Completely Let Down!

[SpacePink]

Good Afternoon,

I'm an independent Property Manager working with a handful of Investment Landlords in London.

I was let down yesterday (26/11/12) by an NICEIC electrician who quoted £140 to carry out an EICR test and PAT on a two bed flat in South London, confirmed by email and text.

I only found out at 6pm when I called to find out how he'd got on, that he had not bothered to turn up and in addition hadn't bothered to call me or the tenant. When asked why this was, he slammed the phone down. A true professional.

However, I'm now in a fix as I need to get this work done for the same amount as the Landlord has already paid and it will not reflect well on me if I have to go asking for more money at this stage.

Are there any professionals working in the Crystal Palace area or whereabouts who could help by any chance?

Thanks.

 

[Dave 85]

Instead of reporting this guy to the NIC for not turning up....
Why not report him to the police. The hefty prison sentance he will no doubt receive would be a stark warning to other electricians to always turn up to jobs promptly and be courteous and polite at all times.

 

[ipf]

Waste of b***** time. Get your hand in your pocket and pay an extra £50/60 for a decent job done. Lesson learned!

 

[Spoon]

You can’t really blame the OP for going with the lowest price quoted. Most firms do these days cause money it tight. Also as he stated, what would stop a guy quoting £50 more from not turning up? Where do you stop? Yes, we only have his side of the story and we will never get to hear the other side. There may be a reason why the OP was called an idiot, but we will not find out.

 

[Dave 85]

Its quite funny really
There seems to be a fair few people here suggesting that when collecting quotes for work a person should never go for the lowest one......
Rather odd logic if you ask me
As far as Im aware it is possible for a contractor to put in big quotes and still be a complete -------

 

[MDJ]

still seems strange that a guy gives a cost on a job, and in the recession decides to verbally abuse the customer and not to do the job at all, still scratching my head on this one chaps.

 

[SpacePink]

You can’t really blame the OP for going with the lowest price quoted. Most firms do these days cause money it tight. Also as he stated, what would stop a guy quoting £50 more from not turning up? Where do you stop? Yes, we only have his side of the story and we will never get to hear the other side. There may be a reason why the OP was called an idiot, but we will not find out.

You can’t really blame the OP for going with the lowest price quoted. Most firms do these days cause money it tight. Also as he stated, what would stop a guy quoting £50 more from not turning up? Where do you stop? Yes, we only have his side of the story and we will never get to hear the other side. There may be a reason why the OP was called an idiot, but we will not find out.

Thanks for your comments Spoon.
Both my usual chaps were unavailable for weeks
This person was chosen based on the brief from my client.

The appointment was for 2pm, at 6pm I called to ask him how it had all gone as I'd not heard anything.
He announced that he'd not gone, I asked why not and also why hadn't he called me 4 hours ago to let me know as the tenants had waited in for him. He slammed the phone down.

I texted telling him how rude that was and stating that a quick call or an apology would've sufficed.
His rant began with "Listen you IDIOT!!' at which point I'd reached my limit and made a complaint about him -and I have the evidence.

In my line of work people not turning up is an occupational hazard and usually they apologise and offer to make amends.
I couldn't help wondering whether I would've been treated any differently had I been a male.
Perhaps he thought being female I'd be a soft touch - who knows.

 

[SpacePink]

Its quite funny really
There seems to be a fair few people here suggesting that when collecting quotes for work a person should never go for the lowest one......
Rather odd logic if you ask me
As far as Im aware it is possible for a contractor to put in big quotes and still be a complete -------

Dave85,
You are so right.
I run a small business and my fees are very reasonable for all the services I offer my clients and the round the clock accessibility offered. The referrals come through based on my helpfulness and 'can do' attitude.
I would have no work if people only trusted those charging the most expensive fees.

 

[SpacePink]

Ethics and standards have little to do with money in my view Ipf.

 

[SpacePink]

Waste of b***** time. Get your hand in your pocket and pay an extra £50/60 for a decent job done. Lesson learned!

Ethics and standards have little to do with money in my view Ipf.

 

[Spoon]

Cant see how you being female has made this situation come about. The guy didn't do what he quoted for. Who know why.... Hope it all gets sorted at the end of the day.

 

[SpacePink]

Instead of reporting this guy to the NIC for not turning up....
Why not report him to the police. The hefty prison sentance he will no doubt receive would be a stark warning to other electricians to always turn up to jobs promptly and be courteous and polite at all times.

Dave85, it wasn't the not turning up, it was the insults and name calling that followed that did it for me.
Had I been a male would he have done this so aggressively?

 

[SpacePink]

By the sound of it there hasn't been much past work, which could be an indication as to the amount of future work.

Adam, what a negative view and outlook you have.
I remember doing a tiny piece of work for someone for free and didn't think anything of it.
Six months later that person referred an Investment Landlord to me with 12 properties.
I'm glad that I don't govern the work I do for people based purely on what's in it for me all the time.

 

[drew35]

Unfortunately I think you just have to stand the extra cost yourself, the same as we all have to do when costs exceed quoted figure. It happens.

Why don't you direct us all to their website, so we can familiarize ourselves with them.

NAME AND SHAME!

 

[Adam W]

Adam, what a negative view and outlook you have.
I remember doing a tiny piece of work for someone for free and didn't think anything of it.
Six months later that person referred an Investment Landlord to me with 12 properties.
I'm glad that I don't govern the work I do for people based purely on what's in it for me all the time.

We could argue all day about who has the negative attitude here, but it seems you haven't done anything the landlord couldn't have done for them self. You got an estimate for a price which is presumably lower than your 'usual 2 guys' and seem to have guaranteed that for your customers, then been let down and come here looking for someone to help you out, the implication being that this is a 'way in' to become your main electrical contractor which will lead to more work which, as you have found yourself, is no guarantee.

I'm not saying you are out to rip off an electrician, but I've heard of many instances where an electrician has been 'encouraged' to do work at a loss on the promise of more work which never materialises, and let's face it, letting agents aren't renowned for their integrity.

 

[ipf]

Ethics and standards have little to do with money in my view Ipf.

You've been taken for what seems to be a pointless ride and, although there are no losses involved, I understand your being upset. However, if ethics and standards are the basis of your upset, why make such a fuss over a price ceiling when a few extra tenners (one of the other quotes, for example) are the solution. I thought the point was that you still required the work to be carried out. Anyway, all the best, hope you sort it.