Originally Posted by NolaTigaBait

Ok, i need to vent....
I get a call saturday morning around 11...i'm already at the Hornets game. The customer leaves a message which i return as soon as the game is over. I meet her at the house around 4pm. She tells me that het a/c, dryer, etc isn't working. I diagnose the problem within minutes, turns out she has a burnted lug on the meter. She insists i give her a price right away, i give it to her off the top of my head and she says ok do. I schedule it for Monday morning. As i', leaving she ask, "do i owe you anything?" Stupidly i respond, "don't worry about it." I figure i'm ok, since she gave me the job.
I get the call first thing monday morning. She wants to get another price and she is now not the only owner of the house she just lives there blah blah blah. Turns out she hires one of the big companies, who probably charges 3 times what i estimated.
So, i call her and ask for a minimum service call and she says that it is ridiculous b/c i "didn't do ANYTHING"....So, what do you guys think?....where did i go wrong?

Originally Posted by Tiger

First charge a diagnostic/troubleshoot fee. Then be prepared to quote the repair and do the repair at the time you diagnose the problem. What if that burned lug had started a fire before Monday morning? Seems like you shot yourself in the foot on this one.

Originally Posted by Magnettica

This is even better advice. Why wait till tomorrow what you can get done today? Although, I'm not sure I could go to a ballgame and then go do panel change after that.

Originally Posted by 480sparky

A real contractor will come back and do the job.

A scam artist will never be heard from again.

That is why everyone who talks and writes about consumers dealing with those in the construction industry will repeat "Never pay any money up front. Never." Asking for 50% up front will send a whole parade of red flags up to just about anyone with a pulse.