No Fix No Pay!

"You could ask a licensed contractor to do this work, and a 200A service upgrade will run between $1500-$2500. Depending on how gullible you are, for another $2500 they could install grounding wires for all 3-prong receptacles."

"However, if we use proper building codes to guarantee inspection-perfect repairs under $500, the same 3-prong plugs are possible with the existing wiring & electrical service. Your existing service barely approaches 75% capacity with every switch & appliance turned on."

"There is nothing wrong with your electrical service, and licensed contractors won't think twice about replacing it." "Do you really want to rewire the building, if replacing the proper device allows the same 3-prong receptacles with existing wiring?"

The owners ultimately saved over $4,500, and their perception of criminal conduct remains squarely on those who make unnecessary construction their business.

When the main breakers failed to reset the fraternity boys hammered on them until shorting bus to panel. Contractors insisted on new equipment, quoting $5000 for rough & finish of new Uni-pak with larger dimensions.

My relatively simple repair was under $500, and might make it thru 40-more years of hammering.

Avoiding Upsell Scams
Contractors prefer panel upgrades, since there's less revenue & more effort working with existing equipment.

Without systemic defect, existing equipment remains safe with modern circuit breakers listed with magnetic trip functions, and it passed an inspection. Consumers who buy contractor-upsell scams are never told about less expensive options.

If extra power is justified, electrical-service upgrades require proper load calculations for wire, underground raceways / roof risers, and electrode systems. Some Building Departments waive load calculations for Solar-array installers who sufficiently oversize the service, but these have burned up with errors in bonding, conduit fill, ampacity calcs, material listings, or wiring methods. Omitting Permits or Electrical Service Requirements (ESR) may not always cause fires, but will void insurance claims after a fire.

The industry practice of exploiting employees or draftstmen; to avoid skilled labor, engineering supervision, internationally-recognized formulas (IEEE), and standards (ICC), relies instead on "ampacity tables" for idiots, which ignores treatment of inductive loads, or compliance failures of impossible-derating schemes. The typical result is improper conductors, over-bundled cables, improper derating, and overheated equipment.

The industry-wide lack of enforceable regulation has made use of exploited laborers so predictable, entire State judicial systems, such as Oregon, assume all contractors are guilty until proven innocent.

With licensed contractors exploiting unskilled or disgruntled employees, and the armada of unlicensed handypersons, side workers, trunk slammers, and weekend warriors --operating with no clue or credentials-- failures and liabilities from new electrical installations are so prolific, cottage industries have formed for thermal-camera imaging, expert-fire investigators, and litigators for bad-faith insurers denying claims.

A small permit fee gets an inspection done, perhaps corrects a hazard, and will not void property insurance policy. The law also law provides Owner-builder permits when owners do the work themselves, or the project is small enough to use a qualified Journeyman lacking contract, permit, or lien authority.

Prosecuting license law & hazardous construction requires due process. Violations must be reported, and Notice to Appear "NTA" served. My State license board's Press Releases & Consumer Alerts tracks stings & enforcement actions statewide.

However, unless installing fire systems under Fire-Marshal enforcement, licensed contractors are leading the industry's high-profile catastrophes, which point squarely to complete regulatory failure.

U.S.-Sino Investment laborer Raul Zapata was crushed by an un-shored, water-soaked trench, after "Permit violations" and "stop orders" against a licensed builder could not be enforced. As of this writing, the licensed contractor and his foreman are immune to criminal prosecution. The dead workers family stands alone, relying on donations in hope of financing a civil-litigation effort against this untouchable contractor.

Nevertheless, the process of license-board enforcement against unlicensed-contractors remains swift during job-site stings, AHJ / customer complaints, or unauthorized lien actions, which invite the lawless to demonstrate their incompetence to a law enforcement official.

Labor law, advertising law, insurance law, down-payment limits, and project abandonment that results in supplier liens on customer property are caused by both un/licensed contractors. Further, a lack of enforcement resources, State budget crisis, and due-process requirements can lead violators to believe they may never get caught.

Public adversity to contractor exploits, and regulatory failure may be related to CA Building & Professions code 7048 and 7044. These statutes require building departments to provide owner-builder Permits to owners wanting control of building projects. It may be preferred not just legal in my State, to hire a skilled journeymen with no need for employment proof under B&P 7048. Also known as, "the unlicensed" minor work exemption set by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Larger owner-builder projects under B&P 7044 would require full-service payrolls with workers comp reporting, not practical for most owners unless they possess a business already setup with employees.

Because of exemptions to workers comp. in CA for the first 52 hours, the property insurance rider "Personal comprehensive liability", and case precedent that adjudicates for consumers wherever unlicensed contractors are concerned, owner builders have unprecedented control over a qualified Journeyman lacking contract, permit, or lien authority. License board Press Releases & Consumer Alerts show law-enforcement assets are swiftly mobilized for "stop orders" against dangerous journeymen and unlicensed contractors, an effective consumer protection. However, with licensed builders like "U.S.-Sino Investment" "stop orders" are not enforced, not even to save a life.

NoFixNoPay
keeps the crooks away.