Skip to main content

Electrician trying to swindle us - Need advice!

Hello Reddit, FTHO here, need help with handling a local electrical company, who is being dishonest. They are threatening us with extra charges, failing to pay which, they'd like to place a lien on the home and complain to authorities about incorrect old wiring in the house. We would like to know our real liability if we refuse to pay the invoice. Also, what action can we take against the company? If you have been on either side of this scenario, would you especially please chime in?

Context:
We bought a 60s home. We signed a work order with this electrical company to upgrade the electricals in our kitchen and bathrooms, to bring them up to code with GFCI etc. While they agreed to a bunch of stuff verbally during pre-inspection (we wanted switches, breakers), their written quote with line items did not call out specifics. We moved ahead regardless, trusting their owner has been in the loop with us. On the day of the job, the owner and his electrician folk (journeyman and apprentice) gave us a hard time about how they only work on tasks called out in the quote. They suggested we get a new work authorization to get the extra tasks done.

Today:
After a day's worth of work, we told them we are dissatisfied with their mishandling of scope, the pace of the job (25% complete of full scope), and the sloppy job (extensive wall patchwork required). In response, they said they are stopping work, and wrote us an invoice balance, charging us an extra $2,500 for switch legs, receptacles, breakers—items that needed a "new work authorization". This is a surprise as (a) we can't confirm if they actually did what they are claiming (b) these are unexpectedly high charges, which we want to walk away from. The owner is threatening us with a lien etc.—is he being a paper tiger or this for real? What's our liability if we ignore their invoice, or only pay a small part of what we think is right?

submitted by /u/re-throwaway-54321
[link] [comments]

source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/v06y86/electrician_trying_to_swindle_us_need_advice/
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Aren't comps/CMAs useless with buyer credits at close happening now?

I'm looking into buying a new construction townhouse in my HCOL US city. I'm seeing builders offering interest rate buydowns worth $20k-$60k on $800k homes (rather than just lowering prices) in order to keep their comps high for their other units, now that buyer demand has been declining. I asked my agent about these, and he said these buydowns aren't even the full story: buyers can write all kinds of other credits into an offer, like their closing costs, prepaid sewer fees, etc. Apparently cash buyers can just write in a "buyer credit at close" for any amount in their offer. So a new townhouse that appeared to sell for $800k in the MLS might have actually been a cash offer with a $100k+ buyer credit at close, meaning the buyer only spent $700k or less in total, but to the rest of the world they can only see the $800k! So that made me realize I can't trust comps/CMAs for other new construction townhouses. The sales prices could be way lower than they appear...
1 comment
Read more

How to Avoid Property Scams in Delhi?

Here’s What You Should Know! Commercial Real Estate (Non-Residential) Buying a property in Delhi can be tricky, especially with all the stories about scams and shady deals. If you're in the market, here are some tips to keep yourself safe:Double-check the documents: Always verify ownership and approvals. Don’t just take someone’s word for it—look at the actual papers. Do your homework on prices: Compare similar properties to avoid overpaying. A little research can save you from a bad deal. Work with trustworthy people: Whether it's a seller or an agent, go for someone who's transparent about pricing and the process. If they’re dodging questions, that’s a red flag. Ask for reviews or references: If someone you’re dealing with has a good track record, they won’t hesitate to share testimonials or connect you with previous clients. I’ve noticed that some property services have started focusing on things like verified listings and clear communication, which makes the whole proc...
Post a Comment
Read more