Is this price fair?

[cronshd]

Hi (this is my first post)

We are having a lot fo work done on our house which includes electrical work - which our main building contractor manages by pulling in the trades with the guys he works with on projects like this.

I am continually amazed at the cost of the electrics.

here is one example:

Supply, wire and fit 12LV downlights - £960 ecxcl VAT.

Is that about right?

I keep feeling I've been a bit naive because the electrics, including VAT is now >£14k - which seems a massive amount - and that excludes some of the fittings eg in the hallway and dining pendants which we are expected to get ourselves.

How do I challenge this? Or is it the going rate?

(This is in the Home Counties).

Thanks, D.

 

[richy3333]

Yes - agreed. The point about the 'walk around and agree to additional items' is actually an important one.

At that point we had the £6k agreed and signed. The additional was a bathroom, en-suite and corridor with 3 lights and external work. I did not imagine that would total more than £2k - which is the case. Things was, when we went round, because there were other trades there at the time, our builder went off with them and left us alone with the electrician. So he would make suggestions as we walked round the whole job (including what we had already signed for - ie kitchen-lounge-diner) - and my naive assumption was that anything he said was included. The builder was not there as the 'guardian' to say "that will cost you extra" at any point.

So..........that is one way I got shafted in this case.

And that was even with me saying to the electrician "we want to keep it simple".

There seems to be two issues - 1st, that the overall cost is very high and, 2nd, that you thought the additions were included in the original contract price.

I felt the highlighted point was important. I'm sure as the 'professional' the sparky just assumed you understood that these additions would be at extra cost, but you as 'the average home owner' assumed that the costs were included within the original agreed price. The higher duty was on the sparky to tell you the work would be at extra cost. So too was the duty on the builder to tell you there would be more cost - as soon as the sparky told the builder you wanted all this additional work doing, the builder should have made clear there would be more cost before the spark started work. If the work started without making you aware that the work would be at extra cost I feel that the builder/sparky are on a dodgy wicket?

To judge whether the overall cost is high or not, I'd agree with what has been suggested and you get a couple of quotes to substantiate your position (I doubt they will be free). You can then confront the builder/spark with the evidence (and if all goes completely -----up) to show a court as proof. Of course, if the quotes are similar then your only argument is whether you agreed to the extras or not. I'm sure there must be a forum member close by that could assist?

I also agree that you should involve the scheme provider. I'd ask what scheme the Sparky is a member of and contact them asking them to intervene and mediate. They might not initially be interested but as soon as they say they wont help - point out that you will quote them to Trading Standards and Cowboy Builders - bet they help then! Any luck it will be the NICEIC as their Head Office isn't a million miles away from you.

Good luck

 

[Paul.M]

Due to the start of break down in communications in-between yourself and the builder I would now seek advice from trading standards (as above) and/or a solicitor. Get some bullets to fire at him, mainly 2 or 3 quotes from established electrical contractors (maybe 1 or 2 members of this forum?). It's obvious that you are talking to a brick wall when questions are asked to the builder, time to take it to the next stage IMHO.

 

[Engineer54]

There seems to be two issues - 1st, that the overall cost is very high and, 2nd, that you thought the additions were included in the original contract price.

I felt the highlighted point was important. I'm sure as the 'professional' the sparky just assumed you understood that these additions would be at extra cost, but you as 'the average home owner' assumed that the costs were included within the original agreed price. The higher duty was on the sparky to tell you the work would be at extra cost. So too was the duty on the builder to tell you there would be more cost - as soon as the sparky told the builder you wanted all this additional work doing, the builder should have made clear there would be more cost before the spark started work. If the work started without making you aware that the work would be at extra cost I feel that the builder/sparky are on a dodgy wicket?

To judge whether the overall cost is high or not, I'd agree with what has been suggested and you get a couple of quotes to substantiate your position (I doubt they will be free). You can then confront the builder/spark with the evidence (and if all goes completely -----up) to show a court as proof. Of course, if the quotes are similar then your only argument is whether you agreed to the extras or not. I'm sure there must be a forum member close by that could assist?

I also agree that you should involve the scheme provider. I'd ask what scheme the Sparky is a member of and contact them asking them to intervene and mediate. They might not initially be interested but as soon as they say they wont help - point out that you will quote them to Trading Standards and Cowboy Builders - bet they help then! Any luck it will be the NICEIC as their Head Office isn't a million miles away from you.

Good luck

Ricky,

I don't think the OP assumed the extra work would come in with the original 6K agreed price, as he clearly stated that he assumed these extras would add no more than 2K to the already extortionate price.

There is a good chance here, that the builder had under estimated his own side of this project, and is trying to claw back some cash from the electrical extras etc, to cover his own losses, ...just a thought!!! lol!!!

 

[sbrown2]

Is it the price of the electrics or the price the builder has given you for the electrics?

 

[Robinson]

Ricky,

I don't think the OP assumed the extra work would come in with the original 6K agreed price, as he clearly stated that he assumed these extras would add no more than 2K to the already extortionate price.

There is a good chance here, that the builder had under estimated his own side of this project, and is trying to claw back some cash from the electrical extras etc, to cover his own losses, ...just a thought!!! lol!!!

Totallu agree, This is very very possible and seen soooooo many times happen......Claws of the building contractors...be warned

 

[Paul.M]

Is it the price of the electrics or the price the builder has given you for the electrics?

Price being charged by the builder.

 

[sbrown2]

What a surprise!!!! Good building contractors will not be suffering during a recession. As quoted on here, they constantly have the ability to make money from not only building, but electrical, plumbing, heating solar. When people moan on here about work it due to the work being creamed off by your building contractors and also the reason for inflated prices for standard jobs. I suppose we to except this.
This quote does seem excessive, but if its what you agreed and without any caveats then I suppose you are stuffed!

 

[Big n Daft]

Reading between the lines, builder's creaming it on this one. I'd drop it to the sparks how much 'Bob' is charging, watch his face very carefully. If nothing else it'll get 'Bob' and the sparks falling out, that is if 'Bob' is taking the urine.
This is the important bit, can you remember telling the 'Bob' to do the additional works. The main contractor NOT the sparks, that is very important. If not AND you have not signed for any additional works I'd hand the whole shooting match over to a solicitor NOW. If 'Bob' has told the sparks to carry out additional works thats very kind of him, in doing so without authorisation he is obviously footing the bill as a gesture of goodwill

 

[Robinson]

Reading between the lines, builder's creaming it on this one. I'd drop it to the sparks how much 'Bob' is charging, watch his face very carefully. If nothing else it'll get 'Bob' and the sparks falling out, that is if 'Bob' is taking the urine.
This is the important bit, can you remember telling the 'Bob' to do the additional works. The main contractor NOT the sparks, that is very important. If not AND you have not signed for any additional works I'd hand the whole shooting match over to a solicitor NOW. If 'Bob' has told the sparks to carry out additional works thats very kind of him, in doing so without authorisation he is obviously footing the bill as a gesture of goodwill

TOTALLY AGREE, Dont let this go any further. halt all work and get down to the knitty gritty with em , stuff being friends with either, unless the " i dont want to fall out was said in a threatening manor" in which case for sure get solicitor....

PLease keep us allposted on any developments on this one...certainly one i want to know out come of.

 

[Geoffsd]

The price of a socket is always the same if it 1m from the board or 20m.......

The builder's 'explanation' doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Either: What's the farthest you'd ever have to go to fit a new socket and would he do it for £85?

Or: I need a socket in my shed (no power in it at the moment) £85 sounds very reasonable.

 

[1shortcircuit]

Why do we never hear of the outcome in situations like this? :willy_nilly:

 

[mogga]

cos they have had their wee bit of advice n boogered of to quote "The electricians forum says.................."

 

[electromonkey]

Why do we never hear of the outcome in situations like this? :willy_nilly:

He probably had to get a second job to pay for the electrical work and hasn't had time to come on here and tell us!

You never know, he may get notification emails about these last three posts and come on and let us know.

 

[1shortcircuit]

You never know, he may get notification emails about these last three posts and come on and let us know.

I hope so, spotted the thread whilst searching the forum for another old thread and thought I must check to see if I missed the update.

:thumbsup

 

[midgetman]

it would be nice to know the outcome