Feel like I'm being used

[lofty84]

Just a quick question really how much is the going rate for connecting a shower up (the cable was already run so I just had to terminate it) installing a bathroom light and pull cord and wiring up a switched fused spur for a towel radiator, next was putting in an earthrod to earth these 2 new circuits and then installing a new 2 way board for the circuits, I had to move the meter do new tails and take a new earth to the water pipe, I just wondered how much one would charge for that ad I got the handsome sum of 57 pounds which when I minus my petrol money a 60 mile round trip probably leaves me with 50 quid if that. How much would he have charged do u think min

Thankyou

 

[Guitarist]

thats almost like going backwards, I think the best thing to do is register as part P and start of with jobs i know I can do, get some happy customers and go from there. I cant be going backwards

You will not be going forwards though unless you have a plan in place and your eyes wide open. You will need funds for test gear, a job for your part P registration, public liability, funds for getting registered in the first place, funds for advertising, let alone all the other gear you will find you haven't got. Also allow for making a loss for at least the first year.
You have demonstrated that there are huge gaps in your knowledge, and that worries me.

 

[lofty84]

Funds are in place for a tester as well as joining part of a scheme (scam), but as telectrix points out I could start of with small jobs that wouldnt need to be notifiable and then as I start to outgrow these smaller or am being asked to do larger part p required jobs I could either pay to make them notifiable with building control or just join a scheme. Jobs wise I have a full rewire that I did with a college mate for a friend that I can use or a board change that is waiting to be done at my parents. As I underdstand it a simple additional socket will meet the requirments the assesor would be looking for to gain acess tot he scheme. Granted haveing the luxury of all the tools in the world is not there at the moment it simply means I will have to re invest most of my profits (wages) back into my business with all the little bits and bobs one needs the same for public liability. 9/10 im sure you get the job depending on wether the customer likes you on first impression and I think 9/10 they will. That just leaves me to worry about public liability the one thing im unsure of how much it will cost but that is just a phone call away and I doubt it is thousand a year but I could be wrong. Surely if you honest trustworthy reliable and do a good job word of mouth is going to be how I earn a living. I might need a few business cards to start with but after that word of mouth is what im looking for as well as a few builders

 

[Plonker 3]

A DB change at your parents would be a good start, that's what I did for my firs assessment, as it also gives you time to look over it before hand to ensure everything is correct.

People aren't exactly queuing up at the minute to have work done so unless you have some lined up don't expect the phone to start ringing straight away, also it is worth remembering that you will be competing against "Fred" from down the pub quite a lot who doesn't have the same overheads as you.

Public Liability is about £70 for they year, mine is with AXA and that is up to £2,000,000. If you start doing PAT or EICRs then you will also need Professional Indemnity insurance too.

 

[richy3333]

To be fair I've probably burnt those bridges, the problem with me is I get wound up very quickly

Lifes too short to get wound up mate...

Get even with him!

 

[Guitarist]

Adding a socket will not be enough for an assessment. As Dillb says, a CU change is usually the minimum they are looking for with all certificates, and what most of us do. Mine was a CU change and new shower circuit/install. Go onto Elecsa's website for a list of requirements.
Most builders will already have their "preferred electrician", though no harm in asking a few.

 

[ayjay]

i had a similar situation a long time ago, i priced a job on a nursing home extension ,
when i had completed it ,the guy wouldnt pay me the price id quoted
his reason being that i hadn,t been on the job from 8 till 5pm
i pointed out that all the work was completed on time and was a fixed price (first fix) the ----er still wouldnt pay up
get it in writing!! and sighned by the client

 

[Dave 85]

What area you in lofty? A subby with van, tools and tester would get £120-£150 a day round my area (Bucks/Berks/Oxon). What you did sounds like a days work. Did you supply any materials? either way, you got shafted hard.
Its difficult to advise people on whats worth doing, for what, these days because some guys really are desperate but I'd never of subb'ed for anyone for less than £120 a day after tax, I wouldn't even do that anymore.

 

[Cbigfoot]

Lofty if you are looking for work i may be looking for someone to help me out for a while!

 

[sedgy34]

£300 all day every day

 

[sedgy34]

What area you in lofty? A subby with van, tools and tester would get £120-£150 a day round my area (Bucks/Berks/Oxon). What you did sounds like a days work. Did you supply any materials? either way, you got shafted hard.
Its difficult to advise people on whats worth doing, for what, these days because some guys really are desperate but I'd never of subb'ed for anyone for less than £120 a day after tax, I wouldn't even do that anymore.

no wonder your on the forum in the daytime lol

 

[craigj85]

Surely that job will have left you out of pocket after travel and materials?? you should be getting an hourly rate off the guy or agree a price before. its an easy one to fall into as you dont want to lose the work. i would tell him you aint happy with what he paid and see if he'll sort it out . a days work for a spark with any contractor averages about £90-100 but thats with all the gear provided so you should of been looking at £150 at least with ur travel

 

[ASL]

set your sights higher, see if you can get a copy of the local authority schedule of rates for electrical installation work ! along with your investment in yourself gaining your qualifications you'll be suprised! what electrical jobs are worth, all the best

 

[Robinson]

I've had a guy ring me before telling me what the job was and the rate he would pay. Told him that I set my rates not him and he hung up on me, last I heard of him he was using DIY Dave.
Pay peanuts, get monkey.
Lofty, tell him to go away mate he is using you as per your title

Yeah there seems to be a trend of these ones who like to tell you how much they are going to pay and what they want. whether what they want is even possible or not. ! like They do a few searches on google for average price they look at cheapest fittings and think they are electricians. Its hilarious sometimes. I never hear of this attitude towards plumbers tho. weird aint it.

So i not even got half way through this thread and just seens its from years ago , BUT STILL LOFTY ! WALK FROM THIS GUY. if you aint already . which im sure by now you must of. And i hope your fullfilling your desire to be a decent honest sparks.


Oh and would of been defiantly over £200 beans from me

 

[Marvo]

If I were you Lofty I would get Part P registered but from what I've read of your dilemma I don't think you're going to make it self employed. I know it sounds harsh but there's a lot more to being successfully self employed than just doing the electrical work. I think you're going to need a lot more experience with someone who knows the ropes and is willing to teach you before you go it alone.

 

[saudkhan]

my initial call out charge for the first 1/2 hrs is £75 and then £ 38 per hr i am not cheep but they do get a good done and i have never have any come back that my job is not right