Need some guidance here..

[Mule]

Got a call yesterday from a out of state property owner that owns a shopping mall here in town. Said he had a fuse blown on parking lot lights and needed someone to look at it..

So we did, located a short on B phase on the second of two contactors. So we disconected the load wires on contactor B, refused, and fired up the other half so they wouldnt be completely with out light.

So, called them back, told him that either the feeder was bad, or more likely they had a ballast(s) out in one or more poles. Told him it was the end of the day, and we'd come back and do more, but needed to schedule a lift... but needed to get some pay arrangements nailed down first since he was out of town.

So I requested that they send me a email giving us authorization to spend up to $1000 locating and repairing the fault. And they did...

Is this email a good way to do this? or should I do it differently? This property looks pretty ratty, like they dont take care of it very well.....I dont feel real fuzzy about it ie: renting a lift, installing ballast bla bla..

 

[electricalperson]

Got a call yesterday from a out of state property owner that owns a shopping mall here in town. Said he had a fuse blown on parking lot lights and needed someone to look at it..

So we did, located a short on B phase on the second of two contactors. So we disconected the load wires on contactor B, refused, and fired up the other half so they wouldnt be completely with out light.

So, called them back, told him that either the feeder was bad, or more likely they had a ballast(s) out in one or more poles. Told him it was the end of the day, and we'd come back and do more, but needed to schedule a lift... but needed to get some pay arrangements nailed down first since he was out of town.

So I requested that they send me a email giving us authorization to spend up to $1000 locating and repairing the fault. And they did...

Is this email a good way to do this? or should I do it differently? This property looks pretty ratty, like they dont take care of it very well.....I dont feel real fuzzy about it ie: renting a lift, installing ballast bla bla..

do you think 1000 dollars is enough for this job?

 

[Rewire]

your fixing to get the shaft,well maybe not but I would wonder what happened to their old electrician and how did they find you.An out of state landlord and a run down mall just sounds like cash up front to me.

 

[jm1470]

I would do my homework on the company, do search for them on the internet and should be able to find out if there are ok. I did some work for out of state companines that owed some shopping centers. What you need to ask them for is a purchase order. Also ask what kinda of paperwork is needed they might want a insurance cert. a w-9 and all of that fun stuff.

 

[Mule]

do you think 1000 dollars is enough for this job?

I guess I left out the fact there are many fixtures out on the working string. Cover hand holes, wires hanging out...bla bla

Im thinking there be way more to do,IF they do it... but I thought this would be do-able on his part to get us started. Then I can call him with a diagnoses report and we can go from there.....Im not quoting the job, just need some breathing room, so Im not hanging on a limb...

 

[Mule]

your fixing to get the shaft,well maybe not but I would wonder what happened to their old electrician and how did they find you.An out of state landlord and a run down mall just sounds like cash up front to me.

As per the local manager, another electrician looked at it, said the contactors were chattering which meant there was problem in the field and he didnt have a bucket truck, and said to call someone else.....

So they called the supply house, and that's how they got my name...

I told the guy the contactors were probably just old and rusty. And I proved it to him by pulling all of the load wires and energizing the time clock BUZZZZZZ

 

[Rewire]

As per the local manager, another electrician looked at it, said the contactors were chattering which meant there was problem in the field and he didnt have a bucket truck, and said to call someone else.....

So they called the supply house, and that's how they got my name...

I told the guy the contactors were probably just old and rusty. And I proved it to him by pulling all of the load wires and energizing the time clock BUZZZZZZ

I would find out who this other electrician was call him and find out why he passed on the job.Maybe he knows something and would be willing to share.Always remeber the cheapest expierience you can get is someone elses

 

[Mule]

I would find out who this other electrician was call him and find out why he passed on the job.Maybe he knows something and would be willing to share.Always remeber the cheapest expierience you can get is someone elses

I asked the local manager, and he said they are slow to repair, but when they finally decide to do it, they pay promptly, and said .....like the roof, they complained and complained, then after a year the hired a contractor, he did the work, and promptyl got paid....So that was good news...

I dont think they have a regular electrician, and the manager said he called the other guy because he was friend....

But rewire I hear you loud and clear....

 

[B4T]

The flip side is if you trust them it might turn into a regular account. You never know what the last EC was like to deal with. I would go for it :wink:

 

[Mule]

The flip side is if you trust them it might turn into a regular account. You never know what the last EC was like to deal with. I would go for it :wink:

I agree...jm1470 said I need a purchase order, and I think that's a great idea....Im just not used to working for these "out of state" companies, and it spooky to me with the economy, I can trust a man, if I can look him in the eye........Been working for a GC for Dollar General and havent seen the check yet, but he says next week...

Im hitting the hay....you guys have a great evening...

 

[Rewire]

With the way things are you never know when a company is just going to belly up.We have always had 30 day billing but lately payments are slower.We have about 40 grand outstanding and it is moistly 1-2 thousand dollar invoices.One of our malls just ran out of money towards the end of the year so we had to wait until the first part of Febuary to get paid.Carring all these people sure gets heave at times.

 

[Sparky555]

A PO & credit card number works for me.

 

[cparrott1984]

Email can be used as legal documents. So I guess.... but I wouldn't do it this way unless you really know the customer. I would prepare a proposal not to exceed $1000.00 and have it signed.

 

[growler]

Got a call yesterday from a out of state property owner that owns a shopping mall here in town, needed to get some pay arrangements nailed down first since he was out of town.

Here is the question. Do you know who you are dealing with right now? You get a call from Mr. Jones and he wants a service call at a commercial property. Does this property belong to Mr. jones or does it belong to Jones Inc. ? How are they going to pay and what is their pay schedule? Do you need to get set up as a vendor and go through accounts payable?

Get all necessary information to submit an invoice before doing any work. I tell customers I need the information to enter it into the computer so there want be any mistakes made in billing and to set up an account.

You need the legal name of the business ( tax purposes), you need the actual physical address of owner/business ( where to bill ) . you need to know if a purchase order number will be needed, will the bill be submitted through accounts payable, are you to bill Mr. Jones directly?

I don't trust people so I check to see if Mr. Jones is an officer of the corporation. I also look to see if they have been around for some time and if the corporation is active and up to date on paperwork. All this information is right in front of you so why not use it. I have gotten more than one call where the corporate name didn't exist or was inactive or dissolved.

If people give you the correct information there is a good chance you will be paid with no problem, if they give any erroneous information then watch out.

 

[220/221]

Obviously don't schedule the lift right away. Disconnect at the pole bases to eliminate possible underground faults. In my experience it's underground about 75% of the time.

As far as getting paid, use your instincts.

 

[petersonra]

I would have asked for a purchase order, or at least a PO number.

An email is at least some evidence they authorized the work though.

It seems likely they have had to have electrical work done before so I too wonder why they are no longer doing business with their previous contractor.

Credit cards are ideal for this kind of situation, and if he is actually authorized to purchase this kind of work, he probably has a company CC to use for this purpose.

 

[Kdog76]

I agree...jm1470 said I need a purchase order, and I think that's a great idea....Im just not used to working for these "out of state" companies, and it spooky to me with the economy, I can trust a man, if I can look him in the eye........Been working for a GC for Dollar General and havent seen the check yet, but he says next week...

Im hitting the hay....you guys have a great evening...

I've done work for dollar general store a few years back...We were sitting out way past 90 days + a lot of calls to the regional - out of state manager...Got paid 120+ days later if I remember right.

 

[MarkyMarkNC]

Yeah, Dollar General is a pain to get paid from. The impression I got is that store managers had to approve everything, and then a regional manager had to approve everything, and then it had to wind its way through AP. Since everybody always had another department to blame, nobody was ever too concerned about you getting your money. I don't think they hire the sharpest tools in the shed there either. Their AP department usually thinks they are satisfying net 30 terms because by the time they get the bill it is two months after you've billed them. The whole payment process was generally close to 90 days, but they always did pay.

 

[Rewire]

We tried calling the management company for Dollar general Stores and it always went to voice mail and we would call at least three times before a call back.

 

[Mule]

I've done work for dollar general store a few years back...We were sitting out way past 90 days + a lot of calls to the regional - out of state manager...Got paid 120+ days later if I remember right.

Im working for a GC that is, I think, a paving contractor, He's says that they have resources to pay more frequently, but they themselves have to wait 90 days for payment from Dollar General....So far, Ive just got a 60ft conduit run, and one service call in to them. We'll see, havent checked our PO box, been gone a couple of days...I just thought it would be a good client for a slow economy, being the nature of their business market.....