Huge dilemma

[Desrebel]

Alright chaps ,

ive recently got a contract with a big building firm doing extensions and house renovations . Currently on a job at the moment that has run 12 weeks over ( not just electrics all work ) . It's a huge project and currently coming to
the end of 2nd fixing . About a week ago I advised the customer not to turn on any of the power as works were still not completed and That there were open ends in the loft . I locked the fuse boards off , however when I came to job next day the lock was broken off and all circuits were on . I told the customer this was dangerous and out of order and explained the risks he also has children running round the house and the socket faces etc are all off the wall .

Things now get worse as he refused to make a stage payment to the builder so we all got pulled of site for a week or so until they negotiated some payment . This was sorted and I then went back. I sorted all circuits out and done a test on ring and lights etc and everything was clear and working . Next day I came back and some of the neutrals in the consumer unit were loose and there was a fault on a lighting circuit and on the ring main . I asked customer if anyone had been messing with the board and he denied it . I found the faults ( neutral to earth on ring after socket was screwed on and the neutral got caught this was done by him , and lighting fault was where he had put spots up and used the switch wire as a neutral . Today I turned up and he has installed a socket that was on my list to do and there was no earth sleeve connected .

I walked off the job today as I'm furious with what is happening . Problem is I'm owed 2k and also I want more work from the builder . If this was my own private work I would walk away from the job as my work is being tampered with . What do you guys suggest I'm in a horrible situation here . Plus they are treating myself and the lads like **** and talking to us like were dirt . Any advice would be good , sorry for the long drawn out post

 

[telectrix]

just seen the light. asian. without being racist, some of these asians are past masters at wriggling out of paying. you need to get together with the builder/main contractor and both face up to him. no pay, no more work, both get paid to date, then everyone walk.

 

[Desrebel]

I just can't communicate with the idiot , im
Gonna have to bit the billet . He owes the company about 12k and I just know they won't get a penny of it . Do I know I'm going to work for **** all . And the building keeps pushing me to
get it to finished so he can ask for a payment he won't get . It really is soul destroying . If I had security of more work guaranteed I'd be well gone .

 

[Plonker 3]

If you are direct to the builder then you need to tell them they are responsible for you being paid not the customer. Ask for reassurances from them or even payment before you proceed.

 

[Desrebel]

I know mate your right they have a
the tricks under the sun . We all got pulled off it for a week and a half while
they negotiated . And I believe they negotiated the final
payment in stages so every 3 days now the main gaffer had just gone to Greece for 2 weeks so his son has took over .and he hasn't made the stage payment even though he apparently agreed in writing . He's now saying when all
the work is done I will pay . There's at least another 2 weeks for all trades to finish and even after that he won't pay . He's had joiners put doors on one way then the other way then the other way again . Absolutle nightmare . Everyone's at each other's throat on site now . Something has got to give this week or it's gonna more messy than it already is
. I don't trust myself to
bite my tongue

 

[Octopus]

Round here they argue about the price before it's sent in writing, so I add 25% and hope I don't get the work

 

[shanky887614]

I know mate your right they have a
the tricks under the sun . We all got pulled off it for a week and a half while
they negotiated . And I believe they negotiated the final
payment in stages so every 3 days now the main gaffer had just gone to Greece for 2 weeks so his son has took over .and he hasn't made the stage payment even though he apparently agreed in writing . He's now saying when all
the work is done I will pay . There's at least another 2 weeks for all trades to finish and even after that he won't pay . He's had joiners put doors on one way then the other way then the other way again . Absolutle nightmare . Everyone's at each other's throat on site now . Something has got to give this week or it's gonna more messy than it already is
. I don't trust myself to
bite my tongue

im suprised the builders and the rest havent scuttled the place

 

[Desrebel]

It's been
nice to get this off my chest , missus won't look at me as it's affecting my home life and everything . Can't be good this . I love my job never usually like
this but he's got me
by the ********

 

[Desrebel]

I point blank refuse to
work for them with my private work . But this builder does so it's not by choice

 

[trev]

I must be lucky, I never get any payment hassles from my asian customers. When I first started working for them there were a couple but word must have gotten round not to try to screw around with the price and payments with me.
Mind you, I have walked out with bullets in my pocket. It's amazing how quickly a restaurant owner finds cash he didn't have on him when he's faced with the prospect of not opening on a busy night because he's got no electricity.

 

[telectrix]

think it's time for OP to get a couple of geordies and scousers over there. show customer the facts of life ( or death).

 

[Dcf]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUzlmWWdjEQ
like this guy tel?

 

[specs]

The client is a shyster, its as clear as daylight the guy is looking to get a good job for next to nowt.

 

[Desrebel]

Hahaha I don't think Paul Hollywood can help me on this one

 

[Dcf]

Makes a nice cake though.

 

[Gavin A]

I know I'm so angry , his wife is there in the day and as soon as I mention or ask why it's been messed with she starts crying. To add the list of problems the company is depending on my to get the work to scratch ready to be signed off before he makes another payment . And I don't want to
loose future work with this company as they are really busy and have a lot on by refusing to go back . Im not gonna sleep tonight thinking about this *******

Write a brief email cc'd to the building contractor, along the lines of

dear x

I have been contracted by --- builders as the electrical contractor to be responsible for the installation, testing and building regulations notifications for all electrical works undertaken on this project.

It is therefore totally unacceptable for you or anyone else to interfere with these electrical works in any way.

So far your interference has resulted in me losing several hours of work detecting and correcting the faults that had occurred as a result of you attempting to take on some of these works yourself without consultation, so your work has actually slowed down the final sign off date by at least half a day which I'm sure you'll agree is in nobodies interests.

I also can not legally or morally take responsibility for signing off any works that have not been carried out by myself, or another skilled and trained electrician working under my authority.

I therefore must request that you cease and desist from carrying out any works on the electrical installation, and notify you that any further interference with the electrical works would be a breach of contract, and will put me in an untenable position, in which I would regretfully be unable to complete any further works, or sign off the works I have already completed.

I appreciate that you're probably just trying to speed things up, but hope you can appreciate my position, and understand that ultimately any works you carry out yourself will only slow the process down as they would all need to be identified, checked and probably redone.

If I am unable to self certify my work, this would then need the local authority building control to be able to certify the work themselves, which could result in a serious further delay and potentially additional works to allow them to visually inspect aspects of the installation that have already been buried in walls, ceilings, floors etc. so it really is in everybody's best interests for me to be allowed to complete and certify all the works myself.

sincerely

des


no idea why I just wrote that rather than leaving the office.