INTEGRITY ELECTRIC INC

At time of initial onsite visit to discuss project and receive a verbal estimate, we were told that it would cost around $500 to install rope lighting on our brick patio and that they would provide a written estimate prior to the commencement of the work. When their office called to schedule the project, we asked for a written proposal. They said one would be sent. However, when their crew came to do the work we had still not received a written estimate. We asked them about this and they told us that they only do the work and we would need to contact the office. In good faith (and, in hind sight, regretful naivity!) we allowed the work to be done. The next week we received an invoice for roughly $1,200, which exceeded the verbal estimate by $700! The invoice contained no detailed breakdown of labor and parts. We sent a check for $500 in support of the verbal estimate, and let them know that this is all they would be getting. We then received a detailed breakdown of labor and parts, which included many items that were not even part of the project! What's more, the listed cost of some items were far more expensive than what they had originally indicated. I sent another letter to them indicating these issues and that I would not be sending any further payment. That's when the calls started coming in from a collection company. These companies merely work as agents for the contractor and have no interest in concerns about over billing. Simply put, if they don't collect the disputed funds, they don't get their commissions. In our opinion, this is a very flawed system, especially since the three major credit report companies rely on information from these collection companies as a basis for credit scores and derogatory entries on credit reports! I initiated a formal complaint with the State of Wisconsin. They told me that we had a very solid case, but that this contractor was not willing to enter into negotiations so "there was nothing the State of Wisconsin can do in this matter." Unbelievable! And here I thought our state government actually had teeth and could protect their consumers! I made a trip to the office of this business to attempt to negotiate in person. However, once the office lady found out who I was, her kind demeanor instantly changed to incredible rudeness. She made highly unprofessional remarks and accusations and basically told me to leave. Once this derogatory entry showed up in our credit reports, we decided to pay the extra amount so these entries could be cleared. This business was doing business as "Heritage Electric", and ironically changed their name to "Integrity Electric". Yet it is owned and run by the same people we dealt with back in 2006, and I would warn everyone to stay away from them due to their utter lack of integrity and propensity to over charge their customers.