Business ProfileforBorn Electric Company
Current Alerts For This Business
In January 2023, BBB began investigating James Born and Born Electric after a consumer filed a BBB Scam Tracker report. The consumer hired Born after he found a Craigslist ad where Born claimed he was a licensed electrician with an A+ BBB rating. The consumer says Born was supposed to dig an outdoor trench between two electrical panels and lay wire for a total cost of $1800, work the state electrical board says requires a license. The consumer paid Born $900 upfront on day one of the job and then he and Born went to the store and bought the materials needed for the job. The consumer says he then dug the trench. In all he says Born spent three to four hours with him before leaving for the day. The consumer says Born did not return on the second day, citing an issue with his mother who Born says has dementia. The consumer says Born never returned to do any more work and refused to refund any money.
The consumer says he then discovered Born is not licensed to do electrical work in the state of North Carolina, despite his multiple Craigslist ads stating he is licensed. In addition, in August 2020, a judge permanently barred Born from doing electrical work on his own in the state until he received his electrical license. In addition, Born was been found in contempt of his Permanent Injunction Judgment on May 4, 2021 and ordered to pay a $500 fine. According to court records, Born installed electrical wiring in a residence in Thomasville in October 2020, 2 months after he was barred from doing such work.
BBB did speak with Born:
- He says he did $900 worth of work, including digging the trench himself - not the consumer.
When we asked him if he was a licensed electrician, he said, "I am. I work under a master electrician and I can pull permits." The head of the state electrical board, Tim Norman, says that is not correct. Norman also says he cannot advertise he is a licensed electrician unless he holds the license. - When we asked him about being barred from doing electrical work, he said he's allowed to work under a licensed electrician. He says he's working for Sunny Dayz Electric and Billy Peppers, Jr. out of Salisbury. Norman says Born would have to be a staff person of Sunny Dayz for that to be true. But it's a moot point because the state revoked Sunny Dayz license in September 2020. Born says he didn't know Peppers didn't have an active license.
- Born also stated he thought he had an A+ BBB rating. His company did until Born failed to respond to an April 2020 complaint where a consumer alleged he paid Born $5,000 for electrical work that he performed without pulling a permit and was not up to code. At the time, Born did not have an electrical contractors license. By failing to respond to the complaint, Born Electric's rating dropped to a C+. Born Electric now has an F rating because Born does not have an electrical license.
If Born has done any electrical work for you since August 2020, the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors asks you to file a complaint at https://arls-public.ncbeec.org/Complaint/New.
Additional business information
BBB promotes truth in advertising by contacting advertisers whose claims conflict with the BBB Code of Advertising. These claims may come to our attention from our internal review of advertising, consumer complaints and competitor challenges. BBB asks advertisers to prove their claims, change ads to make offers clearer to consumers, and remove misleading or deceptive statements.
On February 21, 2023, Better Business Bureau of Central and Northwest NC contacted the business regarding advertisements on their Craigslist ads stating:
- Licensed and insured
- Wiring heaters and air conditioners.
- Remodels, service changes, old work, new work, room additions, anything electrical you need done.
- A+ BBB
Basic Principles of the Code requires that advertisers should be prepared to substantiate any objective claims or offers made before publication or broadcast. Upon request, they should present such substantiation promptly to the advertising medium or BBB.
On February 26, 2023, the business responded to explain that the owner does not do any electrical work but directs customers to a licensed electrician. However, the NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors requires that anyone advertising electrical work be licensed by their board.
As of March 15, 2023, the business has removed the BBB rating claim, but has failed to substantiate, modify or discontinue the other claims.
At-a-glance
Related Categories
Business Details
- Location of This Business
- 524 Columbia Ave, Ramseur, NC 27316-9520
- BBB File Opened:
- 8/29/2019
- Alternate Business Name
- Born Electric and Cable
- Business Management
- Mr. James A Born, Owner
- Contact Information
Principal
- Mr. James A Born, Owner
Customer Contact
- Mr. James A Born, Owner
- Additional Contact Information
Phone Numbers
- (336) 964-2148Other Phone
- (336) 964-2148
Customer Complaints
0 Customer Complaints
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