Pitt Electric, Inc.

Failure to substantiate charge. Technicians failed to identify worn wiring upon inspection and recharged circuit creating small fire. Invoice date: 3/4/2014February 3, 2014. Initial reason for service call to Pitt Electric: Smoke coming out of wall after plugging in vacuum cleaner. Called Pitt Electric for after hour service to make sure no fire would start, and verify no fire in walls.Technician cut power to circuit and stated he would return the following day. Technician never returned the following day, so I placed a call to the office and the office staff confirmed that the appointment had been lost/misplaced. Office assistant made a follow-up appointment for February 6, 2014.February 6, 2014: Two technicians came out and re-energized circuit even though they had identified there was an open ground in the circuit prior. A small fire broke out, and a fire extinguisher was needed to put out fire. Technicians stated that they would refer me back to the original electrician that had previously done work in the home to utilize warranty on this other companies past service. Pitt Electric technician stated that it would cost a lot of money if they rewired the open grounds, and did not seem to understand why a fire broke out, guessing it was because ground wires needed to be installed in outlet. No service was completed, since technician referred me back to [redacted]. Living room left powerless. Called [redacted] to come out and correct problem. [redacted] found a burnt wire underneath house leading to outlet. [redacted] suggested that Pitt Electric failed to identify faulty wiring, and when re-energized circuit started the house fire. [redacted] rewired faulty wiring, and installed ground wires to close open ground. [redacted] billed me for the work, and was promptly paid.March 3, 2014. An invoice was received by Pitt Electric for $412.50. I called Pitt Electric and spoke to [redacted] the same day, and he stated he would get back in touch with me with my concerns of being billed for 5.5 hours and yet no work was performed, since Pitt referred me back to [redacted]. I did not receive a call back from [redacted].May 1, 2014: A message was left for me by [redacted] from Pitt Electric stating he wanted to talk to me about a sub-contract job invoice.May 2, 2014: Called Pitt Electric and spoke to [redacted]. Explained that I had been billed for 5.5 hours of labor, yet the work was actually done by [redacted]. [redacted] stated that I should ask [redacted] to pay the bill. I explained that I would call [redacted] and ask them to pay the bill, but was unable to determine what I was billed for during the 5.5 hours. May 2, 2014: Called [redacted] and explained that Pitt Electric wants them to pay my bill. Owner stated he would review the invoice, but stated likely they would not pay the bill since no work was done, since they did the work. [redacted] emailed invoice.May 7, 2014: A certified letter from Pitt Electric was sent to my home to be signed for. It was warning letter that they would turn the bill over to collections if I did not pay the bill. They added interest to the bill, and the charge is now $418.69.May 7, 2014: Called and left message for owner of Pitt Electric to call me to discuss improper billing practices and request for itemized bill for 5.5 hours of work billed for. No return call from owner, [redacted]. May 8, 2014: Mailed payment in to Pitt Electric to avoid collections, but will continue to pursue partial reimbursement for unjustified charges. Desired SettlementI expect that a billing of 2 hours max is acceptable for the after hours service call (1 hour) and then 1 hour for identification of open ground. The additional 3.5 hours of billing is not acceptable and wrong, since no work was done and a fire was started. Paid $418.69 - actual billing (2 hours at 75 dollars; $150). Refund due= $268.69.Business Response Contact Name and Title: [redacted], PresidentContact Phone: [redacted]Contact Email: [redacted]After speaking with our electrician, I called [redacted] on or about May 20, 2014 and left a message on his voicemail informing him that I had reviewed the invoice with our electrician and determined that he had in fact been overbilled 1/2 hour of labor for which I issued a refund. I will call [redacted] once more in an effort to reach a satisfactory conclusion to this matter.