Customer, plasterer!!!

[highspark]

I've had a bad evening. Completed a job a week or so ago. Customer gave me nothing but problems from the beginning but managed to get paid and out the door.

Call this evening "I need you to speak to my plasterer" plasterer comes on." Hi just finished plastering and everything is tripping. There was a blanked off old switch that had connectors in. That I was told by customer was dead. I think it has water ingress in and is making it trip!" me. "Did you put tape over it or cardboard?" to stop ingress into blocks?" no customer told me it was dead Nd I tested it"

So I said il be with you in 10 mins. Got there and said plaster needs to come off. Both customer & plasterer standing there silent. Customer says well I don't know who's liable starts quizzing md etc. essentially backing me in the corner. So rather stupidly I became arrogant with her arrogance.

Told them straight any plasterer would know to not plaster straight over exposed cables. Plasterer then does a runner I've got to go etc. before he went he knocked the plaster off and nothing tripped. I pulled wires out and sealed with tape.

Just before he went customer says I also want to raise this issue. Plasterer said you must install an inch backbox to incorporate dimmer. You have only put in a half inch. I said so he's the electrician now is he. What had happened was as he had made good around the switch the screws from 800w dimmer wouldnt reach.

Anyway at this point I was fuming and regretably and unprofesionally i spoke to her in an assertive tone she then tells me I was bullying her. At that point I had to walk out and take a breather.

It was the whole week of the customers crap that built up. Plasterer got of sheepishly and said nothing.

 

[robd]

It strikes me that people should read a post two or three times to makes sure they've read it properly before they start calling people incompetent and a danger to others.

 

[D80]

In fairness the OP confused me, and still has me confused, with this tape and cardboard thing.

Blanked off redundant switch - all fine. Blank plate removed and tape/cardboard mentioned - lost me on how this will be useful.

An old foreman of mine used to say thank blank plates looked horrendous and wouldn't let us use them - he preferred a 1way switch instead. Not connected, but acting as a blank plate. It looked like it was there for a reason.

 

[plugsandsparks]

Looked straight forward to me, plasterer (hate them) wants to get a good finish but this plate is in the way. Removes plate and gobs up, normal service resumed. Trips house, oh bugger, calls electrcian who has a hissy fit (he also hates plasteres) and suggests if he had to remove the faceplate to put some cardboard etc in the hole to stop the gob bunging up the works. When plaster goes off , take out carboard to reveal un-molested connections.
Jobs a gud up.
Dont think i would have lost it though, unless i had driven 100mls and the client let rip before listening to what i had to say.

 

[Knobhead]

Thank you D80, perhaps others will understand why I went off on one.

The OP did not set out what were the eventual facts.

Chaos rules, simply because it’s better organised.

 

[pencilpusher]

In fairness the OP confused me, and still has me confused, with this tape and cardboard thing.

Blanked off redundant switch - all fine. Blank plate removed and tape/cardboard mentioned - lost me on how this will be useful.

An old foreman of mine used to say thank blank plates looked horrendous and wouldn't let us use them - he preferred a 1way switch instead. Not connected, but acting as a blank plate. It looked like it was there for a reason.

and of course the next occupier will call someone out becuase her light switch doesn't work!! Classic :rockon2:.