electricmanscott
Senior Member
- Location
- Boston, MA
I'll keep it short. :lol:
Get called to look at a job. Did work for person at his home. This work would be at his dental office. Install some 2x2 and 2x4 fluorescent fixtures in the building. Correct some violations in the building. I walk through with owner and list of violations that should be corrected. When I explain what it would take (ie $$$) to fix them he says forget about them. That should have been the signal to get the hell out of there as these were some serious hazards. They had already had a fire recently hence the insurance co coming down on them. The other flag should have been the knowledge that a few other ec's bailed on him. Gave a ballpark price of $1500.00 No written contract just ok do it. The violations were such that his insurance company was going to cancel his policy if they were not corrected.
Started by installing two 2x2's in dropped ceiling. Feed already there just install and wire between the two. Easy! Done!
Bring material up to fifth floor in elevator that looked like a relic from WW II. Supposed to replace 5 2x4's up there. Popped out a water stained ceiling tile to find the old plaster ceiling was collapsed onto the dropped ceiling which looked like you could sneeze and it would come crashing down. Yuck.
The existing lights were not chained up, their feeds went into flying j boxes with no covers, fed with crumbly old bx. A disaster. The old guy working in this area told me to watch out for squirrels and bats up there. Yuck. Mind you this guy is making dentures that people put in their mouths. I can not convey how disgusting this place is.
Anyhow. I packed my stuff up and told him I can not put my name on this building. I pointed out just how bad and in need of major work the place is. He whines and cries a little and I try to explain that I have far too much integrity to mickey mouse something to just to make a buck. At the time I was hurting for work which is the only reason I made an attempt.
He says he will pay for what I did.
So here we are 3 months later.
I sent a bill on January 23 for the work that I did although I spent much more time there.
The bill was for $344.35
Basically two hours @92.00 ($184.00)
Two 2x2 fixtures $90.16
Four Lamps $28.62
Materials $118.78 plus 35% ($160.35)
After numerous calls I finally get a letter and a check.
"Dear Scott,
As we agreed in December 2005 your quote was for $1,500.00 to complete lighting at this office. I have priced the lights at Home Depot and each light was $40.00. I am paying you $80.00 for two lights and $150.00 for your labor a total of $230.00.
Since you abandoned the job I am considering the balance PAID IN FULL.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXX
Another day another &%^$#!! :twisted:
Edited by Ryan for language.
Get called to look at a job. Did work for person at his home. This work would be at his dental office. Install some 2x2 and 2x4 fluorescent fixtures in the building. Correct some violations in the building. I walk through with owner and list of violations that should be corrected. When I explain what it would take (ie $$$) to fix them he says forget about them. That should have been the signal to get the hell out of there as these were some serious hazards. They had already had a fire recently hence the insurance co coming down on them. The other flag should have been the knowledge that a few other ec's bailed on him. Gave a ballpark price of $1500.00 No written contract just ok do it. The violations were such that his insurance company was going to cancel his policy if they were not corrected.
Started by installing two 2x2's in dropped ceiling. Feed already there just install and wire between the two. Easy! Done!
Bring material up to fifth floor in elevator that looked like a relic from WW II. Supposed to replace 5 2x4's up there. Popped out a water stained ceiling tile to find the old plaster ceiling was collapsed onto the dropped ceiling which looked like you could sneeze and it would come crashing down. Yuck.
The existing lights were not chained up, their feeds went into flying j boxes with no covers, fed with crumbly old bx. A disaster. The old guy working in this area told me to watch out for squirrels and bats up there. Yuck. Mind you this guy is making dentures that people put in their mouths. I can not convey how disgusting this place is.
Anyhow. I packed my stuff up and told him I can not put my name on this building. I pointed out just how bad and in need of major work the place is. He whines and cries a little and I try to explain that I have far too much integrity to mickey mouse something to just to make a buck. At the time I was hurting for work which is the only reason I made an attempt.
He says he will pay for what I did.
So here we are 3 months later.
I sent a bill on January 23 for the work that I did although I spent much more time there.
The bill was for $344.35
Basically two hours @92.00 ($184.00)
Two 2x2 fixtures $90.16
Four Lamps $28.62
Materials $118.78 plus 35% ($160.35)
After numerous calls I finally get a letter and a check.
"Dear Scott,
As we agreed in December 2005 your quote was for $1,500.00 to complete lighting at this office. I have priced the lights at Home Depot and each light was $40.00. I am paying you $80.00 for two lights and $150.00 for your labor a total of $230.00.
Since you abandoned the job I am considering the balance PAID IN FULL.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXX
Another day another &%^$#!! :twisted:
Edited by Ryan for language.
and "encourage" him to 