JKM ELECTRIC INC

Very Unprofessional in the way they conduct business. The quality of the work appears good, but I was charged double what they told me it would cost to do the job. Here is an excerpt from our e-mail correspondence this morning when he sent me an invoice for double what he told me it would cost. The worker that actually did the work was fine, but the owner is a different story. Well it appears we don't see eye to eye Jon. You have received the detail/break down your going to get from me. Just to high light a couple things. You keep making reference, that Mick was there just 12 hours? He drove to your house in Frederick twice, that take time. He did show up with material, that takes time Jon. The next day he showed up with what he needed to finish, that take time. Some of the materials I got from my warehouse. These were bought years ago and have been waiting for a project, I don't have a receipt for them. I NEVER told you I would provide an estimate, I told you it should take a day, it took two. It takes time to do thing right! He fixed your GD GFCI from the mice eating your cable. I'm an easy going guy and thought the same of you, I'll take responsibility for that. I do this for a living, the work we performed is worthy of the price. Monday morning quarterbacking tells me anyone could have done this cheaper. As far as the permit, there is a fee for us to pull permit, it takes time for someone to drive to Frederick and back to pull-it. Jim (JKM) On January 12, 2017 at 12:58 PM XXXXX@.com wrote: Jim, My initial e-mail simply asked for an itemized invoice, and an explanation for why my bill was double what you had expressed to me in a verbal contract. At no time have I criticized the quality of the work done. In fact, I relayed to you the compliment that the county inspector told me regarding the work performed. "Now your going to show a lack of respect to the quality and trust we have provided you." is what you said to me when I asked you to clarify the charges and provide me with an itemized invoice. You gave me a verbal quote for installing a manual disconnect and plug to connect my portable generator to my house electrical system. After our first conversation, you told me that you could not give me a more precise estimate without coming to my house. You asked me to send you pictures of what was at my house which I did (12/27/2016). You made an appointment to come to my house to prepare an estimate. You did not show up or even notify me by phone or e-mail that no one would be coming to my house. I sat at home all day waiting for someone from your company to arrive for our appointment, no one arrived. An appointment was made for JKM to come out and do the work for the solar connection on December 29, 2016. You postponed the work at my house so you could complete your more profitable WMATA job that you were working on. I had asked you initially, and again when you came with Mick, for a written estimate. When you came with Mick on January 9, 2017, I asked you again to provide me a written cost and you told me that you would prepare that while Mick worked on the line side connection for the Solar, before beginning with the generator connection. You did not provide that to me. You told me that you did quality work and that it would be reasonable. At no time did you provide me with any updates or indication that it would cost more than what you had verbally told me. If I had known at the beginning that the work would cost me close to $3,000, I would not have had the work done. I understand you are a Union shop, and as a result the going rate is $100 per hour. Mick was here for 12 hours (0800-1400 on 2 days) working on the generator connections. That would total $1,200 not $1,500. Per the Frederick County MD website, the cost of a residential electrical permit, "Minor Electrical Permit" requiring only 1 inspection is $46. Printed on the permit that you sent to me it indicates you paid $56 for the permit, yet you are charging me $350 for the same permit. I have already told Chris that you have charged me double what you told me it would cost. I will be sure to tell anyone that is considering doing work with JKM to not do ANY work, until you have a written contract. I will be reviewing JKM to indicate that the quality of work is good but the cost can not be relied on. I have verified that normal generator hook ups by a qualified electrician should run between $500-$1,000 for up to a 10 Kw system. You are correct in that your company did perform the work for what was asked. I should not have allowed you to begin the job without a written estimate for the work performed. I am at fault for that. I am still asking for an itemized invoice to include all the parts that were paid for, a breakdown of your overhead, hours worked, and a copy of the receipt for the county permit/inspection. These will be needed for insurance and tax purposes. I will pay your invoice in full, even though I think it is excessive, once I receive my itemized invoice. I have no complaints about Mick or the work he performed. He was polite and professional.