While most electricians are hard-working and honest, the electrician profession is perfect for fraudsters to infiltrate. Electrical systems are complicated and dangerous, and most people call for help when something goes wrong and they don’t have the luxury of time. Receiving electrical work from an uninsured or unlicensed electrician is never a good idea, potentially costing you thousands of dollars down the line. We recommend using your best judgment to spot potential electrician scams in all scenarios, even if it means going an extra day without working lights. Today, we will discuss which scams are common in the electrician industry and how you can identify them.
Electrician Scams
Electrician scams are similar to car service scams – professionals try to extract as much money from unsuspecting, untrained consumers as possible. Getting a second opinion is a great way to ensure you aren’t getting taken advantage of, even if this means you can’t fix your electrical problem the same day. On top of costing you more money for future repairs of shoddy work, inadequate electrical repairs leave you and your family in serious danger of fires or electric shocks.
Scam #1 – Overselling
Professional electrician companies conduct entire home energy audits, but most people calling an electrician have a specific issue that needs to be fixed. Classic electrician scams involve the electrician claiming to find dozens of interconnected problems that warrant an entire home rewiring or a massive upgrade to your heating and cooling system. It’s definitely possible that an electrician can find lingering issues beyond what they were called to fix. However, if the total bill ends up in the tens of thousands, it never hurts to get a second opinion from a reputable local company.
Scam #2 – Low Initial Prices
An electrician looking to scam you isn’t proud of their work or confident in their ability to repair electrical systems. If they were, they wouldn’t need to scam. To entice consumers and drive up more business, an electrician might quote you an extremely low cost for the repair, only to add on extra fees and labor costs when you have no other options. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is, and gathering quotes from a range of other local companies can help you determine what the actual cost should be.
Scam #3 – Causing Confusion
As we mentioned, electricians can have a lot of power over their clients, as most people don’t know the intricacies of the profession. Reputable companies go out of their way to explain the procedures and repairs in simple terms in order to give their clients peace of mind and a better understanding of what they are paying for. If your electrician seems committed to using fancy language and long-winded explanations anytime you ask a question; they are probably trying to keep you in the dark. When the bill comes, they can handwave away any concerns and claim their complicated work is worth the money.
Scam #4 – Demanding Payment Immediately
If a serious electrical problem happens in your house, you need help fast and might not be able to pay the entire estimated bill upfront. Professional companies will work with you to set up a payment plan that ensures payment but still lets you get your house back into a livable state. Paying the entire bill upfront also gives scammers leeway to do shoddy work.
Promise Electric is the premier electrician company in Sarasota,
knowing all there is to know about residential and commercial electricity. Don’t let scammers take advantage of you – contact us today to get started.
