EVERMAN ELECTRIC A/C & HEATING

I contacted Everman Electric for the repair/replacement of light switches in our home. I asked for an estimate and was told it would be a $60 service call plus materials and possibly labor depending on how long the job took. The service man who came initially looked over the problem but did not have the right kind of switches on his truck. Said he would bring them back the next day. I suggested he take a switchplate with him so he would get the right color and I told him I thought they were "almond;" he declined and said he "knew the color." When he returned the next day, he had the incorrect color switches. Was initially going to charge me labor to drive to the far side of Ft. Worth to his supply house. I suggested Ace Hardware or Home Depot. He went to Home Depot and returned in a short time with the switches. In the process of installing them, he tripped a circuit breaker and also "lost" the screws for the switchplate. I found the screws for him after searching in the carpet. If I hadn't done so, he had said he didn't have any with him so would have to go back to Home Depot. The real problem came up with he gave me a bill, listing a price of $45 for three switches (probably cost him $5), plus $60 labor (for driving the the service center to retrieve the wrong color switches), plus TWO service calls "because he made two trips" to our home. $225.00 to replace three light switches! I told him I was surprised at the amount charged, and he assured me he had consulted with his boss. I did not feel comfortable further challenging him. I wrote him a check, and he left. I then called Everman Electric and spoke to the owner and explained my complaint. Again he said that the service man had made two trips so that was two service calls. I told him I'd had appliance repairs, plumbers, etc. and had NEVER been charged for extra service calls when they had to make additional trips with parts, etc. I was obviously not getting anywhere with him either, so I hung up the phone. I think this is unreasonable. We have used Everman Electric for other jobs in the past and do not recall any such problems; we have recommended them to friends as well. Not any more. I'm done with this company, and I think other consumers should be warned about their "service call" policy. This was not explained to me; I would not have had them come to do the work if I'd known this. I think one service call and the material charge (even though this is high) would have been the fair charge.