Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Gerard Electric Inc's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Gerard Electric Inc

  1807 Stevens Dr Iowa City, IA 52240-4361

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  Gerard Electric Inc

  PO Box 1301 Iowa City, IA 52244-1301

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/20/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  In early Oct, my tenant reported 3 nonworking outlets in kitchen. I had contracted Gerard Electric few years ago. The technician was knowledgeable, friendly with reasonable estimate and good work. So I called this business on 10/14/2024. I was told that technician is no longer with them but the owner is experienced. The repair appointment of 3 outlets was on 10/16. I requested the owner call me with estimate for approval of work. I was assured my request would be followed. I called on 10/15 and also emailed the owner emphasizing of calling me with estimate for decision of approval. I called again on 10/16 early morning to verify whether the owner had received my email regarding calling with estimate for decision of approval. The same employee confirmed my email was received and informed the owner of calling for approval. The owner had never called me. I received the invoice in mail dated 10/17/2024 for 7 hours labor plus parts, total $832.09. I had called other electrical services for estimate. The range from the easiest to most difficult worst case would be no more than 2 hours plus parts. The same employee passed my questions regarding not calling for approval and long hours of repair to the owner. The owner responded that he forgot to call and now the work is done. So I had to pay without any other choices. I explained that if he called me indicating that he could not estimate the time required and the cost then I would just pay him for checking the outlets, not moving forward with his repair. In addition, the outlets are in the kitchen right above the electrical breaker box in the basement. That part of the basement is not finished, all of the wires are exposed. After a short period if problem could not be identified, then installing a new wire to the outlet would be the quickest solution. Doing the work without my authorization is not acceptable especially with 7 hours of diagnosis and replacing 3 outlets is absolutely not acceptable.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/09/2025

  See attached response from business & technician

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/26/2025

   
  Complaint: 22711587
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Please see attached two letters addressed to the company's and the electrician/owner ****** reply on 1/9/2025, as well as the attached phone call list from 10/15 - 1/8/2025 and screen shots from the tenants and other electrician from other company as supportive documents.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ***

  Business Response

  Date: 01/29/2025

  Reply to Dianas response
  
  Only 3 outlets were marked as unworking by tenants, no additional work were requested by me or tenant.
  
  Gerard Electric response:
  The original work order of 10/15/24, was 4 outlets not working (2) in kitchen, (1)in dining room, (1) in family.  One of the tenants did request of the electrician on site to fix the dimmer switch to the dining room as it only worked sometimes.  The tenant did open the door but also did speak to the technician.
  
  Ignore my request of calling me for estimate to decide to move forward for repair or not. I didnt use the words call for approval but was clear the I am 73 years old woman relying on limited social security income, so I have to make sure that I have enough found to pay for the repair before move forward to pay for the repair. The technician didnt call to inform me of the repair cost nor the unknown situation of trouble shooting the broken wire in a reasonable time frame.
  
  Gerard Electric response:
  The customer did not give her age or her financial situation at the time of the request. It also is not something we ask.  The customer was also asking to have the technician there as soon as possible due to the number of outlets not working. The technician did call the customer and received no answer.
  
  The technician (he is also the owner of the company) spent extra unreasonable long hours to fix/replace 3 non-working outlets that other technician could fix in 2 hours.
  
  Gerard Electric response:
  The technician that completed the work for the customer is a Master ***********************. There is no way to diagnose how long it would take to repair a wire that is broken inside a wall. Apparently,the fix was not accessible by the exposed wall in the laundry room.  Again, it was not a bad outlet above the electrical box as the customer stated.  The break was behind a wall that you not be able to see.  The situation did not call for just connecting a new wire. A new line was re-fed to fix the electrical problem not just put a band-aid on it. The technician then tested the outlets to be sure they were all working; this is what a certified electrician would do. Perhaps the previous electrical work was done by the electrician that is giving this customer his diagnosis without being on the premises and actually seeing the problem. The customer called the office numerous times with reasons to not pay the invoice without complaining about the amount of time on the job. The terms on our invoice state payment is due on receipt. Had the customer called and requested, we could have had her make monthly payments, even though it is not a practice we usually offer.
  
  Gerard Electric response:
  We will offer the customer to make (3) payments of $277.36 monthly for the next three months to satisfy the invoice.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/30/2025

   
  Complaint: 22711587
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  This entire repair experience with this company is stressful and unpleasant, their business practice is immoral and unethical:  Ignore my request of calling with cost (or inform me that not able to get a cost), did additional work that was not requested by me nor tenants, then continuously emphasized the necessity of this repair in order to obtain my rental permit so the work is done as a benefit to me, even the work is done without my agreement, I have no choice but to pay whatever they charged; otherwise they will turn the bill to collection agent. 

  To close this argument, I will pay 3 hours labor $285, tax $17.10,the parts of the 3 non-working outlets $83.80, but not the dimer in dining room;total of $385.90.  

  Please see attached file "Reply to Gerard Electric 2nd Jan 30" for details of reasons.

  Sincerely,
  ***** ***