[Jax171]

We had a bad experience with the Mr Sparkey franchise in Port Richie, Fl, trying to get some work done in a relatives home. Did not end up hiring them, due to their attitude. Must be franchise wide!

[DaleDivine]

Originally Posted by frose

i do all my own repairs so I don't have to deal with these contractors.. I listen to people all the time relate horror stories about the way they were taken advantage of.. I really feel for them but will not interfere.

I usually do all of my own repairs as well. It's just like the service departments at dealers. They want to find all kinds of things to charge you for.

[imalowany]

Originally Posted by DruannB

I had the worst experience ever with a contractor today, and my husband and I do renovation work—so it was really bad. Mister Sparky out of Ocala came to give me a quote on installing 5 can lights in a bedroom, replacing a can light with a pendant and adding a nearby sconce. First, he told me we needed a whole house surge protector. I hadn’t asked for that service. That was $7,000. I told him we already had that. Then he looked at one of our light switches and said the entire house needed all the switches replaced. Only $5,000. The house is 7 years old and there’s nothing wrong with the electrical. And if there is, we know how to change out a switch. To add can lights and the pendant? $3,700. I may be female and 64, but I am not stupid. Oh, and they sent me an invoice for $8.75 for truck supplies. Not sure what that might be. Please don’t contact them for ANY quotes.

I called them for a standard Tesla hook up. I had the charger all they needed to do was connect it. First they wanted me to buy the house surge protector. Which was nuts as the house already had one which I had purchased a month before and it cost 1/4 what he wanted me to pay . He quoted $2,000 for the Tesla connection. I told him that it should be around $1200 with the Tesla charger as I had one installed in my Atlanta home a few months ago (with Sparky - it’s a Franchise and they have a franchisee there which I used) and that the Tesla charger was $500. He immediately came down to the $1200. I said no and he left. I ended up paying $450 with Cage electric and couldn’t be happier Cage. I strongly recommend them.

[Michigan Farmer]

My neighbor had the same type of experience with them. Over $350 to diagnose and replace a light switch and got the same pitch about surge protector and the switchs and outlets not wired correctly. Switches and outlets can be connected to the wire in two ways, under the screw or inserted in the back of the device. There is an arugement to me made that under the screw is better, I have no opinion, but both are legal. I think this is what they a refering to.

[Andyb]

You need to report it. That’s a huge ripoff.

[shov100]

We had the same bad experience with Mr. Sparky. Instead of what we called them out for, the electrician went right out to the garage and told us we needed a surge protector and all kinds of other work. Never even looked at the issue we were having.

[SHIBUMI]

Hi,
I made the Mister Sparky mistake when I got here in July. They came out to install 2 electrical boxes, that I provided for a spa. The cost was 1,600$....ridiculous....it was all labor..9(less than 2 hours)..STAY AWAY FROM MR. SPARKY YOU WILL GET BURNT. Glad you wrote this to remind people....if anyone can recommend fair electricians please do, thanks

[brfree1411@aol.com]

Who do you recommend for electrical? I have a puzzle on a light fixture. I can’t turn it off!
I also have a few small things, do you have a reasonable handy man? Thanks

[REDCART]

Originally Posted by brfree1411@aol.com

Who do you recommend for electrical? I have a puzzle on a light fixture. I can’t turn it off!
I also have a few small things, do you have a reasonable handy man? Thanks

Under Menu look for Search. You will find many fine electricians recommended.

We’ve used Lenhart Electric in Wildwood and have found them to be excellent. But there are several that consistently get rave reviews here on TOTV.

[Warcats]

It might be best to place this repairman's tongue along with his boss's into a socket until they are brown and crispy LOL. Thieves should be reported. Call 60 minutes. They tried to sock me too.

[Jeffmit]

You can get a surge protector that looks like a double pole breaker and installs in your breaker box.

[Mlogan22@tampabay.rr.com]

We had the same type problem with Precision Door. Our garage door wasn't working, so I called Precision Door. He told me I needed cables and all kinds of work done and was going to cost close to $900. One of the repairs were to replace the cables because they were fraying. I looked at the cables and they look good so I knew he was crazy. I had another local guy come by and fix the door for under $100. Unfortunately, some contractors will do this.
Same as car oil changes. I had Jiffy Oil try to sell me a bunch of other fluids. I checked them when I got home and they were all good. Fortunately, I am a handyman and being a women I am sometimes taken advantage of.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

Hope you enjoyed a great laugh. Mister Sparky must have had one jolt too many. Thanks for the heads up.
As to the invoice, it could (if ignored) be a way to put a lean on your home or some other nefarious move. Sounds suspiciously crooked to me.

Riddle answer is ,"a person".

That bill of $8.75 sounds interesting on many levels. Typical for electricians and plumbers, they bill roughly $85.00 to come to the house and then so much per job.
You come out ahead if you have them do several jobs, having covered the arrival charge.

That $8.75. It reminds me of a guy who was caught a few years ago. He would invoice major companies for small amounts. It was too expensive to research the bill and they would decide to just pay it.

Not worth fighting? Most would say a priority mail letter disputing the charge will cost roughly $6.00.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by imalowany

I called them for a standard Tesla hook up. I had the charger all they needed to do was connect it. First they wanted me to buy the house surge protector. Which was nuts as the house already had one which I had purchased a month before and it cost 1/4 what he wanted me to pay . He quoted $2,000 for the Tesla connection. I told him that it should be around $1200 with the Tesla charger as I had one installed in my Atlanta home a few months ago (with Sparky - it’s a Franchise and they have a franchisee there which I used) and that the Tesla charger was $500. He immediately came down to the $1200. I said no and he left. I ended up paying $450 with Cage electric and couldn’t be happier Cage. I strongly recommend them.

I would not be surprised, with all the posts about surge protectors and Mr. Sparky that they are running some sort of bonus program for selling and installing surge protectors.

"I had the charger." You are asking the person paid to install the part to warranty a part that he does not know the history on and on which he has made no profit.

I have a friend who said once about repairs and the price quoted. They take the cost of the part and double it. Installation is doubled the already doubled parts cost. It sounds crazy but it is often close to the quote.

[montagnard1969]

I have been an electrical contractor, journeyman electrician and apprentice for over 50 years. These type businesses are FRANCHISES and franchises business models dictate they always find other things to advise you of to make the bill go higher. They will check your panel, receptacles with a tension tester, your ground fault receptacles or circuit breakers with a testing device. Then they will tell you the news that this or that needs to be replaced. All businesses are there to make money, however some are more pernicious than others. Electrical contractors generally charge between $80 and $100 for a service call with one electrician and the truck and $90-$120 for two men and a truck. Service is gauged as travel time and time on site, some will provide travel and the first 15-30 minutes of labor depending how much time they spend in traveling to the site. The billing then is either by the quarter, third or half hour or portion thereof. The pricing you received is truly exorbitant and simply a high ball price. If you bite they make a profit of up to 70% on these jobs. Way out in left field as to their pricing. Again it is a franchise so they must pay a franchise fee to have the use of the logo, advertising, name recognition and use and any other amenities the franchisor offers under the franchise agreement. There are a lot of things that are not seen by the consumer regarding franchises and the costs associated with franchises.
In the best case scenario, call a local company and inquire about their service call charge and hourly rates. Then when they come out tell them what you would like done and about how much time and manpower [number of electricians] they think it will take to accomplish those tasks. You may then do the math and see if the estimate you receive is in line with their, or anyone else's charges, they quote on the phone.
Businesses are in business to make money. If you want cheap you will get cheap. Just remember a licensed and insured contractor has to cover all costs in their charges to make money. Licensing, insurance, worker's comp, 7.5% SSI, truck operating costs, inventory, office staff and the list goes on. If you have never run a business and think you are paying too much for a $120 per hour service call, think again. People don't think twice of paying an attorney $300-$400 per hour for their service. Their service won't potentially burn down your home!!! A well trained and reputable contractor in any business is well worth what you pay them. The yellow pages is not the place to find a contractor. Talk to your friends and neighbors and find out what their experience has been for any job you would like done. Word of mouth is the best advertising, yellow pages are the most expensive way to advertise. Food for thought.