Main Stream Electric

Review: Main Stream Electric contracted with me to do some electrical work at my home. The total amount due for the work was to be $4,125. The contract states that the "pricing includes permits." Main Stream continually asks for payment on the contract although I have not seen the permits showing that their work is up to code. Whenever I ask to see permits, they become non- responsive, until they ask for payment again. Main Stream has now demanded payment by the end of May and I have again asked for permits, and haven't seen any.

I have had another reputable electrician look at the work and they determined that there are several issues that would prevent Main Stream's work from complying with the applicable code. These issues include using the improper ground size, installing a panel that did not open all the way, not labeling the panel properly, etc. The necessary repairs and the associated costs to fix them are:

1. Run #4 solid copper to bond the panel with the correct size wire ($750)

2. To relabel panel that is mislabeled ($400)

3. Repair side of the house because panel won't open to 90 degrees ($1000)

4. To pull permits and inspections ($1000)

5. Sheetrock repair ($850)

In addition, Main Street cut down one of my bushes without asking. The cost to replace this bush was $175.

The total cost of all necessary repairs is $4175, which is more than the contract amount for Main Stream's work. I paid Main Stream $2000 to keep them from bothering me.

Main Stream previously offered to pay half of the cost to repair the side of my house they damaged when they installed the breaker box (like somehow part of it was my fault?), which would be $925 (half of the cost to repair the side of the house and the sheetrock repair). They also offered to replace the bush that was cut down, so theoretically their proposed offer would be $1100. However, this amount is woefully inadequate, given that the total cost to fix all of the damage they did to my house and non-compliant work is $4175.Desired Settlement: I have already had the work done by the second electrician to prevent fire and other hazards at my home so I don't want Main Stream to perform any additional work. I would like to have the $2000 I've already paid refunded, and to have the remaining balance of $2,125 cancelled, because Main Stream did not comply with the contract permit requirement, and the repairs to my house to fix the damage they did ($4175) exceed the contract price ($4125).

Business

Response:

Work was commenced as agreed to per Ms. [redacted] in Sept. 2015. We have detailed terms and conditions as shown on the contract she signed with regards to Landscape, drywall, and carpentry repairs. Were a professional licensed electrical contractor in the state of California. [redacted] had a large "bush" in front of her panel box and we notified her about the need to remove or downsize this plant. This bush violated the access space rule to the panel per NEC. She did agree for us to do what we felt was needed. The technicians removed this bush to give us adequate access to work with live power for safety purposes.[redacted] also had newer lawn installed in the front and complained about us walking across the lawn to access our work. So we obliged and went through the neighbors lawn to access her property for the panel on the side of her home.We had initial inspection performed and apparently the inspector and our technician were not able to connect. But the phone conversation they had and the notice given was that work looks good but he needed the siding installed and completed prior to a return visit to final our job. I notified [redacted] about this and she stated she wasnt aware of siding repair.I dont remember exactly our conversation but I agreed to "ATTEMPT" a siding repair on our dollar to help her get this done. (this was non rainy season)The 2nd inspection went similar to the 1st. The inspector stated "Well its patched but just not completely weather proof." I notified [redacted] and at this point she was non cooperative and claiming we damaged siding, drywall, plants etc. and was unwilling to pay for anything.We at Main Stream have been very cooperative with regards of trying to get closure to this job but with retrospect that the client needed to pay us for services rendered. I even went as far as agreeing to pay for the replacement bush, Consider a "reasonable split for the Picture window around the panel", but she hasnt given me ANY real prices until this Revdex.com complaint. Ive gone ahead and REPAID for a permit which expired not to our fault for the siding not being ready. $103.00 plus reinstate fee $80.00. And have requested for a date where I can have the inspector and my tech onsite to look at our work again to verify compliance. [redacted] was also made aware of the warranty which being an attorney im sure she knows.So at this point to date, we've received a Partial payment of $2,000.00 on 1/19/16 4 months after the start of this job to keep us from pursuing legal.We have been trying to get this resolved but again, without her doing her contractual part of repairs like carpentry, were unable to get a final sign off that she keeps asking for.

Business

Response:

The work for the panel as a whole in its entirety was approx. 2'x3'.. the panels dimensions.. 15 3/4" x 28" approx.. The siding on the home is an old wood lap style and was deteriorated prior to the start of work. in order to PROPERLY secure the panel, we needed to open the access to the studs of the home so the panel was attached to the structure. The old panel prior also had a picture frame around it as does the other windows on the home for looks. The Panel also had 3 Large conduits coming from the crawls space which needed modified to properly attach to the new panel. The hole remaining after the panel was installed wasn't extreme in any measure. I was easily able to purchase trim wood at a local hardware to put the frame up and the only reason it wasn't accepted via the city was the inspector needed flashing on it. (not our profession). I explained this all to [redacted] and AGAIN, was more than reasonable to accept PARTIAL RESPECTED COSTS for the PICTURE FRAME of the panel. Not dry rot from prior and not new siding if she chose to redo this area in its entirety. I even extended to pay the direct cost to replace the bush which more than reasonable. Her permit lapsed due to her lack of follow through once I communicated about the siding repairs. [redacted], you were angry because of circumstances related to the needed work to be completed. We did as agreed. I'm not claiming to be perfect here in any fashion with regards to time and your plant. I do know that you were unavailable most the time and we would have to either email or call and hope to get a response later in day and this slowed this project down.The money here to me is not the issue anymore. Its the principal of how you feel this job was done. There is ABSOLUTLEY no way the repairs to the siding was even 2k... I have many contractor friends and have been in this field since 1993 and can assure you that your numbers your claiming are far from realistic. I went ahead and pulled a permit with your knowledge that it was going to happen and you allowed this and now you claim the work was done prior and my inspection would not be valid? Seems as if you did this to make us pay more knowingly for no reasons?My stand is work was completed as agreed. Permit was left inside the panel as required with the city for the inspector. Final sign off could not be obtained until the siding was done PER THE INSPECTOR. My son will be camping for cub scouts with [redacted] one of the senior inspectors from the city this weekend and I can gladly obtain a letter that states as said above. No finals given until ALL WORK IS COMPLETE. [redacted]. Once again, i'm sorry you had a terrible experience with my Company. I FEEL that iv'e gone above and beyond to offer you reasonable closure here and you deny what is reasonable. I have been to your property PERSONALLY on 4 different visits and have once to meet you onsite as your always unavailable. I, My Company wouldn't be in business today working for clients like you, [redacted], [redacted], [redacted] Shopping Centers, [redacted], [redacted], and many others if we weren't capable to handle this type of daily work we do. By no means are we perfect and we do have our mishaps. But I can promise that I can usually find some sort of reasonable solution with 99.9% of our clients.I don't think your being reasonable here and I have offered all i'm willing to offer at this time.

Consumer

Response:

I am rejecting this response because: MSE only continues to reiterate erroneous facts in its responses. Since "it's not about the money anymore" as stated by MSE, I propose settling this matter as follows. MSE can keep the $2k that I already paid them. I will not pay them any additional money. In addition, I agree that I will not write a Yelp or any similar review describing what MSE itself describes as a "terrible experience" with the company. This is not the full refund I had originally requested, but I believe this is a reasonable compromise.