John Barnes Electric

John Barnes Electric did an amazing job! Not only did he come out at almost midnight when I called but he stayed till everything was fixed perfectly. Great company","pos-1

John Barnes Electric did an amazing job! Not only did he come out at almost midnight when I called but he stayed till everything was fixed perfectly. Great company

Service provider did not complete all of the work as agreed upon. When questioned, the response was that it was not promised to be fixed.Some of these service issues are a result of a hail storm that came through our area in April of this year (2015). Since then, we have worked with various contractors on service repairs. Part of these repairs were directly related to that storm. Service discussion with this company happened on 10-13-15. Service date was 10-14-15. Discussed at length the service needed with the owner, [redacted], and his helper, [redacted]. The 2 main areas of concern were the kitchen beaker and an outside ground fault that had been improperly mounted by another contractor. Discussed the manner of trouble shooting the problems and possible solutions. General quote for all of the work was between $800 and $1000. We also had a light switch problem, ballast problem in fluorescent lights and a ground fault problem on the garage outlet. On the date of service, the main helper ([redacted]) and 2 other helpers came to begin service. They completed everything except providing solutions to the kitchen breaker and the improperly mounted ground fault. We were given a bill for $800 for the work completed. When questioning the owner, his response was that he had not "promised" to fix the 2 issues. When questioning the helper, his response was that they would have to run a new line from the attic and that they did not know where the line in the conduit went. He also said that [redacted] was not there. Ok so [redacted] was not there. You may have to get dirty and do more work than change a light bulb. Still at the end of the day, all of the issues that were verbally agreed upon and quoted by the owner, [redacted], were not fixed as discussed. We had previously discussed the possible solutions and were expecting the work to be done. Otherwise, we would not have chosen this company. Now we are $700 into this and only got some light bulbs, ballasts and light switch fixed. This company came highly recommended however we feel we were not treated ethically by this owner. We verbally agreed on the solutions to these issues sealed with a handshake. As we are finding out, a persons word cannot be trusted. We were left feeling that our problems were too complicated and not worth their time or effort. Course it was close to lunch time and they probably had another job after lunch. Since there was no "promise" of a fix, we don't get a fix. We are now back to square one and will have to get another contractor to address our problems. However, their time spent was worth $700 for 2 hours work to them and they are on to the next job. We still are no closer to a solution to our problem and the owner appears to have no desire to address the complaint or the problem.Desired SettlementWe would like to have the 2 items fixed safely and according to current code requirements. The billing should be adjusted accordingly to the work that was performed and that remaining. Would require an itemized bill listing the cost of all parts and breakdown of any and all labor for the entire service performed on 10-14-15 and any work performed after that date. Would require an itemized list of the work to be performed with list of part and labor.Business Response /[redacted]/Contact Name and Title: [redacted] OwnerContact Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXXContact Email: [redacted]@johnbarneselectric.comI am John Barnes, owner of John Barnes Electric, LLC. I was referred to Mr [redacted] by a customer and friend on 10/13/15. Shortly after getting the referral I received a phone call from Mr [redacted] about an hour later. We spoke on the phone and he told me I came highly reccommended and said he had several electrical issues that needed attention. I asked could he give me a few more details over the phone and he did. He said he had some light fixtures in his carport that were not working, a light in his closet not working properly, some outside receptacles that were not working and a breaker that was tripping going to a couple countertop receptacles. He also stated that he had his vinyl siding replaced and when he did the same people doing the vinyl siding had also disconnected and rewired some of his electrical outlets so they could get the vinyl replaced. (without calling a licensed electrician so it could be completed correctly and legally). Instead, once the vinyl siding contractor finished his outside receptacles were not working properly. They also stated that a box had been installed on an outside wall that had not been in that location before and did not understand why it had been moved.We walked inside the home to the kitchen and looked on the countertop to see a microwave and a large sized convection oven. I asked both Mr and Mrs [redacted] what seemed to be the problem they were having with the circuitry in the kitchen. Mrs [redacted] stated that when she operated both pieces of cooking equipment at the same time the breaker would trip. I then asked Mrs [redacted] had they ever tripped (disconnected due to overload) before the work was done. She stated that no it had not. I then informed Mrs [redacted] that both pieces of kitchen equipment, if on the same circuit, would trip the breaker. She stated again that they never had and something was wrong and it happened after the vinyl contractor had done the electrical work at the house. I told them both we would inspect and check out the wiring and repair any problems that would have been caused to the circuit by the (unlicensed electrical) contractor performing work at their home. I agreed to at least change the breaker because someone had the kitchen countertop receptacles on a double pole (240volt) breaker, when it should have been on a single pole (120volt) breaker. We then walked outside again and discussed more about the box on the wall and told them both if the receptacle was to be lowered (removed) their would be a hole left in the vinyl siding because there is a cable coming out of the box trough the wall to the panel. No more could really be done or investigated (troubleshot) until we we're awarded the job. I could tell they were both aggravated from their past dealings with contractors and were very displeased at their finished product.I then discussed the price of the project with both Mr and Mrs [redacted] to let them know what needed to be repaired and the associated costs for the repairs. I told them there were several items that were (known fixes) like repairing the fixtures, switches, and gfci receptacles. The wiring completed by the unlicensed contractor had to be an educated guess, so I gave them a range of $700 to $1000 hoping to keep the repairs on the lower end of that range. Mr [redacted] was satisfied with the price and asked could I do the job tomorrow and after thinking about my schedule, I told him I would. I let him know my employees would return the next morning and all should be completed by noon. He asked did I have somthing for him to sign to approve the work and I shook his hand and told him, I know who referred you and there shouldnt be any problems.The next morning after leaving the shop and picking up the materials for the job my men arrived and completed all of the tasks we priced to the [redacted] plus some. The lights were repaired, the switch was replaced, the gfci wiring outside was repaired, which had been reinstalled incorrectly by the unlicensed electrical contractor, a gfci receptacle outside was replaced and the breakers in the service were replaced, 1 of which was going to the kitchen countertop receptacles. After inspecting the wiring in the service panel feeding the microwave and the oven, both pieces were indeed on the same 20 amp breaker and had been that way since the house had been wired. At no time could both pieces of kitchen equipment operate correctly under full load without causing the breaker to trip. And also, at no time did I agree to add a dedicated circuit for either piece of kitchen equipment. I did not ask but it looked as though recent work had been completed in the kitchen like a remodel, with new countertops, etc. At that time a circuit should have been added for the microwave and wasn't. Why? I dont know. That was completed before I was contacted.After my men completed the work, My electrician called and he told me what had been completed and what he found. I then told him to charge $800 for what had been done and for the trouble shooting on the inside and outside wiring. A few minutes later I received a call from my electrician stating that Mr [redacted] was dissatisfied and refused to pay any on the bill. I asked had he left the customers house and if so to return to collect the payment because the job was complete. I called Mr [redacted] and asked him why had he refused to pay and he stated the job was not done. Iasked him what did we not do and he said we did not install a dedicated line to separate the microwave and oven. I told him we were not there to run a dedicated circuit and that wasn't part of the job. A later found that my electrician had looked to see could a circuit be installed (which wasnt part of the job) but found the only way to do so was by knocking a hole in the wall to get the circuit to where it needed to be. That meant sheetrock repairs would have been necessary to complete that task and when he brought that to the attention of the customer they did not want that.I then proposed and agreed to a one hundred dollar cut of the bill since they felt they had not received all which was quoted, but had been, plus some.In closing, I would like to say that this is a perfect example: from the beginning of any project, no matter how small or how large, always hire licensed electrical contractors when any wiring is being completed for you. I always do what I say Im going to do. And most times I do a little more to make the customer feel as though they got more than what they paid for and this job is not an exception. This job was 40 miles from Rocky Mount, west just north of Zebulon NC. I believe the price I gave the [redacted] was fair. It was agreed to by both parties and affirmed with a handshake. I did agree to cut my price of my own choosing. I am a man of my word and my company is my name. I have been doing electrical work since I was 8 years old and am 43 now and have never had a review about me or my company like this.Respectfully,[redacted]John Barnes Electric LLCXXX-XXX-XXXXConsumer Response /[redacted]/Mr. [redacted], you did come highly recommended. We did call a licensed electrician. We called you. We were confident you could fix all of our electrical issues. We called you to fix the situation left by the vinyl siding contractor with an outside receptical and the kitchen outlet breaker. The outside receptical and the possible relationship to the 2 kitchen recepticals that, since the vinyl was replaced, are now not functioning properly. We thoroughly explained to you that these were the primary problems and the main reason we called you, a licensed electrical contractor. Otherwise, it would defeat our purpose to hire you in the first place.We could go on for days going back and forth about this. Bottom line, you did not fix the primary issues as we trusted that you would. We had no idea what would fix the problem, but you had already pre-determined whatever fixed the issues would or would not be included in the work. This was unknown to us.Yet, in the end, you left the job site and demanded payment for a job that was half way completed. The outcome of this, you did the easy work, we paid in full, and we are left at the same place we were before we awarded you the work that included fixing our primary issues.There is no viable resolution to this. We had a verbal agreement that was accepted by a handshake that implied agreement and satisfaction from both parties. It is just another lesson learned when dealing with contractors that sometimes what they say and what they do is not always honorable or what you get. Final Business Response /[redacted]/Mr. [redacted]In response to your 5 points you attempted to clarify above.1. You did not use licensed electricians to complete the electrical work at your home back in April 2015. They may have had a business license but not electrical. You made the decision to allow them to disconnect and reconnect your wiring without giving care to your property and your insurance company would not like that idea.2.The problem you have with your appliances on your countertop did not happen from the work you had completed earlier this year. You have never had 2 dedicated outlets in your kitchen for these appliances and still do not. We agreed to fix any wiring found that needed to be corrected and did so. You were told what needed to take place to add a dedicated circuit but chose not to. Also, that was not part of our quote that we provided to you. I gave you the information again in my last response as to what it would take to add an additional circuit.3. I received a call from you, changed my schedule that day to meet with you about your electrical issues, when asked to do the work the next day once you accepted the price I did as you asked. I never "whined" about distance. I merely made a statement in my last response to you that with the distance that we have to travel from Rocky Mount to your home, additional "travel" charges would apply and contractors closer to you could charge less. I wasn't whining, just providing information that could be of benefit to you. Sorry that you took it the wrong way.And if you say all of the contractors working on your home were licensed, please provide their names, numbers, and license numbers to the Revdex.com so we can see which one held the electrical license. You cant have it both ways. If they completed wiring on your home and do not have an electrical license, their not licensed contractors.4. I price electrical work several different ways to my customers.- Quote- Time & Material- Maintenance Agreements- Negotiated T & M rates for existing customers.You asked for a quote and not only did I provide you a quote I provided you with a range of $800-$1000. Most contractors wouldnt do that. I did that because I told you at that time its extremely hard or near impossible to price service work, not knowing whats broken or whats in need of repair. So I provided a range, you accepted the prices and I charged you on the low end of that range as quoted.Again, you cant have it both ways, thats not how business works. Others may have provided, but there is nothing wrong with me choosing not to. 5. Your price was $800.00 - $1,000.00, I charged you $800.00 and you decided to not pay anything and then agreed to pay $700.00In closing, everything at your house was repaired. You never had a dedicated outlet for both appliances and that is the only remaining issue at your residence. I didnt have to, but in my previous response to you I provided you with an estimate of what to expect when having that work done. I have done more for you than most would under these circumstances. But that is my nature, I help people.Thank you, and I wish you well.