I just wanted to share our negative experience with "Friendly Electric Heating & Air" of Milltown, NJ.

 

Over the weekend, we started experiencing electrical issues in our home. We were seeing power fluctuations when using home appliances like our microwave, lights and fans. After turning off and powering back our circuit breaker, we saw that the problem persisted. We contacted Friendly Electric since they are a local business near our home.

 

A technician came in yesterday morning. After briefing him about the issues, he looked at the circuit breaker and our power cable outside. He went back to his truck for paperwork needed for the job. I'm assuming at this time that he has an idea on possible sources of the problem.

 

When the technician came back, he had a "contract" that indicated a service/diagnostic charge of $396. The technician explained that this entails opening the circuit breaker box and checking the wiring in the house. It also covers troubleshooting and diagnostics to trace the problem. He also mentioned that the cost will cover "minor" necessary repairs.

 

We signed the contract thinking that we need to get this done and avoid the danger of any electrical mishap.

 

After the paperwork was put away, the technician started looking at the main power cable outside again from the riser from our house to the connection to the post of JCP&L. Upon doing so, the technician probably realized that the problem was with that connection and nothing in our circuit breaker nor the electric network inside the house. The technician advised us to call JCP&L to look at the issue.

 

A JCP&L representative came immediately and confirmed the source of problem. He subsequently scheduled the needed repair.

 

Despite doing little in fixing the problem, the technician from Friendly Electric still billed us the $ 396 less ($16 discount) from the contract we signed. My wife asked the technician (and the company's office manager) to reconsider the cost that they were billing us but they would not budge.

 

In retrospect, my wife and I know that we should have done things differently. We should have called JCP&L first and asked "Friendly Electric" more questions about the contract before agreeing to the bill.

 

I guess I'm being optimistic in expecting companies to bill according to actual work done. Integrity seems severely missing with some companies out there. If you find one who do good work and are trustworthy, please promote them here or by word of mouth. You will be doing that company and a number of consumers a lot of good.

 

I apologize for the long rant but I hope in the future, this will save any of you guys money when you have work done for your home or property.

 

As for "Friendly Electric", I believe in Karma. They will get what they deserve sooner or later.

Report them to the BBB. You may even have been scammed (more than you know) in that he may have identified the problem BEFORE he had you sign the contract.

sorry about that bad experience. next time please send them away & get 2 or 3 more free quotes. it costs you nothing for them to drive over unless they say there's a fee over the phone...

By the way, the JCP&L guy that came agreed that the bill was "highway" robbery.

 

JCP&L actually does diagnostics of your circuit box and home electricals for $85 per visit. FYI to all of us not in the know.

Report them to the BBB. You may even have been scammed (more than you know) in that he may have identified the problem BEFORE he had you sign the contract.

 

That was what I was thinking as the guy spent some time looking at the electric post where our connection was before he prepared his paperwork.

 

My wife is handling BBB.

County consumer affairs gets results. contact them first with copies of bills, and cancelled check.

Also guys, if you know of good local businesses like plumbers, electricians, all-around repairmen, bakeshops (I love sweets) etc, please mention them here in the forum.

 

Let's support the good guys!!!

you should let them know that since they ripped you off you are going to use every social media outlet possible to warn others about their "service". I know I won't be using them thanks to your post. thanks for the warning.

as a contractor I can tell you, you got hosed. In nj you have 3 days to cancel any contract.

I am a fan of using credit cards for things like this. This way if I got hosed, I can also fight the bill through the credit card agency. There is a lot of good info in this thread.

 

btw, how long did the contract go for? Was it for that day only or a yearlyy contract?

I am a fan of using credit cards for things like this. This way if I got hosed, I can also fight the bill through the credit card agency. There is a lot of good info in this thread.

 

btw, how long did the contract go for? Was it for that day only or a yearlyy contract?

 

for this visit

wow, that is crazy. I would definitely put a stop to it somehow by canceling the check etc....

Report them on Angie's list! People use this site diligently and this will also ensure people realize how they conduct their business.. Definitely recommend BBB also!

Was an electrician for 8 years before moving to bigger things. Had calls like these all the time. Flat hourly rate and materials is what you paid. An if I fixed your problem quickly and easily I'd usually call and ask to just charge for a half hour and not mention the parts. Hope you get results

Call the company and explain the situation. Tell them you'll pay $100 for the visit and diagnosis and if they want the rest of the money, they're going to be spending a long time trying to get it.

 

If you paid by a credit card, immediately get on the horn with them. If a check, stop payment. If you're waiting for a bill, don't pay it. If they persist in the bill, report it to the BBB and other places, document this and keep it on record. You can preemptively contact the credit bureaus and get this information on file so it doesn't ding your credit.

 

I've found that you NEVER get what you're due if you don't ****, complain and fight. If you try to be nice about something, they'll run over you.

I almost had a problem with the whole contract thing with Gold Medal Contractors. I was having a bathroom remodeled and needed a plumber to do the supply line/drain hook up. The bathtub was already in place, plumbed and ready to go. All I needed was the hookup. They gave me a humongous quote, which even if the rest of the workl wasnt already done, was insane. It was a few thousand dollars. and they also wanted to sell me a service contract , not only for plumbing, but also electric , Hvac and every other service they do. I told them no thanks, and sent them on their way. Called a local plumber and got the hookup for maybe $200....

I almost had a problem with the whole contract thing with Gold Medal Contractors. I was having a bathroom remodeled and needed a plumber to do the supply line/drain hook up. The bathtub was already in place, plumbed and ready to go. All I needed was the hookup. They gave me a humongous quote, which even if the rest of the workl wasnt already done, was insane. It was a few thousand dollars. and they also wanted to sell me a service contract , not only for plumbing, but also electric , Hvac and every other service they do. I told them no thanks, and sent them on their way. Called a local plumber and got the hookup for maybe $200....

Gold Medal comes up quite a bit in complaints,apparently the plumbers and electricians are in effect working on commission and are encouraged to run up estimates because they get a % of the total and rumored to earn half of any service contract for the life of the contract. Avoid them like the plague.

I almost had a problem with the whole contract thing with Gold Medal Contractors. I was having a bathroom remodeled and needed a plumber to do the supply line/drain hook up. The bathtub was already in place, plumbed and ready to go. All I needed was the hookup. They gave me a humongous quote, which even if the rest of the workl wasnt already done, was insane. It was a few thousand dollars. and they also wanted to sell me a service contract , not only for plumbing, but also electric , Hvac and every other service they do. I told them no thanks, and sent them on their way. Called a local plumber and got the hookup for maybe $200....

 

Had a bad experience with Gold Medal as well. Furnace was broken, guy came out and started quoting me step by step with no guarantee. Stopped it , otherwise his plan was to run me up for 650$ and then suggest me that my furnace needed replacement.

Avoid at all costs.....

 

Frankly Sears did a much better job with this problem for a few hundred bux....

 

 

To the OP,

Fight them tooth and nail.

 

Many of these guys look at their contracting license as a license to steal.............and they ruin it for the rest of the good and hardworking professionals in this field.

Dam... I wouldnt do that to one of my customers (new or repeat). I cant tell you how many times I told someone to cal JCP&L or PSE&G because that is where their problem was. I usually cherge someone $20 fur me to get lunch when this happens. You most likely had a bad connection on the neutral that can be figured out pretty quick,

Next time, call me.

Ken

I am a fan of using credit cards for things like this. This way if I got hosed, I can also fight the bill through the credit card agency. There is a lot of good info in this thread.

 

btw, how long did the contract go for? Was it for that day only or a yearlyy contract?

 

I agree. If you pay by credit card, and you have a problem, you simply call the credit card company, dispute the charge and they will likely reverse the charge. That way, the friendly electric company would be forced to take you to court if they wanted to screw you.