Phase to Phase Electric review: Installation

Finding good handimen or subcontractors is hard today simply because so many professionals are so busy. I thought I found a good, skilled craftsman in Joel Gibb, until I received his bill.

I hired him to install two "can-style" lights on a porch, to install one new ceiling fan and to move one ceiling fan to another location (that had been prewired for a fan when the house was constructed a year ago). He quoted me $75 per fan and an hourly rate of $85 (after first hour at $125). I purchased the new fan and the lighting fixtures myself. He would need to provide electric cable for the porch lights (less than ten feet).

When he told me what the final cost was, it sounded a bit high. I paid and requested a detailed invoice. At first he questioned why, then sent the invoice. He charged me $65.71 over his other costs for "materials used". Even though the installation hardware for the fans and lights came with those items from the manufacturer, Joel determined he'd use his own and charged me for them. He billed $37.50 for less than ten feet of wire (Home Depot charges about 65 cents a foot. He charged $15 for connectors/wire nuts/ Romex/washers (even though those items came with the fans and lights). He did not have the right size cutting blade for the can lights (one of the costs of doing business), so he charged me $13.21 for that.

He ignored my request for a refund.

Be aware that he will tack on charges he might not mention up front.

It's a shame. I could use a good electrician from time to time, I have two or three other projects I could hire someone to do right now, but I won't use Phase to Phase because of this poor experience.