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.

 

[MDJ]

well we have only heard one side of the story also, I would love to hear the sparks, I bet his is different than yours lol

 

[pencilpusher]

The OP went for a registered electrician who advertised the service at the price agreed. It is a fact that although he maybe a great electrician, it does not make him any good whatsoever with customers. I know several good sparks who cannot communicate properly.

There may be another side to this story but if we are to accept the OP's version of events at this stage, the spark sounds like a bit of a tool on this occasion!

 

[MDJ]

The point is actually we have not heard from him, how do we know what she is saying is correct, I don't like one sided stories, I know what some customers can be like, a few posts back one member suggested naming and shaming, lets see his details and we can ask him about his side of the story, a spark refusing work and abusing a customer in the middle of a recession doesn't seem right to me, something is a miss and it is just tarring someone without trial, I like to back the spark 9 times out of 10, however will happily back the OP with some evidence and not just hearsay.

 

[pencilpusher]

OK fine but lets not pretend all sparks are good with customers 'cos they are not. I am not sure the OP would come on here to make it all up but hey. As he hasn't been named (and thats OK with me on a forum like this) its nothing personal is it?

 

[MDJ]

really, I wouldn't doubt for a minute a new member who wasn't a spark would make something up, after reading the threads here for the last month nothing suprises me, I like to hear both sides of the story, she may be right, but hey she may be lying, why judge someone who cannot defend themselves??

 

[pencilpusher]

I did say "If we are to accept the OP's version" not " the OP's version is what happened" !

It's just a discussion.

 

[Robert Turnbull]

Sadly to far for me.

I think the issue is he has pre paid for this. If he hasn't it would be so much of a problem.

He's now faced with the dilemma of pay out if his pocket for another spark, or ringing his client and saying the £140 you paid was wasted as the guy didn't turn up. Hence ****ed off client, especially as OP chose the spark ( not that it's his fault ).

 

[i=p/u]

i say sad but forget about it and move on , i do find it weird you talking about all these investors and what not and they dont have spark at end of phone for their work....

snooze ya looze for sparkz somez timez toooz

 

[SpacePink]

really, I wouldn't doubt for a minute a new member who wasn't a spark would make something up, after reading the threads here for the last month nothing suprises me, I like to hear both sides of the story, she may be right, but hey she may be lying, why judge someone who cannot defend themselves??

MDJ, Why would I come on this forum, spend a great deal of time responding to comments all based on a lie?
I'm happy to say that I got the work done within budget and in the process found a good firm that I'll use for future work related to my business.

 

[SpacePink]

Sadly to far for me.

I think the issue is he has pre paid for this. If he hasn't it would be so much of a problem.

He's now faced with the dilemma of pay out if his pocket for another spark, or ringing his client and saying the £140 you paid was wasted as the guy didn't turn up. Hence ****ed off client, especially as OP chose the spark ( not that it's his fault ).

RT, you summed this up perfectly.
Fortunately, I got the work done within budget and I'll use these guys again as they were polite, talked to me respectfully in addition to doing the job requested. And you're right, I would've had to pay out of my own pocket, as I would not risk upsetting a client and losing my credibility for something like this.

 

[SpacePink]

OK fine but lets not pretend all sparks are good with customers 'cos they are not. I am not sure the OP would come on here to make it all up but hey. As he hasn't been named (and thats OK with me on a forum like this) its nothing personal is it?

Pencilpusher, You're right - a lot of tradesmen think it's good enough to be good at their area of expertise and fail to acknowledge the fact that interpersonal skills are just as important to guarantee repeat business.
Really what does it take to be polite and personable to a prospective client? Being nice pays.

And of course I would not come on this forum, spend all this time responding to comments based on a lie.
I have the evidence on my phone and by email. In a way, I was hoping he might have seen all these comments on here and had his say on his despicable behaviour.

 

[SpacePink]

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.

The whole point of Property Management is that you do things for the Landlord that they either don't want to do, haven't got time to do or simply can't do as they don't live anywhere near their investment property.
If the Landlord could've done this he would not have employed a management firm in the first place.

I came on here because another electrician (too busy himself) recommended that I do so. And I thought it was a good and helpful suggestion.
There was no promise of future work, it was a job that needed doing for anyone who wanted the business.

 

[SpacePink]

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.

The whole point of Property Management is that you do things for the Landlord that they either don't want to do, haven't got time to do or simply can't do as they don't live anywhere near their investment property.
If the Landlord could've done this he would not have employed a management firm in the first place.

I came on here because another electrician (too busy himself) recommended that I do so. And I thought it was a good and helpful suggestion.
There was no promise of future work, it was a job that needed doing for anyone who wanted the business.​

Read more: http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...8169-completely-let-down-4.html#ixzz2FgXNCPwa​

 

[RISElectrical]

Some of the attitudes on here amaze me. Its almost as if we are a superior trade and as such people should pay the highest price etc. When i obtain quotes I always go for 3 quotes and true the cheapest isnt always selected if there is a good reason not to (knowledge of the site, system in question etc) but in all honesty cost is a major factor in anything these days and so slating someone for obtaining the lowest quote is a little out of order.

I didn't read past page 2 but the comments from taffy made no sense to me and sounded more like an attack on the landlord profession as a whole, the comments about setting up in your bedroom etc made me smile as thats how a lot of sparks set up their businesses.

Glad the OP got it sorted.

 

[MDJ]

Some of the attitudes on here amaze me. Its almost as if we are a superior trade .

I think we are to be honest, but all I was trying to say was there is always 2 sides to every story, I never said the OP was lying, I just said they may be, however I'm glad all got sorted, tell me another trade who is superior to us then? and I don't mean rocket science, I mean a trade?