HUFNAGEL HEATING

Quick

I paid Hufnagel Electric $165 to repair a bathroom light fixture which required less than one hour of their time (40 min to be exact). I called the company because I saw a ?today?s deal? - $75 to replace a GFCI outlet. I talked to Jason on the phone who said that to replace an outlet or a non-functioning wall switch would be $75, but if the problem was not the switch, he would need to ?troubleshoot? the problem. I said that I would just pay to have the wall switch repaired . As it turned out, the problem was not the wall switch. It took Jason and his partner about 10 minutes to show me that the current to the wall switch was good. Did I want him to ?troubleshoot? to figure out the problem? He said that it would cost $100 for him to ?troubleshoot? the problem and an additional amount to repair the problem. I should have said ?No,? but I signed the contract which said that I would pay $100 to troubleshoot. That was in addition to the $40 service call. I helped Jason remove the light fixture above the sink and, instantly, the light went on because he showed me the loose wiring for the fixture. He said the repair would be $25. I agreed (I couldn?t leave the light fixture dangling). It took no more than 20 minutes for he and his partner to replace the plastic caps covering the splices joining the wires attached to the fixture. They reinstalled the light fixture, then wired the wall switches. They, provided a new wall switch as well as a new wall plate. He said that he wouldn?t charge extra for the switch or wall plate (probably a $3 cost). The total time for the diagnosis and repair was no more than 40 minutes. I would guess that the going rate for plumbers and electricians is about $80 an hour. I don?t think that it is common practice for a plumber or electrician to charge $100 to ?troubleshoot.? I?ve had plumbing and heating repairs and never had to pay $100 to troubleshoot. No one should be asked to sign a contract to pay $100 to ?troubleshoot? (most contractors provide free estimates of the work). Diagnosing a problem is part of the repair process I have no recourse because I did sign the contract to pay $100 to diagnose the lighting problem. I would have felt that a fair price for one hour or less of electrical work would be $80-$90, at the most --- not $165. Buyer beware ?.