I contacted Icarus Services yesterday to repair a bedroom window at my sister's home. The technician arrived while I was not present.
He began the repair and initially quoted approximately $350. My sister was surprised by the high price, but because the window was unstable and at risk of falling, she felt pressured to proceed.
After about 10 minutes of work, during which he had already removed the window from its frame, the technician informed her that the repair would actually cost $530, claiming he had discovered additional issues. At that point, my sister felt she had no choice but to agree, since the window was already removed and she could not stop the repair midway.
The entire repair took about 40 minutes. The parts he replaced--shown in the attached photos--cost approximately $75 when purchased retail. This means the company charged $465 for 40 minutes of labour, which is unreasonable by any industry standard.
At the end of the job, the technician requested cash payment, stating that he would "not charge taxes" if paid in cash. This is highly unprofessional and raises serious concerns.
The following day, I contacted management to file a complaint. They were dismissive and only provided a receipt after I insisted and mentioned the technician's cash request. The receipt they issued is not itemized--no breakdown of parts, labour, or time spent--despite my request. This lack of transparency is unacceptable and appears intentional.
I have home camera footage confirming the technician was present for only 40-45 minutes. I also have proof of the actual part costs. There is no justification for the inflated price, the mid job price increase, or the refusal to provide an itemized invoice.
Lessons learned (and advice for others):
* Always demand a final price before any work begins.
* Never allow a contractor to change the price mid job.
* Request an itemized estimate (parts + labour) before they start.
* Ensure the time billed matches the actual time spent.
* Always insist on an itemized receipt. A vague receipt is a red flag.
I acknowledge that I made the mistake of allowing the work to begin without a confirmed final price, and my sister felt pressured. However, the company's behaviour--price changes mid job, refusal to itemize, and a request for cash to avoid taxes--is unacceptable and unprofessional.
In my experience, this company's practices are predatory, and I would strongly caution others to avoid them read more