B & C Electric

I bought an Angie's list Big Deal. A week or so later, I got an email from them, asking what I needed done so they could schedule the time. Heard nothing for a couple of months. After inquiring, I got a message that they were cancelling my Big Deal and refunding my money. I guess they got a much greater response than they anticipated!

I had a light fixture in the ceiling (track lighting from lowes) that did not work. It worked for about 1 yr and subsequentily did not. I did some basic work, light check the circuit breaker and such and did not find what the problem was. The electrician was prompt and scheduled us in fairly quickly. He ezamined the light and said that the number of lights we had on the track was over loading the transformer in the track. He took off 3 of the lights that we had so instead of 7 lights we now were left with 4. The loading on the track says that it is capable of handling all 7 but this was the electricians explaination. 2.5 months later the light went out again... needless to say i was frustrated. I called the light manufacturer and we trouble shot a few of the issues over the phone. Since i installed the track myself he asked if i had changed the switch to a low voltage electronic light switch. Well another trip to lowes and 20 min later the problem is solved. But i still think that a licensed electrician should have know to check my switch.

Fine. Timely, efficient. Looked for additional things to do since I didn't use the full 2 hours. Provided quotes for additional work. I have not gotten around to additional work but would use him if I do.

Based on a recommendation from a neighbor, I called Peter late one evening when the main breaker blew (not just tripped) in the midst of some A/C compressor issues. We talked through the situation and Peter agreed to come out the next morning (Saturday). On site, Peter assessed the situation and suggested the best course of action we desired which was to replace the entire questionable panel. Peter located a panel which would fit the non-standard size and also provide upgraded safety features. The work was done well and in a timely manner. I would definitely call Peter again for electrical work.

Overall, it ended better than it started.

I am a general contractor and have had a house that we renovated a few years ago using another electrician. At that time because of cost we decided not to install new lighting in the existing living room ceiling because of the high cost of adding lighting in a ceiling with a second story on top and not wanting to get into sheetrock repairs which will increase the price even more. After having the house on the market for a while and rented for a couple of years we decided to bite the bullet and spend the money to add the lighting so we can meet the customers’ expectations to sell the house. We asked Peter with B&C Electric to come in and give us an estimate and we were amazed at how inexpensive and clean he was able to do the job not causing any sheetrock damage. He was able to magically fish the wires using long extension drill bits and snake camera and install 6 new can lights, install 3 way dimmers and replace the trim on a couple of the existing can lights that were already there. He finished the job in one day and left the house as clean as it was when he came in using plastic to cover up the new carpet. I would recommend him to anyone needing any of his services; new lighting, outlets, ceiling fans, switches, dimmers, GFCI's, AFCI's, panel box replacements or upgrade of service.

They were on-time, work done quickly.

This job, as well as the other two that I hired Peter to do the work, have all three been a smooth and pleasant experience. Peter's attention to detail, along with his knowledge and experience, have enhanced all three of the jobs. Add to that the professionalism that he exhibits during and after the jobs, only makes me want to tell other prospective customers about Peter, and his company, B & C Electric. My experience with Peter has driven me to take the time to sit down and write a recommendation, so that others will know about him, and feel confident enough to call him for your next work.

I'm a general contractor for Austin Stordahl properties and used Peter with B&C electric the first time on my 3rd total remodel house on Alancrest. He came highly recommended by our realtor and his quote was significantly lower than the other 2 electricians. He rewired the entire house, installed a new panel box and I and the city inspector were pleased. Peter has a high respect for safety and perfection. He is very professional and reasonably priced. He finished the house and the house sold. Reading this one customer's review, I can't believe what she's saying and I totally disagree. This seems to be one of those customers that no one can please. Dealing with subcontractors regularly I find his charges very reasonable. He is honest, professional, caring and has always kept his composure throughout every job he did for me over the past 3 years. I would recommend him to anybody. Overall it went very well and I am well pleased and would use and recommend B&C electric to any contractor and homeowner.

From beginning through completion, Peter was and is the consummate professional. He knows what to do and takes the time to do it correctly and safely. Peter does not get in a hurry to finish the work because he KNOWS how truly important his work affects my house, surroundings, and my personal security. I highly recommend Peter to anyone wanting their electrical work done correctly to code, efficiently, and reasonably.

VERY VERY BADLY BOTH TIMES, I preface this by saying that someone in your office just told me that Peter's electrical license expired Aug 7th, 2012 3 days before he came out here this past Sat. All electricity went out about noon today-8.11.2012. I called Peter & told him this & asked him if he could/would come over & figure out if he could get my power back on, as I seemed to be the only one around me without power & we were melting. He told me he would come over in 30 mins. to 1 hr. It took him about an hr.+ to get here. When he arrived he asked where the meter was. I told him it was in my duplex neighbor?s side yard. He went to the meter, flipped a switch, my power came back on & his job was done. I started to write him a check for the agreed upon amount of $150.00, ($75.00 for his trip fee + $75.00 for the 5 mins. of ?work?). He told me he wanted $225.00. I should say I would NEVER have called him after having an almost identical experience with him a couple wks. before on 7/25, but I had gotten his name from Angie?s List 7/25 it was already afternoon,. outrageously hot & I had no back up electrician. I also have never owned a cell phone or I Pad, & no power, no use of my landline phone, internet so I had no way to look at Angie?s List to find a different electrician. While he had behaved very inappropriately, (argued & threatened me), on July 25 when he came out to repair a wall outlet & the switch for a porch light, he had also admitted that he had a short fuse, hot temper & anger issues & told em he shouldn?t have argued 7 threatened me so I was giving him the benefit of the doubt. BIG MISTAKE.. It took him about an hour to make the repairs max 1 hr. & 20-30 mins.(+ 20 mins. of him running his mouth & con on me) on July 25th. Though we had agreed on $150.00, before he started the work, when I started writing out the check in that amount, he tried to convince me I owed him a whole lot more. When it was apparent that he couldn?t run his scam on me, he threatened me, there was no way to shut him up. he argued on & on & when I tried to throw him out of my house he wouldn't leave until I promised him I would write a good review for him on Angie's List. I told him I would just to get him out of my home. The repair on the outlet & the switch on the porch light that he repaired that day, were neither difficult to perform, nor time consuming. Unfortunately for him, I have a memory like a steel trap & was able to quote back to him all the different stories he told me verbatim. Though it was clear that his words coming back at him from me, were familiar to him, he didn?t let the truth deter him. He tried to double charge me again today, 8/11 argued with me until I threw him out & threatened to ruin my business. He told me that he "has 4 children to support." Which I?m pretty sure is not true. After having 2 very similar experiences I now believe he is intentionally vague, misleading & outright deceptive, when he comes to his rates & fees & he intentionally mislead/mis-communicated about his rates & fees several times, in a short period of time. The afternoon of 8/11, I told him that he was a master manipulator, deceitful, that he conducted himself like a spoiled 2 year old & I?d never seen anyone conduct himself or his business so unprofessionally in 6 decades. I told him that, this time I was going to file a truthful & detailed report on Angie?s List site about both of hIs service calls to my residence in the past 2 wks., He threatened to ruin my business. WHAT? Who does this? So I threw him out of my house again on 8/11. WITH THE FULL PAYMENT,( $150.00- which is what we agreed to on 7/25 & again on 8/11), IN HIS HAND, he told me that he was calling the police. I took him at his word, because he was pretending to talk to the police as he walked down my walk way. Not having any idea what he might do next, I called the police & told the dispatcher what had happened here -a bizarre story about this electrician, who, though paid in full, threatened to ruin my life & my business & then with calling the police. The dispatcher asked for a description of what he was wearing & driving, so the officers who came to take the report, took his full name, company name, address, both phone #'s his truck license & electrical license. Though I had repeatedly told him to get off my/our property & though he has told me, a dozen times, in 2 visits, how much his time is worth, he sat in his truck for 15-20 mins. & just as I hung up from talking to police dispatch, he had made his way to my duplex neighbor's porch. I guess he was going to ask if he could go through her home to her back yard to throw the switch on my meter back to off. When he was demanding more money, I asked him why, in several phone conversations on 8/11, over the course of an hour or more,. before he came, he never mention that he was going to double or triple charge me? (for 5 minutes of work). He told me it wasn?t his responsibility to inform his customers of his rates. It was my fault that I didn't ask. I explained to him that, it would never occur to me to tell my clients that it's their job to do my job or their job to ask what I charge. 100% of the time it's the service man's job to disclose how & what they charge, for what, BEFORE they start. I told him that every plumber, a/c repairman, & all other professional workmen, including ALL car mechanics, tell their customers what & how they charge upfront, & then ask if we/I want them to do the work at that price. In over 40 years, none of them have ever given me one price or rate & then tried to double or triple charge me for their work, especially when the work consisted of throwing a switch on a meter. Had he told me, as professionals always do, when I initially called him, (or any of the 4 times we spoke after that, before he drove over here), that he was going to double or triple his rates, I would have thanked him & told him I didn't need his services. I then would have gotten a neighbor or friend to refer their electrician to me & asked them to come help me. I would have found a more reasonable person AND a more honest, & straight forward electrician to do the work for a more reasonable price. Since he didn't tell me any differently in conversations before or after he came & since he'd been here 2 wks. before & told me what he charged for a trip & 1 hour of work, & he was unsuccessful in overcharging me that day, I didn't think he was going to try to do it again. I told him that I have enjoyed immense success in my business for 2 + decades, as well as a sterling reputation far & wide & I haven't enjoyed this level of success by arguing with clients until they threw me out of their office, nor by trying to rip them off & threatening to destroy them/their business, just because I wasn't able to fleece or force them to pay more than they owed. Who on Angie's List (or not on your list), behaves like this? At my age, I thought I'd seen & heard most everything, but I have never run across a contractor who behaves as unprofessionally, who was as argumentative, presumptuous manipulative & deceitful with me as he has been both times about his charges. If it?s true that his electrical license expired 8/7/2012, as I was told it was by TX License & Enforcement today... Update 8/29/12: question I asked was if he had called them & the dispatcher told me 3 or 4 times, after checking that he had not called them. Another lie. Apparently he actually doesn't know how to tell the truth. He is a desperate, psychopathic liar & will do or say ANYTHING to make more than is fair or that he told you he would charge on a job & or to try to convince you that he isn't the scam artist he is. There are dozens of reputable electricians on AL. There were several other lies in the rebuttal tale he manufactured. I have reported him to the State Licensing & Enforcement Board as well as the BBB. This has taken lots of my precious time. With 35 yrs. of renovation/ new construction that I've done on every home I've owned, I have never reported a workman, of any kind, to the State, the BBB or Angie's List & I'm almost a SR. citizen. Since I've had the same neighbors for the 12 yrs. I've lived in my home, & my neighbors know & see that I employ the same helpers/professionals year after year, I'm confident they know that I pay everyone what they ask for or more, because if I didn't none of them would come back a second time let alone week in & week out for YEARS. I have now & have always had extremely loyal workers.

I was purchasing a new home and needed estimates on several items the inspector had found, one of which was the old Federal Pacific breaker box. I contacted several electricians to get estimates and of the three, Peter was the only one who checked the house top to bottom and gave a thorough report of all that he found. He put together a complete estimate and emailed it to me before he left. The job was 2 full days of work and Peter walked me through all that was done each day. I was impressed by just how thorough he was! I would definitely recommend him.

Changed Peter was able to fit us in on very short notice to install an outlet for our washing machine that was to be installed the following day. While he was at our home he also discovered that 2 of the breakers in the circuit breaker box were installed incorrectly. He also figured out that a ceiling fan that we thought we needed a light kit for already HAD the kit installed, we just need a glass globe for it and he told us w few places we could look for the right one. He was courteous, professional and very helpful. We will be using him again this week to install some new lighting and possibly to run a 220 line out to the garage. Very pleased!

I was one of the early reviewers of Peter's work (1/23/11). I was delighted with his workmanship and work ethic then, so I was glad not to have to search for an electrician when the present problem came up. I think it's important to note that the fact that safety is so important to Peter doesn't mean that you pay extra for it. Peter's expertise in the systems he works on and his intense focus on the work being done allow him to accomplish a great deal for, as others have pointed out, a very fair price. On the present job, to accommodate both my schedule and his, work took place on a couple of evenings a couple of weeks apart. Substantive repairs were done the first time he came; more cosmetic matters waited till my return to Dallas.

We knew we needed to replace the old Federal Pacific panel on our 1953 home when we bought it in 1984, but other projects always got in the way. When we finally decided to bite the bullet and do the job, we got four or five estimates. Peter's was least expensive to do the job correctly, complete with proper permitting. He arrived early on Wednesday morning, just after 7 a.m. on a 100 degree day, installed the outside pole, meter, and cutoff before cutting the main power to the house so that we would be without power for a shorter time, and worked until after 7 p.m. until he got all of the circuits re-attached to the new panel and got us a temporary connection at the meter so that we wouldn't have to spend a night in the dark and the heat. He came back the next morning, finished some details and installed our new wall outlets inside and out, and met with the city inspector to get the green tag. He did all of the work himself, without any journeymen or "helpers" with less experience, which was important to us because our house is old and eccentric. Oncor got out the next morning and made the permanent connection, and we have a nice new panel in place, on schedule and for the quoted price.

On June 12th, I received an e-mail thanking for my purchase and requesting some information in regards to the my project so that he could be ready for it. I responded to his e-mail on June 13th, answered all of his questions and asked him to schedule the project for the week of July 16th. He wouldn't give me any specifics on when he would be able to perform the work. I was told that he would have to wait until he received more jobs in my area to make it worth his while to come out, blamed me for not having the supplies and not being accommodating to him. I provided over a month of notice for when I wanted to schedule the work. I have tried to get in touch with him to schedule a firm date and time so I can be home from work but he never accommodated me. I emailed him on July 18th explaining that I hadn't heard back from him. I emailed again on July 20th after no response expressing my disappointment and asked for a refund. He responded back to me saying that he was very busy with more critical issues and that I would need to get in touch with Angie's List to get the refund.

I contacted four separate electrical contractors to get bids on the same job. One wouldn't talk to me without sending a technician out to do a service call (they were immediately discounted). Milestone electric and Caddell electric called back and set up a prompt consult. Milestone electric estimated the job at approx $9,000-$12,000, for example; they listed a $240 fee for labeling the new junction box. I am not an electrician but that is pretty out there. Caddell electric estimated the cost at around $5,000-$6000 and I couldn't identify any really egregious fees or unnecessary work on the estimate. I was going to go with Caddell until I talked with Peter Bistrian at B&C electric. He seemed very likable and knowledgeable and was very receptive to getting done what I needed. More importantly, he worked with me on the cost per outlet that was well below the cost of even the next best estimate (Peter absolutely killed Milestone).Peter contacted me promptly and started work almost immediately. I was shown every receipt for parts and equipment and extra parts were returned and the money was deducted from my bill. Although Peter had other jobs, he took extra time and made sure I was satisfied with his work. The work was completed in a timely manner and the inspection was uneventful.Peter came back after the work had been completed and double checked that every thing was in working order and that I was happy with the service. I ended up spending approx $5000 (after some additional work was requested) and feel as though my money was well spent. Peter is a trustworthy source for electrical work and would recommend him without reservation. ** Added information from spouse: Peter stayed late on two different nights to get this big job done. He was polite and courteous. We have three children at home, one an infant. On the first night Peter went through the house and made sure all of the outlets were properly "put up" for the evening and everything was safe and secure for the children. He also asked specifically which outlets I needed to operate in the morning for our kitchen and bathroom needs. He made sure to get those done before he left, so I could get the family breakfast, etc. He also made sure to get the ceiling fan and outlets done in the baby's room, so that I could get it all put back together before bedtime. Our old house had a lot of electrical quirks. Peter fixed all of the little (and big) things that had been annoying me for years. Our aluminum wiring electrical system from the 1970s couldn't handle the pull from the modern appliances. The upgrade on the panel fixed quite a bit of the problems. He even traced some wires through our attic and found (and showed my husband) a couple of places that hadn't been wired properly and had sparked a bit. Now we are up to date with new electrical codes, all of the outlets have the new child safety plugs, and most importantly, every single switch and outlet work!

Peter did exactly what he promised and then some. even fixed a ceiling fan that was not part of bid as well as a light switch that had been upside down for more than 20 years

Our experience with B&C Electric was wonderful. The work was done in a professional and timely manner, and Peter made a number of very helpful recommendations-- many of which were for things that he would not profit from but that would improve our house. For example, on the first day that he was at our house, I mentioned that I wished our kitchen was a bit brighter. He told us about a certain sort of light bulb that would help with this, and on the second day that he came to our house, he brought one for us to try. He also went above and beyond when he noticed that the board to our crawlspace did not fit in the hole properly. He sawed off one of the edges so that it would fit-- this was certainly not something he needed to do, but it was much appreciated! He was friendly, helpful, and prompt, and his pricing was very fair. We would definitely call him again if we had any electrical needs.

It went very well. He was courteous, and very pleasant to work with. The job was well done and he removed all debris before leaving. Will use this company again!

Peter is young, fast, friendly and professional. In the alloted 2 hours for the Big deal, he replaced a light fixture on my 12ft ceiling, replaced a light fixture outside my back door. He replaced a flickering and overheating ceiling spot light (again on a 12 ft ceiling) with an LED light with dimmer and trouble shooted a flickering accent light making it easier to gain access to it using a wireless switch. I was able to run to Lowes to get the LED and wireless switch, Peter even spoke to the Lowes employee to make sure I got the correct items. If this wasn't enough, he also found the time to fix a cabinet door which dropped off it's hinges about 1 yr ago and for which my handyman was going to charge at last $25. I do not live in Peter's regular service area, but would definitely recommend him to anyone who does. He is able to do twice as much as an average electrician in the same time.

The electrician had an appointment that was running late and he called me immediately. He gave me the choice of when he came, either later that day or to reschedule. He was extremely professional is his behavior and keeping me informed. Once he arrived, I had not identifed 2 hours of work for him so he checked some electrical boxes around the pool that I had concern about it. He found that I had a CFI box that was not functioning as well as a box that didn't have electricity to it all all. He installed the proper equipment. There was a small additional cost for parts and he made sure that I was aware of and approved the cost prior to doing the work. He also confirmed that I need a new fuse box and gave me a quote to have that replaced. As soon as I get the funds for that, I will use him to replace the entire fuse box.

First and foremost, I owe Peter a tremendous apology. This review is long overdue. I ordered two hours of electrical service through a special promotional email from Angie's List for $125. I placed the order in the afternoon on Friday, May 25, 2012 and Peter responded early that evening. He asked about the issues I was having and I replied the overhead light in the powder room had not worked since I had new energy-efficient bulbs installed in the chandelier and an electrical outlet in the garage did not work properly. Normally, I would not care but as it turns out the sprinkler system was plugged in to the non-working outlet and apparently it had not worked in months. As a result the ground around the yard began to show signs of dehydration. Peter said even though it was Memorial Day weekend, he would be happy to stop by the next day (Saturday) if I was available. I agreed and sure enough he called the next day to provide me with an estimated time of arrival. When Peter arrived, he was courteous and was ready to tackle any problem. He is a master electrician and I could not have been more fortunate. As I showed him the two projects, he asked relevant questions about the length of time since each problem last worked properly and thoughtfully considered the options. The first assignment was the garage, and it was the easy part. Apparently, another outlet had tripped, and once we located it we were back in business. Peter also surveyed the garage for other issues he saw and made suggestions on how to repair them myself in a cost-effective manner. The next problem was the light fixture. As he examined the light fixture, he explained what he was doing step-by-step so I could be part of the process. As it turns out there are prongs/contacts in the bottom of each socket and they were not long enough to reach the bottom of the new and improved, energy-efficient light bulbs. This caused the thing not to work. Peter was patient and deliberate. I would say he was a true professional. This was my first experience with Angie's List, and I cannot wait to try another service. Thank you for all the positive reviews other readers had posted about Peter and B&C Electric. You could not have been more spot-on. Should I have any electrical issues in the future, I will not hesitate to call Peter! He is fantastic!

Peter called and explained that he would schedule my appointment when he had other customers in this area. I gave him my schedule and he made the appointment that was convenient for both of us. He arrived at the appointed time, and proceeded to evaluate the situation as I described above. We agreed on the work priorities and he began to tackle each job quickly and efficiently. He seemed to be very confident and conscientious. I really appreciated his proactive approach. Even though I hadn't mentioned the 3 way switch problem, he insisted that he should check it out for safety. I am very pleased with his work and will definitely recommend him to others.

Peter does not state what counties he serves in his Angie's List profile, so I wanted to get all the items I purchased in his $125 offer for a house I am rehabitating in Lewisville. He did not deliver! He did not provide the "free panel tune up". He called me the day after the order saying it was a long way for him to drive to do a job in Lewisville. He also told me that he has to pay 40% commission to Angies List and that "this is a better deal for you than it is for me". I call that extremely unprofessional. However, I was cordial with him, just so I could get some electrical work done for which I'd already paid. Peter emailed me at 10:40 at night wanting to schedule me the next day, when he had other jobs in the region. Next day he called me while I was busy in Plano and wanted me to head over to the Lewisville house because he was finishing up a job in Irving. I did so as I was wanting the work done soon, but a little more warning would have been nice.He only spent an hour and 20 minutes at my house, instead of the 2 hours I purchased. Basically, his promotion and the way he runs his business is totally unprofessional. He did not deliver on his promise of 2 hours and a free panel tune up. Peter was arrogant, spent 80% of the time on the phone, while working. Even if he were the most qualified electrician to live, his selfishness, arrogance, complaints about most everything and basic unethical behavior will keep me from ever using him again. He asked over & over for me to give him a good review on Angie's List. I'm just surprised he has good reviews. I just hope he does not retaliate with me about this accurate review.