Advice needed - problem electrician

[Garethspur]

Good morning. Apologies to begin with if this isn't the right place for this post, but I'm in need of advice from people who know what they are talking about.

We bought a house in Lancashire a few months ago and it quickly became apparent that, among with a load of other problems, there were serious issues with the electrics. I called an electrician (the no. 1 rated electrician in our area on Checkatrade) and he and his son came to the house. He immediately spotted there were problems and, after checking the house more carefully, said we would need a total rewire. He made a good impression and the price seemed good so I agreed.

We planned to get the whole house replastered and then decorated so the plan was for the electrician to come in before the plasterer, do most of the work up until the point of finishing the plugs, switches and light fixtures, then come back when the painting was finished. That was his suggestion (he said it would avoid getting paint on the lights, etc) and it made sense.

So he started the initial work. It seemed to be going okay but then one day we came to the house and he had cut two large hatches in the oak flooring in the kitchen. He said it was necessary to do the electrics, but he hadn't informed us before, as our preferred option would have been to remove the floor boards and replace them with some from under the stairs.

Anyway, he said the first part of the job was finished. It had taken a couple of weeks and he had asked for two payments during that time (the only tradesman who had asked for payment before the work was done). The payments added up to the estimate for the job as a whole. He said he would come back once the other work was done and quickly finish up.

The other work took about a month. A week or so before it was due to be finished I informed the electrician so he could fit us in. He said he wanted to come to the house to remind him of what needed to be done. When he did go round he said he couldn't start for a few days because the paint on the doors needed to dry. A few days later I rang him and he said he couldn't do that week because his son was on a course. However, he would speak to another electrician he knew and get back to me.

He didn't. I called again at the end of the week and he said the guy wasn't available and his son was still on a course. It would be at least another week, he said. I said I felt like I was being fobbed off because he had said previously that finishing the work would be straightforward. Then his tone changed and he said the job had been a 'total nightmare' and 'disorganised'. He rang back a few hours later to say the guy he knew could do the work and would be there with him at 8am on Saturday.

He went to the house to do some work that Friday night then he and his contact spent most of the day there on Saturday. I got an email to say 'electrics complete, tested and certified'. I went to the house to check and was totally shocked by what I what I found.

1) There was no electricity to the outbuilding (he had re-wired it and installed new lights inside and on outside). When confronted he said he had forgotten to do.

2) Turning on one of the lights in the bedroom tripped most of the lights in the house. When asked about this, he admitted he probably hadn't tested the light

3) Most of the light fixtures I had paid him to fit had not been installed. The one that had was in the wrong place (despite the boxes being left underneath the corresponding wires). He said the lights hadn't been done because he didn't know how high I wanted them. At no point during the day did he ring to ask

4) He had caused extensive damage to the redecoration. The paint and plaster around every plug socket needs repairing, for which he blamed the plaster. The paint on the sideboard was extensively scratched and there were scratches and marks all over the house. We'd just spent thousands on it. My partner was in tears when she saw it. There were even scratches and marks where no work had been done.

5) Probably most worrying, he had forgotten to attach the boiler in the loft (installed in the last few years) to the mains, or do any of the electrics in the loft. When confronted about this he said he didn't know where the boiler was. He'd been in the loft to do the lights and the boiler is the biggest thing in there. He said if I needed hot water right away I should run an extension cable up there. It's attached directly to the mains, there is no plug!

6) Several of the plug sockets in the house either do no work or would come off the wall if you pulled them

7) In his email telling me the 'all electrics complete, tested and certified' he said I owed him £420 for the work. He said the certificate was being reviewed by the other guy for 'human error' and would be provided to me once I paid the £420. We had already paid him the full amount for the job.

I contacted NIC EIC for advice and they said I should raise all the issues with him as the start of a formal complaints process. When I emailed him a list of the issues and with how upset I was, his response was apathetic. He offered no apology nor explanation, other than to say he forgot about the outbuilding. He now says he will come back with the same guy tomorrow to complete the work. When asked about the extra charge he said it had been "scrubbed" and "to be honest, I've lost track of this job".

I don't know what to do. In any other circumstances I wouldn't allow this man anywhere near my house ever again. But my understanding is that he is legally obliged to provide me with the certificate (and thus complete the job) and that I can't get someone else in to finish it off. I have no faith at all that he will do the work without causing any further damage. We've ploughed every penny we have into the house, and now I have no idea if the problems he's caused, especially with the boiler, are fixable without having to do major surgery that will require replastering and re-painting. I couldn't sleep last night for worrying about it.

At this point I plan to literally following him from room to room and Saturday and watch everything he does like a hawk, which I am dreading. Any advice anyone on here can give me about what I should do in this situation would be much appreciated. This this normal?

 

[Pete999]

I could do it , but im on a another
Planet!

Deleted

 

[ED17]

I'm only 20 mins away from Poulton but fully booked next week then away on holiday for a week.

 

[Lagentium]

I probably will need a tin hat, but I guess there's 2 sides to every story. Weve all had one of those clients.........

 

[Dave OCD]

I could do it , but im on a another
Planet!

Well I'd find it very hard to disagree Buzz.

 

[Billsays]

I'm only 20 mins away from Poulton but fully booked next week then away on holiday for a week.

Very relevant..... sure the op is grateful for that!

 

[Billsays]

I'd volunteer, but it's 70 miles each way, so I'd need to charge additional to cover this. If OP is willing to pay a bit more, then I'm available to give an unbiased report.

Very decent offer from the Mickey Mouser...... Pay him the money and get a decent assessment.

 

[The Ghost]

You are correct that the certificate should be issued to you irregardless of any payment due. Any electrician should know this, that they may not deny the certificate due to payment due. It is clear from the pictures that the work quality and other description of failure of circuits indicates that the level of competence is very low.
What can you do? Legal avenue? Lot of money and more stress with very low chance of satisfaction. Existing contractor performs contract fully, I don't think so I wouldn't let him near your house never mind mine. Apart from the poor workmanship there is very real danger of harm resulting from incorrect wiring. A couple of things you have said I find quite alarming. Perhaps speak with building control in the local council?
You will have to bite the bullet and get a contractor in to test existing wiring and rectify/finish work. Costly? yes but the alternatives are unthinkable (above) I am sad to say that failure of performance on contract/building work is endemic. The remedies poor and unsatisfactory. It would be most informative to examine the certificate when and if you get it though. This would tell us a lot lot more about your situation if you can possibly do that?

 

[ED17]

Very relevant..... sure the op is grateful for that!

What I meant, was that I may be able to help but not for two weeks. My bad.

 

[1Justin]

I don't want to sound trite but you did mention "on Checkatrade"..
You know that means he's paid best part of £1000 a year as a small business to get on their list? Bunch of leeches IMO. Their trading currency is the removal of genuine earned and voiced goodwill, in favour of a system which traders have to buy into or get left out in the cold.
I'm not biassed, of course not. Yes, what a marvelous organization... One day I may need to get sucked into the same pit of desperation if the work dries up (Many of my potential customers going straight to same expensive "Trusty Bloke" sites).

 

[Pete999]

I could do it , but im on a another
Planet!

Deleted

I don't want to sound trite but you did mention "on Checkatrade"..
You know that means he's paid best part of £1000 a year as a small business to get on their list? Bunch of leeches IMO. Their trading currency is the removal of genuine earned and voiced goodwill, in favour of a system which traders have to buy into or get left out in the cold.
I'm not biassed, of course not. Yes, what a marvelous organization... One day I may need to get sucked into the same pit of desperation if the work dries up (Many of my potential customers going straight to same expensive "Trusty Bloke" sites).

I did mention earlier that as soon as I saw checkatrade my BP went up, post13, how right you are Justin.

 

[Squid]

was a contract made before hand before the job was started.

I agree always have a written contract in place and pay by instalments holding back 20% when the job is completed then pay half the held back amount and the rest once the snagging has been completed.

You also have a verbal contract in place which is binding but will unique complications and you may have a problem enforcing it.

 

[freddo]

That poor oak floor.

 

[Toneyz]

If he wasn't a NIC contractor they should of been able to tell you when you contacted them, they will only act upon technical issues relating to the electrical installation and would expect the organisation to have a complaints procedure where you contact them in a official capacity in writing with your complaint. It is good project management to get the painter to miss coat one coat of paint especially around switches /sockets etc. as if not boxes cleaned out properly by plasterers this damage around them can occur hence miss coat/1st coat of paint then once electrical fittings installed this is usually picked up by painter. Payment should never bee paid in full prior to the job completing part payment yes and the final instalment paid on issue of the electrical certificate. From what you have posted it seems on face value that the electrical contractor has lost the management of the job they are undertaking and have not undertaken this job in a professional manor together with poor communication. It's a shame that it has put our profession in a bad light.

 

[Midwest]

Curious that the OP has not responded after 1057am yesterday, but was last 'seen' at 1.14pm. Granted most normal people have better things to do, than poking around on forums, but being such a serious matter, you would of though otherwise. Just saying?

 

[soms]

Sounds like a very unfortunate experience for the OP.
Pretty shocking that they did that to the floor without even asking.
Also shocking about the forgetfulness, accessories not working, lighting issues, all after apparently being tested!
Only thing I could slightly sympathise with might be damage to decor around the accessories. It makes me sweat a bit when having to try and delicately clear-out a knockout box with a large helping of gone-off plaster.