we just leave good reviews for them on google.”
Red flag
A repaired main water line burst within 5 minutes of the tech leaving; despite 24hr service the next visit was a full day later.
“within 5mins of him leaving our main waterline that he "fixed" burst and was flooding our outside. When we called them back and even know they are a 24hr service and they messed up they couldn't be out until some time the next day.”
Overbooking causes long waits — one 5-star reviewer notes 'the company cause they overbook the techs' as the main downside.
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Multiple reviewers report unnecessary upsells, including a $3,000 quote to cut a 3'x3' hole in a foundation when the actual job was already done.
“did not appreciate the suggested upsell for a totally unnecessary scope of work that included a 3'x3' hole in the foundation and an estimated $3,000 price tag. Scam.”
Cited in 2 of the 100 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 6 of the 100 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“Traveling in Florida and got into trouble so i jumped on yelp and these guys were first position!! kept getting transfered to L.A. due to my cell phone and they dropped my call each time. Finally got through and they refuse to give any pricing data: would not even give me a best case secenario!! But, i remember their commercial and they said would have a guy in an hour! Twenty minutes later they called and told me …”
“Horribly unprofessional. I waited four hours and they never showed. I called once an hour and was only told they were "on their way" every time. Ridiculous.”
“2 years ago I gave a 5 star rating but i have since changed my mind. Worst company to deal with ever. On 12/5, I requested service to clean out septic/sewer line. All drains were backed up with 4 inches of sewage in bathtub and shower. I explained from experience to bring at least 100 feet in cable. After arrival, one tech said we will go from the roof, I explained it had been tried other times (even by their …”
Positive
“Marcus came in to fix an issue we were having with our reverse osmosis system. He identified and clearly explained an error that was made by a previous electrician and fixed the issue. Would recommend Marcus again. Great service and price!!”
“Emergency at dinner time!!! Thank goodness for Marcus! Marcus was so kind and patient! He unclogged our drain and made sure everything was flowing and flushing properly before he left. It was a 💩 situation but Marcus made us feel incredibly calm because he was so calm. We highly recommend Marcus!”
Quotes are reproduced verbatim from public reviews on the platforms shown; we select which to feature, and selection reflects our editorial judgment. Report a quote that doesn't match its source ↗
The rating picture
Our sample skews heavily toward critical reviews — it disagrees with the Google average shown above.
Newest review in our sample: Mar 2026.
Across platforms
Google rating 4.8 with 3,551 reviews looks much stronger than the recent Yelp 1-star pattern of overbilling and a documented review-incentive offer.
Should you hire Roto-Rooter Plumbing of Tampa?
Hire if
- You need high-quality work that holds up over time
- You need a plumber who actually shows up when scheduled
Think twice if
- You want detailed upfront explanations
- You need rock-bottom prices with zero flexibility on the quote
- You need airtight scheduling and guaranteed arrival times
Look elsewhere if
- You're highly price-sensitive
Advice derived from the review analysis above — how we decide.
Own Roto-Rooter Plumbing of Tampa?
You can respond to our analysis, correct business facts, or dispute the accuracy of a quoted review. Responses that check out get published on this page, and factual errors get corrected — see our corrections policy. We don't remove accurate quotes, but we'll re-run your assessment as your reviews change.
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