[paintdrying]

About 8 months ago guy was really desperate to get his hot water working. I was going to go over there and wire together a few wires. Probably take me ten minutes tops.
I get there and the guy wants me to unhook his dryer and wire it to his hot water heater. He had a plumber over but the guy did not do wiring. The basic story the guy gave me was he spent to much money remodeling his house now he just wanted hot water.
So he did not have a permit for the water heater, he did not want to get one to do any of the wiring. Then he proceeded to tell me how electrical code was not necessary. Telling me I could use the neutral wire as the ground, I did not need a disconnect, wire was fine under the joists. I know from experience many guys wold have wired everything up like he wanted.
He wanted some receptacles added, he said no to the gfci. I told him if he was going to have the work inspected I would oversee his project. Another no.
So yesterday I am driving and out of the corner of my eye I see orange fencing. That was basically all that was left of the guys house. I wonder if I should of just done the work for the guy so at least it would of been safe. He may of been trying to set me up in some sort of insurance scam. I am still in shock.

 

[joecaption]

You did the right thing to pass on doing the job.
I learned long ago to not do business with people like that, when things go south your the one they blame and expect you to come back and fix it for free.

 

[ddawg16]

Yea, you did the right thing

If it was me, I think I'd be dropping a dime to local authorities. If he did in fact burn down his whole house for insurance, he is a crook. Means he would do it again. All he is doing is driving up your insurance costs.

 

[Bud9051]

Sad story mj, but be glad you are not part of it. When something like this happens and the insurance companies (or worse investigators) get involved everyone who ever touched that house goes on their list and they look to place the blame.

You just can't fix stupid and should always avoid trying.

Bud

 

[joed]

Are you saying the house burned down or they demolished it?

 

[de-nagorg]

About 40 years ago We were insulating an attic with blow-in cellulose.

The homeowner kept insisting that the person in the attic was not to climb down during smoke breaks and such.

Insisted that they were fine with him sitting by the hatch to smoke.

Anyway a few days later the home had an attic fire, and they blamed my brothers smoking as a cause, filed insurance claims , the whole suit thing.

The city fire investigator found the cause, and it was a nail driven into the ROMEX near the access hatch, not a Butt left behind.

The home owner did a stint in the crossbar hotel for attempted fraud.


ED

 

[J. V.]

Are you saying the house burned down or they demolished it?

Good question. Maybe a troll?

 

[J. V.]

About 40 years ago We were insulating an attic with blow-in cellulose.

The homeowner kept insisting that the person in the attic was not to climb down during smoke breaks and such.

Insisted that they were fine with him sitting by the hatch to smoke.

Anyway a few days later the home had an attic fire, and they blamed my brothers smoking as a cause, filed insurance claims , the whole suit thing.

The city fire investigator found the cause, and it was a nail driven into the ROMEX near the access hatch, not a Butt left behind.

The home owner did a stint in the crossbar hotel for attempted fraud.


ED

You mean you can go to jail for being stupid?

 

[Oso954]

You did the right thing to walk away. Anytime you are helping a friend/neighbor you should never let them dictate a lower standard of work. The work should meet or exceed code.

Don't ever let someone with less knowledge than you pressure you into something you know is wrong. Walking away is sometimes your only choice.

While you can have sympathy for his family, Don't feel guilty about it. You were right and he was wrong.

 

[paintdrying]

Made an unofficial call to a friend that would know. All I can say is no comment, for now. Yes the house was completely burned beyond repair. Nobody was home at the time, quite a bit of personal property was destroyed.
All I can say for now is I should be expecting a call here soon.

 

[paintdrying]

Made an unofficial call to a friend that would know. All I can say is no comment, for now. Yes the house was completely burned beyond repair. Nobody was home at the time, quite a bit of personal property was destroyed.

 

[de-nagorg]

You mean you can go to jail for being stupid?

If you file a fraudulent insurance claim, you are not in good hands.


ED

 

[joecaption]

Long ago when I was working for an exterminator, I went to a home to do an inspection and found about 12" of water in the basement, the whole 100 + year old house was eaten up with termites and powder post beetles and was ready to fall down.
I wrote a report and gave a copy to the home owner.
2 days later same thing it was burned to the ground.
Kama got him, he never got a dime out of the insurance company.