I called Scotty and was told that to install 2 GFCI's and take a look at an outlet (that we couldn't figure out if it was working or not), would be $165 for three guys to come out. For a small job like that, he said he'd give a discount to $145.
When they got here, we figured we'd get a quote on installing a security system, and some flood lights. Was quoted $900 dollars to wire in the security cameras, because they'd need to put in so much wiring. Then they realized they wouldn't need to do that, it just needed one outlet in the attic because the system plugged in. Said the price for 1 outlet vs. all that wiring was still $900 dollars.
In the meantime, the less experienced plumber was looking at the "broken" outlet. Scotty was trying to make the $900 sale.
They took a wire through the wall from the garage outlet and pulled it through to the laundry room, splicing to make the outlet work with continuous power. No more than a foot of wire used.
What we had asked was to diagnose it, and see why it wasn't working. Turns out it was the outlet controlling the radiant floor heating, that went to the thermostat.
The wiring was set up like it was attached to a thermostat, and though we didn't know that, more experienced electricians did, and told us so when they looked at it.
We fully admitted we bought the house and didn't know anything about the system, and spoke at length about it, explaining what we knew, and showing them the thermostat.
Needless to say, then the floor heating didn't work.
Scotty would not come back out to fix it unless we'd pay for his time. Bad form. In the meantime the wire from the garage flipped the GFCI in the garage, making the sprinkler run on battery, and then eventually the grass died in patches and we couldn't figure out why.
I finally went on You-tube and fixed it myself.
We paid $300 dollars for less than an hour's work, which I can prove via when they texted arrival, and when I wrote them after they left. Less than an hour, for 3 guys, when I was quoted $145 or at least $165 an hour. He gave us an un-itemized "invoice" for $300, and when I asked him why it was so high, he said he used $70 in wire and left it at that.
The only thing he provided other than time was a foot of wire, and 2 GFCI's. Doesn't add up and he would not discuss it. read more
