ok, just lost power for a week, but some towns near us were under water and lost a lot of property, but they still have their life, so that is good, John, with all the flooding, some of the big flat rate guys, were charging three time the price to chance out a panel, and check the service, and once a customer gave them a call they got right there and started tearing apart the service, before they could get another price, sad they have to make money that way.
No permit and no payment
- Thread starter Twoskinsoneman
- Start date
- Status
ok, just lost power for a week, but some towns near us were under water and lost a lot of property, but they still have their life, so that is good, John, with all the flooding, some of the big flat rate guys, were charging three time the price to chance out a panel, and check the service, and once a customer gave them a call they got right there and started tearing apart the service, before they could get another price, sad they have to make money that way.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
Yeah we had that same problem after the '94 earthquake. Plumbers were charging $400 just to change out the waterheater lines. Once it's decalared an disaster area, that should help slow it down. I don't remember what the law says, but rates can only be raised so much or they can be charged with price gouging.
You take care and stay safe.
Moderators: Sorry we got a little off track here. Get so wrapped up in our own little worlds that we forget about things that are happening to others.
readydave8
re member
- Location
- Clarkesville, Georgia
- Occupation
- electrician
I sometimes wonder how much the line between gouging and the law of supply and demand get blurred?
jaylectricity
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Occupation
- licensed journeyman electrician
I've never had a contract or a work order. Occasionally I sent an email on what work was to be done.
Most of my work comes from people who would be embarrassed if I started asking the person that referred them to me why they wouldn't pay their bill.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
I look at it this way. If you are still paying the same for material, but you're raising your rate three fold simply because you know that the people are in dire straights and don't have any other options, then you're price gouging.
If parts are hard to get and the suppliers are charging you more then it's supply and demand.
readydave8
re member
- Location
- Clarkesville, Georgia
- Occupation
- electrician
In general I charge as much as I think I can get. Haven't done any disaster work, but if I have more work than I can get to it's been time to raise prices. I see where it would be different in a disaster, but could I get a little more? Maybe time & 1/2 for hours over 8/40?
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Wouldn't a disaster create demand. How much is too much is debatable. If there is work to be done and more than enough people to do it, the rules of supply and demand dictate that the price should go down, not up. The fact that insurance or government disaster relief funds are often used to pay seems to automatically raise the price, possibly for more than one reason, yet we all complain about taxes and insurance premiums. Collectively, I think we are about the hardest to please people in the world, and will do whatever it takes to get what we want, even if it creates hardships for others.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
I don't begrudge anyone making money, just not off of other peoples misery. I don't have my hands on the FEMA regs, but there is a set amount that you can raise your prices in a "declared" disaster area. You can charge your regular customers whatever you want.
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
Here ya go, not FEMA but seems credible.
http://apps.americanbar.org/antitru...programs/spring-06/price-gouging-statutes.pdf
PS. I went through the '89 quake in SF, lotsa fun.
PEDRO ESCOVILLA
Senior Member
- Location
- south texas
it always amazes me that folks in the trades ( or anywhere, for that matter) are so willing to take advantage of a really bad situation just to line their pockets. disasters are not (imho) the time to take an unfair economic advantage. tha't s just me
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- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
There you are. Goes state by state. I thought it was 1/3 here in CA, but it's only 10% and that seems the norm per that list.
Yeah during the '94 earthquake we were woking 16 hours a day 7 days a week. Superbowl Sunday we watched the game, from house to house. People would feel sorry for us working and invite us in and we would watch a couple of plays and then move on to the next house and watch a couple of more and so on.
jmellc
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
- Occupation
- Facility Maintenance Tech. Licensed Electrician
Our locale does not require permits for replacing devices.
- Status