Patricia in Toronto

Although I have used this company in the past, my most recent experience with them could have been deadly, and family members have urged me to warn others not to use this firm. I hired Astron Electric Ltd., because I felt that a professional electrician would do a safer job than a home handyman; I was wrong in this case. The owner, Ted, did the quote, but he sent his son, Kris, a qualified electrician, and 2 assistants to do the actual work. The helpers did a great job of installing the outside vent for the fan, and the electrician did the upgraded wiring for our stove, without any problem. The trio was polite and cleaned the work area. They had to return to install the microwave, because an overhead cupboard was required to anchor the unit. Once the cupboard was installed, the same trio returned. Whether through arrogance or stupidity, the power was not turned off to our brand new glass top stove, while the microwave was being installed. I had folded and placed a thick felt moving pad over the stovetop, to protect it. I also asked that nothing be placed on top of the stove, because I didn't want any damage to occur. Despite this request, apparently the box with the microwave in it, which was quite heavy, was placed on the stovetop. Someone leaned against the control for one of the burners and turned it on, without realizing it. With the box on top of the protective pad, no one noticed that a fire had started, until they smelled fumes from the burning pad. I was upstairs, but heard a commotion in the kitchen, and when I came downstairs, one of the men was hauling the protective pad outside. I was told that everything was fine, but I noticed the burn hole through 4 layers of fabric and could detect a burning smell. I later also discovered a burnt towel, that I had been using for cleaning, buried under leaves in the backyard; I can only conclude that these workers were going to try to hide evidence of what had occurred, if they could. And, although Kris scrubbed vigourously at the burner, where the fire had occurred, the pad had actually melted onto it, leaving a dullness not evident on the other burners of our brand new $2,000.00 stove. Kris did not charge me for 2 dimmer replacements ( a value of $60.00,) as some form of good will, but I never heard back from Ted after telling him what had happened. As well as losing our home and contents, my daughter and I, and our 3 pets, who were all upstairs, could have burnt to death, because the professionals whom I hired, failed to take basic safety precautions. Not a good recommendation for any company.