Topic: GC wont provide blueprints and lying to homeowner

User: alyoshak24, Location: Chicago

Asked on: Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 1:36 pm EDT
Answered on: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 8:23 pm EDT

Question: Hello All,It pains me to write this, and on a sunday at that, however i refuse to be a victim of my labor. I am posting this hoping that someone experienced a similar situation and took active measures to protect themselves.Background: I am the licensed electrician on permit for a village/city in illinois doing the rough/final for a* small addition on a home. I responded to an add on Home Depot from a GC that was bidding on this project. (I bid on this project last summer June-ish, was my first year having a license and i low-balled myself to get the job MISTAKE #1). Timeline is as follows:I bid based off a screenshot provided July 2024 of the reflected ceiling and power plan on the addition.Architect who drafted the blueprints was fired by the homeowner around August/September because he was unlicensed and shady. GC did not provide a copy of any alterations of the original blueprints i quoted.SEP 2024, i sent the village my notarized LOI that reflected the original blueprints provided to me by GC (All communication i CC'd the GC and / or his assistant for transparency)Job was suppose to start late fall of 2024 but got hold up, finally poured the concrete. i just started roughing the electrical last month and am 88% done (I have not wired.GC provided materials since this was our first big project together and both our company names were on the permit etc etc. I have done small jobs for him here and there that never exceeded 400$ but the total for this job was $6KGC updates me that some rooms are to be reframed per homeowner request and to rough the new rooms and to compare total openings from original bid to updated framing and we figure out the difference, he pins the blueprints with hand drawn updates of the new walls in the hallway. Red Flag 1 (I shouldve stopped right there and then to ask for the updated blueprints that were stamped)After i rough a roughing 50%, the homeowner comes out and talks to me personally and points out that she (Sweet old lady) wants floor outlets, extra outdoor outlets, and items that werent reflected on the original plan in addition to repairing some outlets with no power and a utility line the excavators Fu**ed when they poured concrete. I say no problem ill bring it up to the GC to figure out some numbers, she said that its included in the original scope of work. Red Flag 2I bring it up to GC and he looks dumbfounded asking why im charging him more if the homeowner requests are less than whats being removed from the blueprint. At his point i notice that he genuinely looks confused which confuses me. I stop work and tell him that i need to take inventory of the total original counts vs updated reframed counts he pointed out. I go home and literally draw, color code and lineout, and write all outdated openings and add new openings so even a child can understand. In the end the new drawings reflected a total of 2 additional openings. Which still equaled out a deficit due to the massive amount of extras that homeowner requested.I email and text the GC to review the updated opening count and to please reach out if there are any questions or concerns. The next time we both are at the jobsite together he goes over and reviews the outlets, switches cans etc and he tells me that i am charging him for items when the plans state different and that there are 12x additional ceiling CANs that are included in the blueprint that the homeowner doesnt want.I Tell hime that my original LOI only includes 7x total CAN lights and he argues that i am charging him for 19x Total CAN lights. I tell him that i emailed over the LOI, all timestamped emails of any numbers we discussed and i even reference the original blueprint/screenshot of the blueprint he provided me to base my estimate off of. He states that he sent me an updated bluerprint with the new cieiling plan, so i go through all my phone messages and emails while he is there and i tell him that i never received a digital nor a physical copy of the blueprints that he is holding in his hands. I resend him all the timestamps and proof that my bid was based off the original screenshot.He says that he needs to review this with his assistant. Next time we talk over the phone he says that i quoted him for a bid that included 19x CAN lights so i requested for proof and it has been a week since my request and i know that he DOESNt HAVE ANY proof otherwise i wouldve submitted a change order.Now all my spidey senses are ringing and i call the village and go in person to the building to ask to get a copy of the blueprints. They refuse to provide me a copy even after i provided them with proof that i am the electrical contractor. The rep was kind enough to help me, she suggested i submitt a FOIA request. I asked her what are my options because the homeowner is requesting an inspection to release funds. the rep told me that in her system that are no permits issued for to perform any rough mechanical work, only permits issued are phased permits for the concrete pour footings and stated that techinically they framed, installed rough plumbing and electrical illegally. At this point im furious.I go to homeowner as a last resort without GC knowledge and i explain to them my situation. They understand but i also see concern, worry and a fading distrust in their body language because from where their standing, this is putting a major halt in their project. They tell me to continue to finish the project and that they will pay me out of pocket for the extras and utility repair but that they cannot get involved between the GC and I.I am reaching out to the Mike Holt Community because i still believe in giving it all you got at work, providing top quality and always delivering for your clients and customers, however i refuse to be a victim of free work and i refuse to be taken advantage of. Do any of you have suggestions, legal, personal, or anything that can help my situation out ?I have already completed and piped 88% of the work and mounted to sub-panel. The project total is only $6K but its still money that i worked very hard for. I do know if hiring a lawyer is worth it, and even though it is not the homeowners fault i still feel like i need to at least remove evertyhing that i installed to prove a point (obviously with the sheriff present)