The original single-phase breakers that were installed were $1539 plus tax, the new breakers that Dirdam Electric said they had to order are listed at $2107 plus tax, so only around a $500 difference. Dirdam Electric initially quoted me $5000 to do the job over the phone. That was to install regular 3-phase breakers (with no GFCI) and come back after the correct 3-phase GFCI breakers that needed to be ordered came in. Later in the day Rene, the owner, said the cost was now $8500 because the 3-phase GFCI breakers could not be found in the valley and he would have to order them. Now it was going to take a couple of weeks to get GFCI breakers in. Because this is new construction and his company has the warranty, I was told that it would be best if I stick with (Dirdam) so I wouldn’t void my warranty. So, I paid Dirdam Electric $8500. This was all on November 10, 2022. On November 11, 2022 Dirdam sent a crew to the shop and installed the regular breakers. They installed the breakers and did not check the phase rotation. They did not re-labeling the outlets or update the panel schedule. Additionally, Dirdam left the site with the, more expensive, single-phase breakers without my permission. After his team left my shop Rene sent me an invoice for $8500 that I did not approve first.
Dirdam Electric claims there were no 3-phase breakers in the valley and he had to overnight standard breakers that cost less than $200 each. Seven breakers should have cost less than $1400. Then Dirdam said 3-phase GFCI breakers do not exist. I asked him what he charged me for? We do not have a signed quote because I was out of the country when we spoke over the phone. I have witnesses who support my statements. Dirdam said I told them not to install GFCI breakers (which he quoted me for over the phone and I paid him for). The National Electric Code says to install the GFCI breakers. I am not an electrician and I cannot tell him how to do his job. I have not had a meaningful conversation with him since. That has been a just shy of a month. Even if he did get the order the 3-phase GFCI breakers overnighted he would have to charged you $5000 for them. And that is if he actually provided you with the GFCI modules he charged you for (which he didn’t actually provide).
The only thing he actually provided me with for the $5000 charge is the $832 breakers, which are available in-stock.
I don’t believe he performed $2500 worth of labor but I was stuck with him because he has the warranty.
On numerous occasions I have asked Dirdam to produce a purchase order for the purchased (4) rolls of wire for $1000 as well as an invoice that he paid for breakers to be overnighted. He has not provided anything to date. I ask about the wire because I looked at the runs of wire weeks before they started and there were 4 wires run for each breaker already…he just had one of the black wires marked as neutral and reused it as a hot by simply removing the white tape. That’s how they finished the job at my shop in less than 3 hours. $8500 for 3 hours of work with equipment he already had on his truck.
If I pay for the full $2500 for labor, the full $1000 for wire (that he cannot prove he purchased) and the $832 worth of breakers he actually purchased and installed, that would put the bill at $4500.
Dirdam electric owes me $4000.
All this said, I will give credit where it’s due. Mark brought my single phase breakers back to me after I begged him to…he had them in his truck.
