homeserve ringing me up giving me jobs???

[ExArmy]

2 weeks after i placed and ad on yell.com i've had 3-4 advertising people contact me but no other work, tonight i got a call from homeserve saying they had an electrical emergency and would like me to attend asap and sort it out for them and then invoice them directly for it. i was sceptical at first and was about to hang up but i got the old ladys phone number from them and called her up to arrange to go and see it, basically theres been a leak in the bathroom and the light below has stopped working. i'm going to see it tomorrow, and then i'll invoice homeserve and see what happens. it's only 5 mins away and i'm not busy so I might aswell have a go i reckon.
should i fill out an EICR just for the circuits relavent to the room below the bathroom (ring and lights i'm guessing..) and leave that with the customer?

 

[joe j]

The firm I worked for volunteered us. Their reputation is justified.

 

[UNG]

Tell them that because water has gotten into the electrics it is highly recommended that they have a full EICR as there could be some underlying problems caused by the water. Also see what CU is there and go down the route of new CU (if needed) and bonding

The BBC might call what you are suggesting a Rogue Trader

I can see another type of spark appearing to join the ranks of the domestic, commercial and industrial the "vulture spark"

I'm surprised you didn't suggest a complete rewire as water can do a lot of unseen damage that might not instantly affect the installation but may cause failure some time after

This comes over as any installation that isn't 17th edition is bad and should be sorted as any installation that does not comply with the 17th edition shouldn't be allowed to have power connected to it

 

[oldtimer]

Yep hate to say it but a bit O water at a light fitting does not mean a duty of care to sell the householder a new CU remember she is not obliged to get one. Also homecare well yep they are useing their head they need a spark asap and no doubt they are on the look out for what I would call fallback guys who can fill in when busy plus I have no doubt that your £50 call out will end up being a £150 bill to the old lady who will then pass it on to her insurance company who will then pay her £50 as she will have a £100 excess.

I have highlighted this before I got a call from a FM company who called me out to a fashion store in a retail park they asked me to look at the job first and I could not understand why the spark before me left it in the condition it was but it turned out they did not want a quote instead they wanted to pay £30 an hour sounds good until you realise they will only pay this from the minute you book into the store plus if you need materials you go to CEF where they have an account and get the equipment I worked it out that I spent more time running about in my motor plus if CEF did not have the part you had to sign out the the store so I passed on their offer then went quite but that the way it goes plus me thinks companies like homeserve are going to do more of this

 

[ezzzekiel]

Chances are you will not get paid

 

[ExArmy]

Chances are you will not get paid

maybe but it took 20 mins so i don't have alot to lose! i'll invoice homeserve and post back if i get paid or not

 

[Barneyb57]

Tell them that because water has gotten into the electrics it is highly recommended that they have a full EICR as there could be some underlying problems caused by the water. Also see what CU is there and go down the route of new CU (if needed) and bonding

Why?? Dont see why you want to do that...if its not effected the CU? If Im Honest??

 

[Barneyb57]

Arent we all juming the gun a bit with talk of CU's , rcd's & eicr's ?? lol

bit of water in light escalates into £400 of upgrades lol.

10min to dry out fitting & wiring , ins res test cable from switch , check bonding , jump in van.
MWC ? not needed even if changing light.
Notify ? not needed for like for like replacement even if in special location.
No rcd ? well youre not there to fit sockets so again not needed.
Bonding not correct ? record it in your job report to homeserve.

If you bump up small repairs into massive jobs you end up with no better reputation than British Gas.

ABSOLUTELY...Good reply...

 

[DurhamSparky]

Home serve are good to there word..

on your invoice you will need to ref the JOB think they come with a NOCC...... reference number.. or some thing like that! home serve normally sell the "patch" to a franchise holders (allowed up-to 3 licence holders per patch but one company not allowed to own more than 2 licenses for monopoly reasons) if you have got the job its because the area franchises cant respond or don't want the job... (by the way home serve pay £70 plus vat to there license holders for every call out.... so don't sell your self short! and now your on the system you will probably get repeat jobs

i worked for a home serve franchise holder and he was a nugget... he also owned a Mr Electric franchise as well... (says it all)





p.s home serve only pay for call outs & essential repairs!! if the installation is not up to 7671 standards they wont cover the customer for any more works..! and teh certainly wont pay for bonding to be instaled!!!

 

[ExArmy]

still not been paid, got a call last week to say they had received my invoice and it should be paid in 2 days, oh by the way we have another call out if you want it's only 10 miles away from you? i declined as i was too busy that night but i still think something dodgy is going on here? seems a coincedence they happen to have a job for me at the same time they receive my invoice...
i'll chase it up if still nothing received by the end of next week.

 

[i=p/u]

sounds like the builder im working for, yeh i have more work for you in belfast.

well 1 it be cheaper to hire somone up there, tho he can trust me
2 aint been payed for works ive done over 7 weeks or so ,just 1k for materials which is nearly out now
3 no more jobs getting started untill i receive payment.

 

[Dave 85]

Arent we all juming the gun a bit with talk of CU's , rcd's & eicr's ?? lol

bit of water in light escalates into £400 of upgrades lol.

10min to dry out fitting & wiring , ins res test cable from switch , check bonding , jump in van.
MWC ? not needed even if changing light.
Notify ? not needed for like for like replacement even if in special location.
No rcd ? well youre not there to fit sockets so again not needed.
Bonding not correct ? record it in your job report to homeserve.

If you bump up small repairs into massive jobs you end up with no better reputation than British Gas.

I know.....its the usual waffle
Change a light fitting? Why not con the poor old dear into a rewire while yer there? For her own safety of course.

 

[Guitarist]

still not been paid, got a call last week to say they had received my invoice and it should be paid in 2 days, oh by the way we have another call out if you want it's only 10 miles away from you? i declined as i was too busy that night but i still think something dodgy is going on here? seems a coincedence they happen to have a job for me at the same time they receive my invoice...
i'll chase it up if still nothing received by the end of next week.

Keep us posted mate.

 

[ExArmy]

well i never, the cheque arrived today in the post!

 

[Guitarist]

well i never, the cheque arrived today in the post!

Glad to hear it. Maybe you will feel confident about doing more work for them now

 

[StuSpiers]

Hope it's not a rubber one!

EDIT:

Just applied to become a homeserve tradesmen - (I'm guessing being on there approved sub contractor list).

Anybody know the requirements to join?

Is anybody an approved homeserve tradesman?

It mentions either NIC or ECA is required would that be full ECA or Elecsa.