COMPLAINT: Karl Payne, Tempe, Ariz.

A Quality Electric LC installed a conduit across my flat rooftop more than a year ago. The problem arose when they joined two pieces of conduit with the coupler, hanging unsupported, over the edge of a two-by-four block of wood. During a project, a workman stepped on the conduit.

Forty amps of power burst the conduit right under the tech's foot, and he was lucky he wasn't killed. I called Quality Electric, which sent out a repairman to fix the wires and to add a junction box. I believe this was a case of shared responsibility: My workman stepped carelessly, but Quality Electric should have supported the coupler so it wasn't vulnerable to incidental contact damage.

DESIRED RESOLUTION: I want Quality Electric to pay half of the $180 bill they charged me.

RESPONSE: Nathan Earl, office manager, A Quality Electric LC

Our work was installed to current code standards. The conduit is not intended to support anything other than itself. After we repaired the issue, the customer informed us he didn't want to pay his full bill. We told him we could undo the repairs we were charging for if he didn't wish to pay.

STATUS: Stalemate