Always something

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walkerj

walkerj

Senior Member
Location
Baton Rouge
Yesterday evening I met with a HO to discuss some changes in th kitchen of their recently sheetrocked new construction home. I found out what I needed to know and left. I returned this morning to find that a closet in an adjacent bedroom being removed to allow for more kitchen space. None of this was mentioned to me by the HO 12 hours before. None of the changes I was told of had ANYTHING to do with and completely clashed with what was going on. I walked in on a carpenter with a screwdriver and a hammer removing MY wiring. My wiring consisted of one two gang feeding under and over cab lights, one three gang feeding the other kitchen lighting, a receptacle, one RGB for a remote TV, one cable, and a phone/Internet drop. :mad:

As I was leaving in a heated fury I glanced at the main panel and noticed the cardboard cutout had been removed, it was on there 12 hours ago. I then noticed the empty romex connectors that were once filled with Black nm-b. All together, about 75' of 2/3, 100' of 8/2, and the bare #6 for the ground rod were stolen.:mad:

Dealing with undecisive homeowners is bad enough, but messing with my wiring is like messing with my emotions.
Of course I didn't have my camera for the before shots and my Ruger for the after SHOTS

How would you deal with the theft. We have already been paid for the rough-in. Do I charge him accordingly to replace the stolen wiring or cut him a little slack since he will have to pay to repull the wire.
 
walkerj said:
How would you deal with the theft. We have already been paid for the rough-in.
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You advise the homeowner to call the police. The theft was of property owned by the HO (since he paid you already). You tell the HO that you are willing to testify against the thief, having witnessed the crime in progress.
 
I agree with Charlie, tell the HO to call the police and his insurance company.

Roger
 
electricguy61 said:
I don't think he meant the carpenter stole the wiring.
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Thank you for that as I was not feeling up to typeing the clarification.
Carpenter did not steal it.

BTW. I just found out the HO made these changes this morning after I saw him LAST NIGHT. Don't worry about the electrician, he can work around anything:mad:
 
charlie b said:
You tell the HO that you are willing to testify against the thief, having witnessed the crime in progress.
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I missed the part where he the OP saw someone dashing out with the material in hand:

walkerj said:
As I was leaving in a heated fury I glanced at the main panel and noticed the cardboard cutout had been removed, it was on there 12 hours ago. I then noticed the empty romex connectors that were once filled with Black nm-b. All together, about 75' of 2/3, 100' of 8/2, and the bare #6 for the ground rod were stolen.:mad:
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I do realize there was an action that did occur:
walkerj said:
I walked in on a carpenter with a screwdriver and a hammer removing MY wiring. My wiring consisted of one two gang feeding under and over cab lights, one three gang feeding the other kitchen lighting, a receptacle, one RGB for a remote TV, one cable, and a phone/Internet drop.
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But this, IMHO, does not constitute "theft" - poor judgement, yes....but theft? I personally do not see it that way as it seemed to be the result of a "change" :
I returned this morning to find that a closet in an adjacent bedroom being removed to allow for more kitchen space. None of this was mentioned to me by the HO 12 hours before.
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I do not see where the carpenter "stole" anything tangible.
 
Sorry. I misunderstood. This sounded like being caught in the act:
walkerj said:
I walked in on a carpenter with a screwdriver and a hammer removing MY wiring.
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I interpreted as though you caught the carpenter taking you wiring too

I walked in on a carpenter with a screwdriver and a hammer removing MY wiring.
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Roger
 
I believe once you install that wire it becomes part of his "reaL estate" and is his. He should also be responsible for securing his own property...your work area. I wouldn"t cut him any slack on reinstalling new wire...that stuffs expensive....besides he's making you do everything else twice.
 
Lack of planning on the homeowner's part should not create additional expenses and/or hardships for you that you have not agreed to. Hold the homeowner responsible for change orders, report the theft, and keep a real close eye on everyone 'til this job is over. :smile:
 
"I guess he was kind of doing me a favor unstapling everything"

Didn't he really do the thief a favor?

And why izz'it few HOs, GCs, or architects think that architectural changes never affect dumb ole sparky? We are the last to know . . .

Best Wishes Everyone in 2008
 
fisherelectric said:
I believe once you install that wire it becomes part of his "reaL estate" and is his. He should also be responsible for securing his own property...your work area. I wouldn"t cut him any slack on reinstalling new wire...that stuffs expensive....besides he's making you do everything else twice.
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It is his only if you have all the money owed you otherwise the HO might hold your cash until you do the job,unless you have it in your contract that the HO is responsible for theft the material is yours to be responsible for.
 
fisherelectric said:
I believe once you install that wire it becomes part of his "reaL estate" and is his. He should also be responsible for securing his own property...your work area. I wouldn"t cut him any slack on reinstalling new wire...that stuffs expensive....besides he's making you do everything else twice.
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That is correct. Material laying around on the job site that is not installed is the personal propery of the EC. If it is stolen, it's the EC's problem.

Once it is installed, it becomes real estate, and belongs to the HO and is covered under their policy.
 
480sparky said:
That is correct. Material laying around on the job site that is not installed is the personal propery of the EC. If it is stolen, it's the EC's problem.

Once it is installed, it becomes real estate, and belongs to the HO and is covered under their policy.
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what happens if part of the spool is in the wall and the rest is on the rack and it all gets stolen how much is yours? I was always told until I am paid and sign the lein release all the material is my responsibility
 
Rewire said:
what happens if part of the spool is in the wall and the rest is on the rack and it all gets stolen how much is yours?
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Chances are, the thief is going to take the easy part.... yours.

If this scenario actually happened, it would make an interesting court case. Perry Mason & Ben Matlock... where are you?

Rewire said:
I was always told until I am paid and sign the lein release all the material is my responsibility
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So if you never get paid for the job, you are liable for the loss, even 20 years from now?
 
Rewire said:
what happens if part of the spool is in the wall and the rest is on the rack and it all gets stolen how much is yours? I was always told until I am paid and sign the lein release all the material is my responsibility
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:-?

So if it gets stolen it's your respnsibility?
 
Rewire said:
I was always told until I am paid and sign the lein release all the material is my responsibility
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Don't believe everything you are told. :wink: Go ahead and enter a persons property to retrieve "your" materials that you installed and were not paid for. It will not end in your favor.

not saying it's right...just saying.
 
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