Universal Power and Electric, Inc.

Hired this company to replace a deteriorating electrical supply cable from DTE supply line to the electric meter and from the meter to the power panel. For 20 feet cable, I was charged $1000! But this complaint is not about the price. Since this is a rental property, I have to claim expenses for this service when filing tax return. Per the tax law, the contractor must complete and return a W-9 form, and I must issue them a 1099 form. When I requested such a W-9, this company refused! Dawn, their office representative, called me and said they would not issue W-9 unless I paid first. I said the law says, for any payment above $600 they should issue a W-9, but she said they do not have to. She said probably I could not afford this bill and wanted to avoid payment, in order to insult me. Then she threatened to place a lien on my property, thou I repeatedly told her I was not trying to avoid the bill. The company did make attempt to initiate the lien process, but failed to achieve any progess. After a month has passed, a different office girl from this company contacted me and emailed me their completed W-9, so I agreed to pay them the whole amount with my Visa. What a hassle for such a small matter! This company were either ignorant about the IRS rules or were attempting to to avoid paying income tax. Basically, they were trying to to break the law!