My wife was overcharged by an electrician and already paid. The invoice doesn't have a breakdown of pricing, can anything be done?

[mccowandrummer]

I know we're probably shit out of luck, but I'm absolutely stewing about this situation and I'm wondering if anything can be done. My wife has a hard time turning away workers who over quote us, and yesterday was the worst infraction I've ever seen. I was working and we had an electrician come to our house to install a dedicated line for a sump pump we're getting installed next week. We were both expecting the job to be around $600, $800 TOPS. The line ran maybe

30 feet in the basement, straight from the circuit breaker to the new outlet. Didn't seem like a terribly difficult job. The guy quoted her $1,400, she somehow talked him down to $1,200 but that's still ludicrous. They worked for less than an hour and we're out $1,200. The invoice was itemized but had no dollar amount for each thing. Can anything be done or do we just have to eat this cost? Or are we both totally out of line thinking we WAY overpaid?

[Ralph Mowery]

You are probably screwed as she told them to do the job.

About a year ago I had a company come out and give an estiment for a water heater replacement. Was quoted $ 1800. As a water heater was around 500 to 600 dollars I thought it was outragous. Called another company and they said the parts plus $ 96 an hour labor. Two men came out and installed a water herater. They were here slightly less than 2 hours. I was billed for $ 950 which I though was reasonable.

Few years ago company came out and I was told it would cost $ 99 to get the man out. In about 10 minuits he found a bad capacitor that at most allowing for the markup would have been less than $ 50 and had it replaced. I was charged $ 350 for that. Robery,but that is what I get for calling that company. They and the plumbing company have now merged,so I know I will not be calling either of them from now on.

When I wanted the roof replaced I got 4 quotes. Two were $ 9000, one $

12000 and another $ 18000. Went with one of the $ 9000 ones and they did a good job and the job was warrentied for longer than I probably will live.

[micky]

I don't know, but I know you're lucky you don't have my brother's wife. She wanted to move, they sold their apartment, then she hears that a similar apartment went for $25,000 more, so she calls the broker (she said) to not deliver the signed documents. Leaves a message. Either too late already, too late by the time the broker gets the message, or the broker ignored the message because she wanted the sale.

People want to move in. SIL refuses to close. Is sued.. First two lawyers turn her down. Other people tell her she has no case. She's going to say that she was still under the influence of an anesthetic from ... I never found out when.

Months go by. Paper work, lawyer bills, finally they have to sell anyhow. Judge says for $15,000 less than before, plus my brother has paid about$25,000 in legal fees and he has to pay the other side's legal fees of $25,0000.

The $15,000 I presume is to pay them (mother and grown daughter iiuc) for living in a hotel for maybe 8? months, eating in restaurants instead of cooking at home, storing furniture.

$65,000 wasted, and you only wasted $400-600. If she hasn't learned her lesson, make her stop signing contracts. You didn't need this today for a pump that's not even here yet. She could have discussed it with you. She could have had the contractor come see you on the weekend, or talk to you ont he phone.. Though phone calls do not replace a signed contract. Texts are pretty good to show what the agreement was but contracts signed by both parties are better.

Last I heard my sil wants to sue her lawyer and the broker.

[gfretwell]

This stresses the importance of a written proposal on things like this. Then you can say no. You still might have to pay the trip charge tho.

[invalid unparseable]

On Fri, 07 Aug 2020 19:41:50 -0400, [e-mail] posted for all of us to digest...

+1 To OP, yes it is too much. If she signed something agreeing to the price you are bound to it.

You have to instruct her that she cannot sign contracts without consulting you first. It's your marriage so I will stop there.