I hired Volt Electric to run wiring for lighting. Before starting, the lead technician gave me pricing on site: $225 an hour, about 3 to 4 hours. By my recollection, the crew was here from about 10:30 to 2.
After the job, I had to follow up twice over 12 days just to get an invoice so I could pay. When it arrived, it was $1,125, billed as 4.5 hours, more than the estimate I was given and more than the time they were here.
When I asked about the difference, they said the technician is a lead technician, not an estimator, and that he gave a verbal estimate to give an idea of pricing. They said they've billed like this for years, that I should have requested a formal estimate if I wanted one, and that late fees would be added if the invoice isn't paid in full.
I paid for 3.5 hours at their stated rate of $225 an hour the same day I got the breakdown. My advice: if you hire them, get the price in writing before any work begins, because what their technician tells you at your door may not be what you're billed. read more
