December 11, 2003
Mr.Electric are some really, really sucky electricians
It pains me to write this — I’d like to put it all behind me, but I feel that the story needs to be out there to protect the innocent, electrician-needing public. We had a horrendous ordeal, an almost biblical trial, last week when we had the electricians over. What follows is actually the short, sanitized version…
Mr.Electric is an awful company
to do business with and we hate them.
The new box, having been straightened and braced.
From the beginning — We took quotes on getting the panel box brought inside and upgraded, and a line run for the dryer. It seemed a simple enough job, routine I would imagine. They were to do the job on a Monday. They showed up on time and got to work, two electricians in a Mr.Electric van. Their promptness that day, though, was deceptive. That first day they put the new box in, but didn’t actually do the switch over or run the line for the dryer. The job at that point, it seemed, was simply taking a bit longer than initially anticipated, no big deal.
Things started to go weird when they tried to put off finishing the job until the next Monday. At this point, we already had a big hole in the wall downstairs and no way to do laundry at home. We weren’t happy, we kvetched and the agreed to send a man out the next day — it was only a few hours work left to do anyway (so they said…).
Somehow, it took the man Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to get the box put in and the line run, all the while every day telling us that each particular day was the last day and that there were only 2 hours of work left. Every night, he did not finish and we had to call and complain to get him back out the next day.
Speaking of complaining — now some words about Donna, the beast that answers the phone: she is, without a doubt, the absolute worst person that we have ever dealt with on the phone anywhere for any reason. Calling after hours, the phone rings to her house. She will answer and then complain that she is at home and can’t really do much. Spending time on hold, there is a nice recording extolling the virtues of Mr.Electric’s 24-hour service technicians — she is apparently that person… When we called to complain that the technician had apparently done something that rendered our furnace inoperable, her response was to complain that her furnace needed work, too, and to offer that we should call back tomorrow.
Finally, Friday night the work was allegedly complete and he left. We were excited, until we discovered that the dryer outlet didn’t actually work, that the panel box had been put in crooked (off by an inch or so [ie obviously out]), and that the furnace now didn’t work. I had accepted that they had butchered the wall getting box in, as we are to drywall that one day anyway, but DAMN -the box was crooked, it was cold, and we still couldn’t do laundry…
Finally, on Saturday, another electrician came out and finished the box and wiring. My friend Scooter came over and straightened the box and did the carpentry to account for the wall stud that the electrician had cut, and at that point Monday’s work was done. We don’t know how this would’ve been handled if we’d had day jobs to go to everyday, or if we hadn’t been planning on pulling the plaster down on that wall.
My dad owns a Mr. Electric franchise and none of his guys ever did any thing like that. So like that other guy said its not the whole corp. its just that franchise.
It’s funny hearing people act surprised at the kind of work they get when they take the lowest bid.
I think Mr. Electric sucks. Generally, very few if any are electricians. They are “technicians” whatever that means.
Romex Racer - And that was hard for us when we first started this thing. How is one to know what is a reasonable quote for good service? Mr.Electric is listed with the Better Business Bureau, and in some businesses being part of a larger national organization means a degree of professionalism and better customer service.
We know better now! We’ve since found an electrician that we really like and trust (and pay a bit more for). All of our good contractor experiences have been with local companies or individuals, including our new electrician, the latest plumbing, the guy that refinished the floor, and the company that rebuilt our back porch.
First of all, It took you a week to discover that the box was crooked? Also, You didnt make sure the dryer worked before the tech left? C mon The estimate and invoice you agreed apon im sure stated that they are electricians not carpenters and should have estimated the job as such.
Y’all can stop trying to excuse these guys. It was a *terrible* experience, and the manager at the time basically said so. We’ve had a great electrician come in since and do a lot of work with us, so it isn’t like we just hate electricians. On the contrary, we have very high regard for all of the talented and hard-working contractors that have taken on the work around here (which does not include the turds from Mr.Electric).
Just came across this. Unbelievable.
Installing a box level is just workmanship. There is no need to call it something else.
If the “electricans” aren’t carpenters what are they doing cutting wall studs to install a panel?
Always stay local, it pays for itself.
Wow, just found this.
I had the same experience here in Freehold NJ so I guess it just might be a national thing, they all suck.
The outfit I used weren’t electricians, they were hacks and crooks.
I have been a union electrician for 31 years, it seems to me when you hire non-union this is what you get.
Not everyone is perfect….people mess up. There are other Mr. Electrics around the world that do not screw up alot. Sometimes they have ONE MINOR PROBLEM but not all the time. It affends the people that actually work for Mr. Electric and who work for them. I’d like to see you people do electrical work its hard stuff.
The only way to really install a panel is to cut threw the wall, thats part of the electricians job.
The outfit I used weren’t electricians, they were hacks and crooks. -THEY ARE NOT CROOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read about what the companies about then say what you think….I HATE YOU PEOPLE
I think that this has gotten as good as it is going to get, I’m going to close comments on this one. Thanks!