Croatian Electric

This company was recommended by my roofer to check the safety of kitchen potlights that had water damage from my leaking roof.

While talking non-stop about the dangers of corrosion, Dave of Croatian Electric pulled a pot light out of the ceiling - not the fixture close to apparent water damage, but one near it - and cut the wires at the base such that it could not be re-installed.

Dave immediately moved to the next fixture (still not the one with obvious water damage) and said that he can replace these “dangerous” fixtures with the new energy efficient models. He also said I’d have to replace all 12 lights in my kitchen, not just the “damaged” ones, since it will look ugly if they don’t match. He quoted this job at $250 each.

As Dave had the wires for the 2nd fixture between his blades, I asked if it was safe enough to use and he said it was corroded, but that yes, it was safe enough to use.

I then asked why he had cut out the first pot light without consulting me. I didn’t understand that if pot light #1 and pot light #2 were both corroded, why he had to cut out #1, and yet #2 was safe to use? He angrily raised his voice and asked if I was questioning his integrity.

In the end, I told him I wanted the fixture he cut out to be replaced. He went out, bought a new one, installed it, and gave me a bill for $206.70. To get him out of my house, I wrote him a cheque.

When I called him a few days later to ask for my money back since I should not pay him to repair what he himself damaged he implied that I am too much of a shrew to have a husband who would understand electrical repair, and that I needed psychiatric help.

I pursued my complaint through the Better Business Bureau. They closed my complaint when Croatian Electric told them they intended to pursue this matter through the courts. Of course, Croatian has initiated no legal proceedings in this matter.