Customers complain about electrician operating without a license

CHARLOTTE, NC — Customers are complaining to Action 9 and the state about a man they hired for electrical work on their homes.

They say the work wasn’t done right and that it’s expensive to fix.  It turns out he wasn’t licensed to do electrical work at all and still isn’t.

Brian Fredette and Gretchen Kari hired Jeff Blackwell to wire their hot tub and fix an outlet.  “He touted himself as being a God-fearing, God-loving, man,” Fredette said.

They say they paid him more than $1,500, but “we had an inspector, a licensed company, come in and inspect what he did, and it was all wrong.  I mean, they had to tear it all out.  Everything had to come out,” Fredette said.  “Everything had to come out, so basically start over.”

Michael Kellar says he hired Blackwell to rewire his entire house.  He told Action 9 he paid Blackwell more than $8,000 and also needs someone to redo the work.  “It’s a big safety, it’s a big concern, you know, because if something is wired wrong, your house can burn down. You could be in your house when it burns down,” he said.  “It’s not a safe thing.”

“You’re possibly taking people’s lives into account here,” Kari said.

Kellar and Fredette both want refunds and reported Blackwell to the N.C. State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors.

The Board told Action 9 Blackwell is not a licensed electrician.  The law says electricians need a license.  There are some exceptions.  But the state says he doesn’t fit them.

The Board now has nine complaints against him and is seeking an injunction against him, so he can’t work as an electrician unless he gets a license.

Blackwell texted Action 9 he didn’t know he “needed [a] license” and that, as soon as he found out, he “stopped.  Plain and simple.”

But the customers Action 9 spoke with don’t see this as an honest mistake.  Kellar went to the magistrate and got a court date and a subpoena.

Fredette filed a police report.

No matter what electrician you hire, make sure that person has a valid license.  It's easy.  Search the name here: Https://arls-public.Ncbeec.Org/public/search

Cox Media Group