ComplaintsforSampson Electric, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  04/06/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Prior to the house call we spoke with Kevin Sampson about the electrical issue in detail at our house. On Friday March 31 two men from Sampson Electric came to our house to look at our electric box due to an outlet that was not working and a stove issue and soon found that [2] breakers had to be split due to the way our generator was installed. A basic electrical problem. The stove was quickly determined as a separate/non electric unit related issue. We were billed for 3 hours worth of work by two men. One of the men is a licensed certified electrician--the second person on the job was the electrician's son-not licensed. This second person did nothing at my home, I observed this. The electrician and his son were present in my home for no more than a total of 90 minutes and the entire endeavor was billed at 3 hours. They did not come to my house prepared. They arrived at 8:30 and left around 9:00 to get parts, returning around 10:15/10:30. They drove to ** ********* and **** ***** to get the parts. They were gone for over 1 hour-although Kevin disputes this and told me they were gone for 47 minutes-if you do the time/mileage on this to the actual shops does not compute and it is unfair to charge for this on this small a job. We were charged $185 per hour, for 3 hours worth of Labor by two men, including the time they had to go and get parts. We believe the ultimate price is "padded" and unfair to consumers. The amount of labor actually completed does not match the manpower sent, nor the hours billed. It is unfair and predatory. We were not given any sort of quote whatsoever before the work was started. We believe it to be an unfair practice to charge customers to drive around and get basic supplies/parts, to bill for 2 electricians for a one person job. We were shown a rate card by Kevin when I complained, and A single man is billed at $155 an hour and $100 each hour thereafter. We were charged $555 for labor and 79.98 for parts a total of 626.98.

  

  Business response

  04/06/2023

  Customer called in stating he had multiple tripping issues throughout house to include: using a vacuum and a blow dryer tripping the circuit- a stove tripping out when used.  We did not know why this was happening but, suspected overloaded circuit which would be running new lines to affected areas. 

  I sent a licensed E1 electrician and a registered electrical apprentice to the job on Wednesday March 29th.  The electrician, while on-site discovered multiple breakers were double tapped where customer was having issues.  We did not have the breakers needed on the van.  They went to pick up these breakers at **** ***** but they did not have enough or were out of stock.  They then headed to a different supply house for the remaining supplies and returned to site and installed breakers and tested and wrote up job on site.

  Customer called saying no issues with service but was upset about cost. Had several phone conversations with customer and supplied him with coupon offer to deduct $50.00. 

  We arrived on site at 8:18AM and completed job at 11:22AM per GPS report.

  Customer states we showed him a rate of $155 an hour which is a 1 man rate. A  2 men is $230 for first hour and $190 for each additional which would bring labor to $610.   He was billed $555.

  Our trucks normally go out with an electrician and an apprentice. Customer was charged BELOW our normal rates. 

  Customer also did not ask for a free estimate for job, he wanted a service call only. 

  Customer response

  04/10/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: claiming cost of two man crew for labor and charging labor for driving around for over 1 hour to pick up parts
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** *******

  

  Business response

  04/11/2023

  Per State of CT, no apprentice can be left alone on a job site doing any type of work.  They are required to have a licensed electrician with him at all times.

  The custmer did not know what the issues were at the time of his call. 

  Was it a wire burning in wall? Was a new wire needed to be pulled in? No one knows the issues until we assess and find out what is going on. 

  The guys do not get paid less money per hour getting materials.  We have to find the problem and solve it.  This includes getting materials once we know what is needed.  All work is done under our hourly rate for that residential customer or business customer.

  All vans are on GPS system and no other stops were made besides going to get this customers materials.  I have already discounted the labor, no further credit will be given. 

  Customer response

  04/12/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: we were charged 2 man rate for 1 licensed electrician. We were charged at least an additional hour for 2 men driving to pick up parts.  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** *******

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