Last summer I build on my yard swimming pool. My neibor came and offer to do electrical work to the pool (he has his own electrician company). He ask me to do all trenches and he will do all electrical work. He said it will cost for me $700. I agreed. During his work, he offer me to bring pover in the shed and he said, that I will need more power in my basement. He broth 100amp and install subpanel in my basement. He never said how much it will cost. I thouth it will cost for me extra $300-500-700. But he ask for $4000 and when I said it is too much, he gave me bill for $3100. Does any body have an idea how much I have to pay him?

I wouldn't lend to him my lawnmower anymore!

But seriously, this is common practice for contractors to exploit customers. Automobile repairs do the same thing. If you don't pay for auto repairs, they've got your car. If you don't pay for home repairs, they've got your house.

The only recourse that I see is to have detailed records of the time they spent installing and ask for all receipts. You still have to pay him but he may reduce the amount just to avoid any trouble (which he has done already).

You may also see the law section under 'small claim courts'.

"he never said how much it will cost. I thouth it will cost for me extra $300-500-700"

Never assume an amount on anything, always get the quote in writing up front before work begins. Put everything in writing, avoid getting burned.

It is unfortunate that the perception is this is a common practice of contractors, but difficult to argue when your neighbor slams you with a bill like that.Some neighbor you have.


I personally never have and never will perform work that is not clearly define of what I will provide and what the cost is, and agreed to, in writing. Obviously, not doing this first is a bad business practice. I do not know any contractor that works that way.

But, once work is done and not paid, and I have had this done many times, with all the proper documents and agreements in place, I have absolutely no rights to take your home. I can even be arrested for trespassing if I come and visit to collect my money. I can place a mechanic's lien a debtors property, which is fairly useless, until the property is sold, and the lien is found in the town records. Otherwise there is no effect on a debtor with a mechanics lien attached.

Without knowing all the exact details,such as length of wire and conduit, size panel, labor costs in your area, we cannot speculate as to the cost the job should have been. THe $700.00 seems reasonable for the pool, $3300.00 seems excessive for a 100 amp subpanel and feeder, unless the line was very long.

There are several directions you can go with this, all depends on your past relationship with neighbor, and where you want to see it in the future.

If your willing to pay what is fair, perhaps you can call out another contractor. Pay him a service call, and ask them to look at the job and provide a detailed estimate, based on wholesale costs of the materials and published labor units for the installed materials, plus reasonable markup for overhead, profit, taxes, and permit fees.

Has this job been permitted and inspected? Does your city or state have a consumer agency that regulates contractors? Are there any laws in place that prevent this from occurring and penalties for unscrupulous contactors?

You can either fall over and pay him what he wants, or you can only pay hin for the $700 and what you think is fair for the panel, and let him sue you for the remaining balance, and with getting the other agencies and laws, and a fair accurate estimate behind you, you may be able to bring his terrible business practice to light, and get some relief from what appears to be a gouging bill.

Let this be a lesson to anyone that hires any contractor to have an estimate done with a firm price for a detailed scope of work , to include all costs of labor, materials, taxes, permit fees, and be sure the contractor has the proper amount and types of insurances in place before any work is done.

Sure am sorry you have this to deal with, and that there are still lousy contractors out there doing this nonsense.

If you don't pay a contractor, he may put a lien on you property and basically 'own' part of your real estate. You cannot do anything financial with the property until the lien is paid in full. The lien will cover the owed price, lawyer and administration fees required to place the lien.

If you want to find out more, I suggest you go to the law section as I haven't looked into these details since my professional practice exam that was many years ago!

Can't tell from your post, but it sounds like this was a verbal agreement and probably no permit/inspection with the authority having jurisdiction. Kind of a side job? I seriously doubt that he would be able to secure a mechanic's lien given these two facts.

As tkrussell said, I would get an estimate from another professional and pay him based on that. If he wants to sue you for the rest, take the estimate to court and he doesn't have a prayer if his price is so exorbitant. Especially if there is no written contract.

Meaning of LIEN
Pronunciation: 'lIun


WordNet Dictionary

Definition: [n] a large dark-red oval organ on the left side of the body between the stomach and the diaphragm; produces cells involved in immune responses
[n] the right to take another's property if an obligation is not discharged


The beauty for contactors is that they don't have to sue you. You'll just wake up one morning, ask a bank for money, and be refused because a lien has been placed on your property!
For your own good, go to the law section before making a decision and ask someone with experience.