Advice for a bill/dispute

[telectrix]

could be the father issuing the cert.

committed. i should be so.

 

[In_need_of_advice]

To be honest i rather agree with him- especially his last paragraph
why spend all your time (and the electrician waiting to be paid) now that he has done the job and you don't like the price- why not spend that time before you get him commited!

I have no issues with his labour rate of £30+ VAT per hour. I'm not disputing that at all.

I don't like the price as he's claiming for more hours than worked. He is also claiming full tradesman wages and sent someone who couldn't do the work in a satisfactory time and openly admitted that to us.

I appreciate that he shouldn't have been booked prior to getting a quote. I still believe I have a right to expect the job to be carried out at a reasonable cost.

So far not a single electrician has agreed that his charges are in anyway fair. They all highlight it's not even close to fair.

I haven't missed out any of the work to downplay the work carried out.

 

[Electric Magic]

EDITED to include VAT on labour

OP, I'd suggest only going to court as a last resort as you didn't agree terms in advance and you may have a difficult time disputing the labour cost unless you can prove they were not at the property for the time they claim to have been at the property. Also, from the list of jobs they've provided against each time period it does seem as if a bit more work was done than you are willing to admit (probably because you weren't expecting such a high bill). You could try (as has been suggested above) offering to pay for fewer hours but perhaps go a bit higher (than suggested above) so that the dispute doesn't continue (perhaps 14 hours). I'd also address the markup on materials (which is far from reasonable). Electricians often charge a mark-up (usually in the region of 10% to 20%), but you've been charged far more than the norm. For example:

1. the E8 downlights you've been supplied with, even at Screwfix without a trade account, are less than £18 including VAT. At £24 including VAT that's a 33% mark-up, which seems a bit steep, and you can get those downlights from other suppliers for about £12.50 including VAT (so ask where they got them).
2. the RCD (which looks to be a Knightsbridge RCD6000) is less than £20 including VAT and delivery from all but one online sellers on Google, so the mark-up is 65% plus.
3. 25 meters of 1mm twin and earth is £9.49 from Screwfix if bought as 25 meters (and significantly less - 1/4 of £27 - if part of a 100m roll). So £21.46 is a 126% mark-up on 25 meters sold by itself (and the wholesalers I use are usually cheaper than Screwfix).

I'd suggest offering in the region of £664 (14 hours labour plus £160 materials) on condition of receiving a building control notification (proving they've registered the job) and the certificate for the work.

 

[telectrix]

I'd suggest offering in the region of £580 (14 hours labour plus £160 materials) on condition of receiving a building control notification (proving they've registered the job) and the certificate .

sounds reasonable,

 

[In_need_of_advice]

I'd suggest offering in the region of £580 (14 hours labour plus £160 materials) on condition of receiving a building control notification (proving they've registered the job) and the certificate .

sounds reasonable,

Thanks again guys. Much appreciated everyone.

What do you both mean by proving they've registered the job?

14 hours labour at £36 and £160 materials? £664?

 

[Pete999]

Thanks again guys. Much appreciated everyone.

What do you both mean by proving they've registered the job?

14 hours labour at £36 and £160 materials? £664?

The work is notifiable, if Matey is not a member of a CP Scheme the LBC will certify the work at a cost of course, and I think will want to see test results from the installer, I think that is correct, not sure as I didn't d much Domestic work. There will be others who can say if this is correct, I'm sure.

 

[telectrix]

OP is in Scotland. building control is different there. they speak a version of Gaelic.( that's a language, pete, as opposed to garlic what you put on a joint of meat ).

 

[Pete999]

OP is in Scotland. building control is different there. they speak a version of Gaelic.( that's a language, pete, as opposed to garlic what you put on a joint of meat ).

Same sort of tongue as Scouse is it Tel

 

[Electric Magic]

Thanks again guys. Much appreciated everyone.

What do you both mean by proving they've registered the job?

14 hours labour at £36 and £160 materials? £664?

EDITED - sorry missed that you are in Scotland OP, different rules up there

I've amended my previous comment to reflect I'd missed that the £30 per hour did not include the VAT.

 

[In_need_of_advice]

It'd be good to hear from a Scottish member (who won't sound anything like a Scouser) about the Scottish requirements for a safety certificate.

 

[Pete999]

It'd be good to hear from a Scottish member (who won't sound anything like a Scouser) about the Scottish requirements for a safety certificate.

How can you say that, he could be a Scottish Scouser, Jeez what a mix that would make.

 

[telectrix]

Same sort of tongue as Scouse is it Tel

nah. there's quite a big difference between " stitch that, jimmy. och aye" and " You'll never walk again, soft lad.".

q.v. Gerry and the Pacemakers.

 

[Pete999]

nah. there's quite a big difference between " stitch that, jimmy. och aye" and " You'll never walk again, soft lad.".

q.v. Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Imagine these 3 with kilts

 

[telectrix]

OY> leave my brothers out of it.

 

[ferg]

It's not required that Building control are notified but an installation certificate should still be issued.

Material costs can also be slightly higher here it's not unusual to find materials cheaper on the internet than I can get them from my wholesaler.

I've fallen foul of trying to install downlights once the PVC panelling has been installed it's a pain in the rear without a drawing or photographs. The more complex the timber work above the more of a pain in the rear it is.

At the end of the day it is arguable that the lad took his time to get it right and the finished job is to a high standard.

As for not getting a quote or estimate... lesson learned.