AP Electric in IL Advertises "Free Estimates" but Charges You When They Show Up

All Professional Electric Inc.

aka AP Electric

204 Northwest Highway

Fox River Grove, IL 60021

On December 12, 2006 I became aware of some necessary electrical repairs for my mixed used building, specifically a shorted circuit breaker. And since there was some other required electrical work needed as well (new lights on sign, electrical & lights on new awning and new motion detector lights), which wasn’t as urgent as the shorted circuit, I decided to obtain quotes for the immediate repair as well as the other needed repairs.

While looking through the AT&T Yellow Pages I came across an ad from AP Electric which stated “Free Estimates on New Installation” and since this was a local Electrical Contractor I chose to give them a call and spoke with Mike. Regarding the repair, Mike quoted me $75.00 service charge for the Electrician to travel to my building, $75.00 per hour for labor and that I would be charged for materials used; Mike also told me that the $75.00 service charge would be waived should AP Electric be hired for the repair. As for the new installations, those estimates must be based on visual observation which requires an Electrician to travel to my location without mention of service charge. Since I was just beginning to shop around for the repairs and AP Electric was the first and only company I had talked to at that point, I wasn’t ready to commit to them for the repair and wanted to continue shopping around. However I was still interested in the free estimate for my installations and scheduled an appointment for an Electrician with Mike for December 14th.

On December 14th their Electrician Fred arrived as scheduled; he presented a business card to identify himself with AP Electric, which also stated “Free Estimates”. I then showed him around the building and detailed to him all of the work that needed to be included in his estimate. Fred returned on December 19th to provide me with his completed estimate and requested $75.00 payment as charge for the estimate. I thought he was joking as this estimate was to be free and without charge. Fred told me that this was no joke and that if I didn’t pay the charge to AP Electric, then AP Electric would deduct it from his next paycheck. At this point I thought he might have been trying to pull something over on me as no legitimate company would require an employee to collect payment on a service that is advertised for free in both printed advertisements as well as business car ds and then deduct it from that employee’s paycheck should they be unable to collect so I immediately called Mike, in Fred’s presence, to find out what was going on.

Mike stated “yes, there is a $75.00 service charge on all of estimates just like I told you over the phone.” I told him that in our phone conversation he told me that the service charge applied to repairs, not to new installation which is what my estimate encompassed as I had asked for a quote to add lighting for a sign that does not yet exist, electrical and lighting for an awning that does not yet exist and new motion detected lights in areas that are lacking lighting. I pointed out to Mike that the Yellow Pages ad and business cards mentioned “Free Estimates” but he was still adamant about the charge and would not waiver. And he did go on to say that if I didn’t provide payment to Fred, the amount would in fact be deducted from Fred’s next paycheck. Although I strongly disagreed and felt like I had just been the victim of a classic bait and switch scam perpetrated by Mike and AP Elec tric, I knew that Fred, an honest and hardworking employee that was doing only what his employer told him to do, would be penalized if I didn’t pay this charge so I did pay against my better judgment.

Bottom line, it appears that AP Electric is in the habit of practicing deceptive advertising as well as deceptive trade practices by stating “Free Estimates for New Installations” in their Yellow Pages Ad, “Free Estimates” on their business cards and “Free Estimates” on their website (in two different spots! - www.apelectric.com) and then charging customers a “$75.00 service charge” which will be waived only if the customer hires them, although none of these items mention the service charge anywhere - making their estimates far from free. Then to add insult to injury, they blackmail their employees into collecting this fraudulent fee by penalizing any employee who is unsuccessful by reducing his or her paycheck. Not only is their practice unethical, but as a small business owner in the finance industry I have been advised by my industry affiliatio ns as well as my attorney that it is illegal. Hopefully my words here will help stop this way of doing business and save others from being duped like I was.

Sincerely,

Joy Kaufhold