Educating customers - wasted time

[gazdkw82]

I know its not the customers fault but it's frustrating when you get asked to do some work and the plan is alot different when you turn up.

Family member asked me to help her friend who needs a few socket fronts terminating, a few lights switches terminating and some downlights connecting. I had some jobs plans today so I decided to move things around this morning to fit it in.

Got to the house.... It's a completely gutted bungalow. Huge! Bungalow I should add.

Anyway, customer basically says the whole installation is new apart from parts of some circuits which are old, he has done some of the work, his electrical friend did some of the work bla bla bla.... Cables hanging everywhere out of walls etc...new consumer units etc....

Sorry mate, you need to get your electrician friend to come and sign his work off. Isn't that something you can do?? I spent the next 10 mins explaining what an EIC, EICR, minor works etc are and the differences.

I didn't want to get involved in that job ha

Owel.

 

[Nigel]

Trouble is the wife mates sister wants it on the cheap, stand your ground and always charge accordingly.

Agreed. I stopped doing mates rates about ten years ago.

 

[EbolaSideRoom]

If they really are your mates, surely they’ll be happy to pay your usual rates? Our friends wouldn’t want us to do them a half-arsed job on the cheap any more than our customers would.

 

[Intoelectrics]

Many years ago I went to do a second fix on a large house that another sparky had first fixed. Actually it was a sad story because the first fix spark had died before the house was ready for completion. Trouble is every room had been wired to take loads of GU10 recessed spots, all the ceilings were up, plastered and decorated and all the floors up & down either tiled or laminated. Every single cable had been covered over and there were no plans left by the deceased spark. In the end the ceilings ended up looking like Swiss cheese as me and the house owner attempted to discern where the spots might have been intended to go. We managed to get it sorted but it took a while and every ceiling had to be patched re-plastered and decorated again. Oh and non of the switch wires or supplies had been marked up, though this just added a bit more time and I quite enjoyed the challenge. House bashing can often become mundane at times.

 

[FatAlan]

It’s the glazed look on their faces as you try and explain the regs etc. Being new to the trade you try and explain and after a few seconds the expression on their face makes you realise that you’re wasting your time.

 

[telectrix]

you don't need to be new to the trade, we get it all the time.

"Why have you quoted for earthing and bonding, testing and RC thingies,
all i want is a new shower connecting that the plumber fitted."

 

[Squid]

you don't need to be new to the trade, we get it all the time.

"Why have you quoted for earthing and bonding, testing and RC thingies,
all i want is a new shower connecting that the plumber fitted."

You need better clients that want to a have a supa dupe twin impeller X gazillion bar pump fitted to their mansion for the errrrr "alternative" parties....... You mix in the wrong circles...... ;o))))

 

[dave274]

I just get them to chop all the cables back out so they can be checked, if they don't want to do that I tell them to get a cowboy in.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

When I ask a mate to do some work for me, it isn’t because I think I’ll get it cheaper, it’s because I’d rather give my business to one of my mates than some stranger.

 

['mr2'gd4u]

You need better clients that want to a have a supa dupe twin impeller X gazillion bar pump fitted to their mansion for the errrrr "alternative" parties....... You mix in the wrong circles...... ;o))))

Its not his fault he's from 'the far north'

 

[Squid]

When I ask a mate to do some work for me, it isn’t because I think I’ll get it cheaper, it’s because I’d rather give my business to one of my mates than some stranger.

Also you won't get screwed over.

 

[Pete999]

Many years ago I went to do a second fix on a large house that another sparky had first fixed. Actually it was a sad story because the first fix spark had died before the house was ready for completion. Trouble is every room had been wired to take loads of GU10 recessed spots, all the ceilings were up, plastered and decorated and all the floors up & down either tiled or laminated. Every single cable had been covered over and there were no plans left by the deceased spark. In the end the ceilings ended up looking like Swiss cheese as me and the house owner attempted to discern where the spots might have been intended to go. We managed to get it sorted but it took a while and every ceiling had to be patched re-plastered and decorated again. Oh and non of the switch wires or supplies had been marked up, though this just added a bit more time and I quite enjoyed the challenge. House bashing can often become mundane at times.

Things like this, make you wonder about the mentality and intelligence, of not only the customer, but more importantly the other Trades for covering up the cables and tiling over the electrical points, the mind boggles.

 

[Pete999]

Things like this, make you wonder about the mentality and intelligence, of not only the customer, but more importantly the other Trades for covering up the cables and tiling over the electrical points, the mind boggles.

Back in my post Apprenticeship, I was in charge of a block of Student accommodation, small room couple of sockets, lighting and a water heater, concrete floors.
One Electrician ME umpteen gangs of plasterers, dare I say it, all from the Island that is situated west of England, I hadn't chased the cables in, in one particular room, spreads came in cut the cables at floor and ceiling levels and plastered the whole room, bunch of Divvies.

 

[telectrix]

what sort of a numpty spread even touches cables, let alone cut them?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Also you won't get screwed over.

Hopefully not.

 

[Toneyz]

Back in my post Apprenticeship, I was in charge of a block of Student accommodation, small room couple of sockets, lighting and a water heater, concrete floors.
One Electrician ME umpteen gangs of plasterers, dare I say it, all from the Island that is situated west of England, I hadn't chased the cables in, in one particular room, spreads came in cut the cables at floor and ceiling levels and plastered the whole room, bunch of Divvies.

Their attitude hasn't changed much in the time since.