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Residents complain to Pennsauken Committee about delayed HomeServe payout and repeated neighbor disturbances
Summary
At the Jan. 23 public comment period, Charles and Cathy McCullough said HomeServe took three months to reimburse plumbing repairs and paid $1,200 of a $4,200 bill; they also described repeated police responses to a neighboring resident.
During the public-comment portion of the Jan. 23 Pennsauken Township Committee meeting, Charles and Cathy McCullough of 3461 Buckingham Lane told the committee they had a water-line leak that required immediate repairs. Charles McCullough said he paid a plumber $4,200 out of pocket, submitted photos and an invoice to HomeServe (an insurance/repair-plan vendor recommended in township mailings), and received a $1,200 payment after roughly three months.
"It took them 3 months to get back to me, which I already paid out of pocket $4,200," Charles McCullough said. "Finally, they made a decision to pay me $1,200, which I thought was very unfair. … They lowballed me. Cost me $3,000."
McCullough said he had several leaks (including one in December) and that HomeServe delayed service visits; by contrast a private plumber typically responded within days. He told the committee the township water department did respond and "did what they had to do," and asked whether the township still recommends HomeServe given his experience.
Town staff and committee members asked McCullough to provide contact information so officials could follow up. A township official said, "I'm gonna ask mister Scannuzzo to get your information and find out what we can do for you," and directed a staff member associated with the water commission to help connect the residents with the appropriate municipal contacts.
In the same public-comment period, McCullough also described a separate neighborhood public-safety concern: a nearby resident who, according to McCullough, has prompted repeated emergency responses. "Cops, firemen, and firemen rescue squads have been out 52 times that I know of," he said, and described an incident in which police removed the person in handcuffs. McCullough said he worried about personal safety and asked what options he had beyond waiting for another incident.
Committee members thanked the McCulloughs for reporting the issues and said township staff would follow up with them after the meeting; a police captain and the water commission president were noted as points of contact for further assistance. The committee did not take formal legislative action during the public-comment exchange; staff follow-up was the direction recorded on the public record.
