Premier Electric ,Premier Electric of Lovington New Mexico Billed me for Calling Lovington New Mexico

I called Premier to get an estimate on electrical work, trip charges and the hourly rate charges. A female woman on the phone took some information from me and told me she would call me back. Hours later, two guys showed up at my door and I asked, "Who are you?" They stated they were sent from Premier and opened my electrical box on the other side of the house and said, "Oh, you need a new service." I asked, "How much will that cost?" All wide eyed, the employee responds, "I don't know, you'd have to talk to them about that."

LOL- Yeah. Seriously. He, then says to the assistant, "what did they charge that poor family in the mudhut?" And then says to me, "They charged that poor family..I don't know...$5,000.00. They lived in a mudhut. I don't know how they came up with that money."

So, I told them I would call office and get an estimate. Although, I'd call and the female employee would tell me she was working on getting an estimate and would call back, she never did. Finally, I just called another company and they upgraded the circuit breakers. When I finally talked to Premier again, the female woman claimed she had an electrician on his way out to my house. I told her not to send him because I hadn't been able to get any call back with estimates, another company had already fixed the problem. She became angry and raised her voice at me about how I had nearly inconvenienced her. She yelled nastily, "have a nice day" and I responded "You try" and then she hung up on me.

About a week later, imagine my shock and surprise when a bill for $169.53 arrived. The invoice itself is an interesting blend of self incrimination and greed expressed rather predatorily. Here are the work notes word for word: "Received call from homeowner complaining of loss of power throughout the home. Located the problem and noted that the home needs a new service."

Yes, you understand it correctly. According to them, I had no power, they came out and told me I needed new power, left and then billed me.

The service call is listed as $79.50 and then the total mysteriously leaps forward to $169.53.

Well, you can imagine the time it must have taken them to get out of their trucks and open the electrical box and look at it! LOLOLOLOL

Naturally, I get on the horn and call these folks to figure out what they've been smoking. I speak to the usual employee I always had spoken with; some female receptionist/dispatcher. In a condescending tone, her response to my repeated question about how they were billing for no service rendered at all when all I had done was call to get an estimate of any sort of cost on the phone, was to repeatedly ask me "Where are you from," and then she'd laugh.

Yeah, I guess she was implying my accent, indicating I hadn't always lived in the area, was somehow reason enough for a bill. Then, she'd say, "you don't understand how we do things around here." We just went round and round. I'd demand an explanation for the bill and she'd start in on my accent and where was I from. When I asked for her name, she laughed and said, "Oh, I'm just the janitor." Bear in mind, this is the only individual I have ever spoken to when calling Premier Electric.

Finally, I became angry enough to tell her she was "scum" and she told me I was an angry person. Well, I guess I was supposed to throw a party when I received a manufactured bill. (Rolling my eyes).

I told her I was reporting her company to the Lea County Attorney's office for engaging in fraudulent business practices and then the "janitor" said "well, don't pay the bill" over and over.

They seem to get their money out of this employee. She is the janitor, receptionist, dispatcher and even makes the big decisions about the bills.
Now, who could this be? Gee, what a non- mystery. lol

In fact, I did report this company to any agency I felt should be aware that this company, in my opinion and personal experience with them, may be engaging in predatory business practices.

Maybe I don't understand how things work around this area but I sure understand how they work around the area where I grew up:
For starters, when people/companies act like jerks, we speak up and let others know because the truth always prevails and communication is always eventually effective.

Guess when I plan on paying this bill? Can you say N-E-V-E-R?

You Know Who I am
Tatum, New Mexico
U.S.A.