"EXPERT" Electric Ladner / Tsawwassen. Short circuit...
We had been experiencing issues with our electrical panel - several plugs continuously blowing circuits until one day last week reseting the breaker didn't appear to fix the problem. I called the 2 page spread in the local phone book "Expert Electric". They agreed to show up the next day within a 4 hour window, which they did. I explained the problem to the technician who pulled out his quote sheet (you are promised a quote before any work starts) for an "18 Point Electrical Safety Inspection". Our house was built in the 80's so I thought a thorough inspection might be in order - and I signed off on the "inspection". $293.50 right there. For that much $ you'd think you'd be getting a very thorough evaluation of your home's electrical and that the problem would also be remedied. NOPE. In the hour that followed my signature on the "work order" nothing worth $293.50 happened. The panel cover was removed, tech used my compressed air to blow out any dust. He tightened a few connections (none that I saw needed any tightening), checked a few circuits and put the cover back on. He put a new cover on the outlet (which, btw, was actually working when he checked it). Then he checked the smoke alarm. And then, on his way out I noticed the front house lights were not working. He said "Oh, they probably just need to be turned on again". And then he and my cheque were gone into the Friday afternoon - and the problem that I called about in the first place was not corrected. Let me tell you about some of the finer points of the "18" point inspection: 1. Proper clearance of overhead wires. 14. Test Smoke detectors 18. Company contact info sticker on main panel. I understand that getting a quote up front might be important, but when I call for a specific issue I expect I'll be billed per hour until the problem is fixed.
I called that evening to notify EE that the problem had not been fixed, but that I had reset the breakers myself.
On Monday morning I called the office to explain what had happened and my complete dissatisfaction. What would have been fair would be for me to pay for the hour at the hourly rate and that would be that. No deal. When these guys roll up, it's $293.50 for their inspection, regardless of what your electrical problem might be. James was the guy who answered and told me they would be happy to set up another 4 hour window for me to hang around until they could get there and do what they were asked to do in the first place. I watched the service $293.50 got me. If you don't have time to do it right the first time (at $293.50) when will you have time to do it over? Not interested. Not interested in tearing my garage apart for the 2nd time. Not interested in watching a tech obviously feeling guilty about taking $300 of my hard earned money for doing next to nothing.
I will not be having EE back to my home. They did not fix or address the problem. They basically gave me the electrician's version of "We will steam clean every carpet in your house" deal, got the cheque and left doing a half-assed job - or in my case doing very little - certainly not $293.50 worth, even at trade rates. This is a make-work program. In hind sight I signed up for what I thought would be a full electrical evaluation and a solution to the problem. Instead I got my cheque book tested. They talk a good game - all work guaranteed. I guess there just has to be some work done TO guarantee.
I'm sharing this so anyone can avoid the jolt I got.
Expert Electrical : AVOID
