atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General Request a Telephone Technician Wiring Vendor Needed/Cost of Wiring

Do we have anyone in the North East Wisconsin (Fond du Lac) area who would like to be my wiring vendor?

We have an Avaya Definity G3si version 11 with Definity Audix 3.2. I need someone who can be on site within a week for general wiring or within 24 hours for an emergency issue.

I have full Avaya maintenance on my switches but do not hire Avaya for wiring.

Currently I am paying 75.00 per hour which I think is awful high. My guy isn't the best at this an I was just billed for 4-hours of labor to move an analog jack from one room to another.

I had an independent guy at 45.00 per hour but he retired. What is everyone paying/charging out there for general jack wiring?

Thanks, Rhonda

Is everything on patch panels? That would explain why it takes so long.

Well, I don't know the technical terms for it but I recall the words "wiring block" used around it. They appear to be white plastic, long narrow holders of neatly organized wires. The issues is this particular wiring guy who has very little time in with phone system wiring. My other guy would take 30-60 minutes for such a project.

Probably using 66 blocks then. Adding extensions to existing areas if single pair should be quick.

Is the wiring and jack in place and all he had to do is change the cross connect or did he have to run new wiring and install a new jack?

-Hal

75.00 isn't bad depending on the area but 4 hours to run a cable and jack sounds wrong.

No he had to put in the jack and the wire. I just received the bill today. To move one analog jack it ran 351.53. I think that's high.

What is a normal hourly wiring charge running out there?

Thanks, Rhonda

Rhonda, what I would do is approach him with that bill and question the time it took to run a cable...

Show him that you are paying close attention to his billing times, if he doesnt clean up his act....wave bye bye to him.......

I acutally did question it as he originally charged me for 6 hours of labor. They do charge me for some drive time but he took lunch and I know 4 hours was the max I could have paid for. I guess there isn't much I can do. He just isn't meant for this type of work as I hear he was asking non Telecom and non IT staff technical questions. I am just going to pay it and find another vendor. I don't even mind the hourly charge as much as I mind paying someone who doesn't know what they are doing. I've had this same job done many times and I've paid for 2 or less hours of labor. I tried to give him time to learn but after many single jack moves it's not getting better. I have found another local company and am going to hire them for a while to see how it goes. Thanks for the help. Rhonda

Hmmm, well 4 hours isn't inconceivable depending on the difficulty of the run and the fact he was working alone. I too would suggest that you ask him why it took four hours, he should be able to tell you. Without knowing the specifics of the job it's impossible for anybody here to say if this is unreasonable.

Seems to me that your issue here is with cost rather than service and the quality of work. Most people who "pay the bills" only see the bottom line and don't understand what's involved.

I don't know the economy in North East Wisconsin but I suspect $75 per hour is more than reasonable. In Westchester County, New York we charge $135 for the first hour (gas is $2.50/gal) and $55 per half hour after that. If you asked me how much it would be to install wiring and a jack I would look you in the eyes and say "if you have to ask you can't afford it".

If this guy is responsive and does the work properly and neatly I would say you don't have a beef. That's a rare commodity these days and I wouldn't nickel-dime him.

-Hal