ComplaintsforCity First Electric

• Initial Complaint

  08/23/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  This company showed up for a home warranty repair. Here's the background:1. Faulty panel breaker 200A (was tripping at 70A load) - pretty easy eh?2. *********************** panel w/ GE TQDL21200 breaker (readily available at several on-line supply vendors) - e.g. coasttocoastbreakers.com.3. Breaker replacement costs are covered under home warranty.City First did the following:1. Stated the breaker was 'NO LONGER AVAILABLE' --- FALSE 2. Stated that the breaker was an 'AFTERMARKET BREAKER' --- FALSE 3. Stated that the ENTIRE PANEL had to be replaced because they could not purchase this breaker.4. Submitted estimate to replace ENTIRE PANEL and breakers to home warranty.Turns out, that they 'don't want the work' unless they can charge for a full panel replacement because (from discussing w/ other contractors) this costs them 'future work' -- the breaker is expensive and throws off their average job cost for breaker replacement, which is used by the insurance company apparently as some kind of measure of success in selecting sub-contractors to perform work (i.e. if average job cost is too high, they don't get calls from the home warranty firm for work).The initial claim and estimate was denied by home warranty (I agree with the home warranty firm - this makes no sense - I'm also an electrical engineer with 30 years in the field, so these guys are messing w/ the wrong customer).Home warranty company agreed with my assessment (so did a competing contractor) and assigned a different contractor to the job to replace ONLY the breaker per our warranty agreement.I have attached AVAILABLE NEW replacement breakers from 3 sources on the internet confirming that City First LIED to upsell a panel replacement -- totally unnecessary to replace the panel, and not approved by warranty -- therefore, they need to PURCHASE and REPLACE the breaker asap.House can catch fire with these types of issues -- the breaker gets VERY VERY HOT and smokes (you can smell burning).

  Business response

  08/29/2024

  We are assigned as a sub contractor from American Home Shield, and They didn't cover the customer's claim. The customer wanted us to replace the breaker but his Home warranty didn't cover his claim, and we are not allowed to do any repairs without getting an authorization from American Home Shield. The customer has the right to dispute his Home Warranty decision and request a second opinion.  

• Initial Complaint

  12/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On 12/14/22 the technician was sent out by American Home Warranty. On 12/15/22 I began getting emails saying the case was resolved and closed, when in fact it wasn't. I called they told me to call back they were waiting on the report. Today I called and my claim was denied saying I need to do all these upgrades totalling $8,500 when the technician said three of the breakers were bad. Mind you the tecnician took pictures of my appliances in my home without asking permission. He noted that I have several appliances one being a toater oven in my den yes its in my den because I can't and dont use it I have multiple appliances in my house but I don't use them all at once. One of the things that caused me to call was when I turned on my dryer while my oven( gas) was on and the lights in the back of the house went off . The only appliance that is plugged up 24 hours and used daily is my refrigerator. I dont run all appliances at once I would just like the basic repairs done Im not looking for a free upgrade. The entire report changed from the technicians converation. I have the estimate report and the pictures the tech took without permission and the report that he says all this stuff , but had he looked closely he would have noticed they don't be plugged in because I am aware and cautious of energy wasting

  Business response

  12/16/2022

  Received the work order number *********  from American Home Shield

  
  

  We visited the customer and found an electrical problem with the 20A breaker keeps on tripping and we found it's due to an overload by the family room receptacles, oven toaster, kitchen receptacles, microwave, washer and dryer all feeding from the same 20A circuit. The breaker tripped due to an overload when they used 2 appliances at the same time.

  
  

  The only solution is to add one 20 amp circuit for the microwave, and add another 20 amp circuit for the family room, and add two 20 amp circuits for the washer and gas dryer.

  
  

  The main panel is Federal Pacific100 amp and adding those Circuits will cause an overload and fire hazard, and need to upgrade the main panel to be able to add 4 circuits.

  
  

  Unfortunately the home warranty advice his claim is not covered due to the customer policy doesn't cover overload or upgarde .

• Initial Complaint

  07/30/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  in JUNE 2022, CITY FIRST ELECTRIC came to my address for a service request via AMERICAN HOME SHIELD. The request was for a tripped breaker. THE BREAKER WAS CONSTANTLY TRIPPING. The technician came to perform the repair but upon arrival did not perform any troubleshooting. The technician simply concluded that the solution was that I needed to replace the entire electrical panel and did not troubleshoot the cause of the tripped breaker. He then proceeded to give me a quote for replacing the entire panel through city first electric. The technician then reported that there was no failure and reported that to the home warranty company guaranteeing that my claim will be denied so they can proceed with me paying them directly for a service. If there was no failure? why did CITY FIRST ELECTRIC give me a quote for repairs?

  Business response

  08/04/2022

  We received work order number ********* from American home shield (home warranty) for miss ****-*** ******* for diagnostic Circuit breaker and fuses tripping, at the time of the service we didn’t find any breaker trips and as the customer advise us, her electrical panel is old (Brand: Zinsco) and she want the home warranty to replace it with new one, and also she requested to add:
  - Replace two ceiling fans and replace them with new dome lights provided by the customer, and replace one vanity light with a new one provided by the customer.
  - and run 220V circuit for the dryer, we will run the circuit from the panel to the outside patio
  - and run 120V circuit for the washer, we will run the circuit from the panel to the outside patio
  We requested an authorization from American home shield (home warranty ) and also advised them the electrical panel is Zinsco and has a recall by the manufacturer but the (home warranty ) advised us that  this is not covered under the customer’s policy.
  We provided an estimate and offered the customer the soonest availability, and the amount is $2500 which is the lowest price we can do, and we were not able to give her a discount, also wants the job to be completed the next day, which was not possible, and we apologized but she got mad.
  For your information there’s no electrical work provided for Miss ******* except the diagnosis and she has the right to ask for a second opinion from her Home Warranty.

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