Kitchen Electrics and the law

[jo4nny8]

The cooker that we took out was gas and the new one we put in was gas. so too for the hob. The ignitors were plugged in to a socket next to it in a corner base unit and we did the same. The plugs were already attached on all appliances if i remember rightly.

I cant really go into detail for exactly what is being claimed becuase we dont know ourselves. The court paperwork is filled out with her ranting and raving that we damaged her kitchen and supplied everything 2nd hand but she hasnt actually given a proper and true account of what she is claiming for she just wants a refund???

Im only concerned that even though i have done everything above board and tried to resolve the situation they might still give her favour as we had to leave site because she was threatening us and we had to call the police. There was a small amount of grouting to be done and silicone up.

I just wanted to check on the electrics side as im not an expert and her so called expert has insinuated that we are liable and thats why she now wants a refund

 

[malcolmsanford]

If she is indeed a chancer and is trying to blag some sort of payment out of you, then she will withdraw before the court case as your side will advise her that all cost will be incurred by her.

Normally a customer will only take you to court if they feel they have a good chance of winning. As you have posted your relationship with her was not the most cordial, and that part of you having to call the police to her house 3 times is amazing, I have to be honest I would have walked off site at the first call.

What concerns me is the 3rd party electrician. You say he identified that the installation was not up to standards. So what did he recommend to her and you. I'm going along the lines of did he ask you not to fit the kitchen until he had time to rectify the problems. I'm wondering if he did, you went ahead and fitted, and that when he came to work he created merry hell that the kitchen was fitted after him telling you not to, and the only way he could work now was by removing the kitchen.

If this is the case then did he put this to you in writing or was it just a verbal insturction

 

[oldtimer]

Yep Malcolm I agree with you
Old age does not come its self I can smell customers like this a mile away plus it helps when you are not desperate to get the job most customers if you treat them with courtesy and respect give you feedback in kind but yes I have been to jobs where they are like rotwilers when you walk in the door as they have been "bitten" in the past by cowboy Joe and in this situation I either walk away or "forget" to return the call.

 

[SimpleSimon]

Have you had any direct communication?

 

[Paul.M]

Sounds like all he has done is plug in 3 appliances. You have not done any electrical work and therefore not responsible for any of it. The words long walk and short pier come to mind if you have already tried to resolve this.

 

[i=p/u]

ive this all to look forward to someday, it is interesting

 

[telectrix]

ive this all to look forward to someday, it is interesting

why, you decided on a career change to kitchen fitter?

 

[i=p/u]

naw just dealing with asholes , its easy working fr someone else

 

[Paul.M]

Aaren don't think you've read the full thread mate. It's the kitchen fitter that has asked the question. His contract was to replace the kitchen and by doing so he plugged in 3 appliances and the customer wants a full kitchen rewire!

 

[ian.settle1]

Why not call her bluff and say you are going to counter sue her for deframation off character and loss off work from this, she what she does then

 

[Engineer54]

i have 50k cover and up to now they are fully fighting it and sending a solicitor to court and i am just a witness. now it is fast track they say they have to make sure i have a 51% chance of winning or they wont cover me

What are they going to do then, pay the claimant 8000 quid?? Your insured, you have payed the premium which they have accepted. Unless you have done something outside of that to which your insured, they have to cover you!!! If you have told us everything correctly, and you have touched nothing on the electrical installation bar plug appliances into existing socket outlets then your insurance solicitors, will definitely be fighting your case and asking for damages too. I don't understand the eagerness of defending you in the small claims court, and the reluctance outside of that system. The case remains exactly the same???
Only the court costs would differ!!!

It seems you were having trouble with this client while you were still actually working on his property installing the new kitchen, What was that all about ?? Has your client also gone after his electrician?? You may need to call that electrician as a witness, he is the only person that can explain the state of the kitchen electrics, at the time of your working in the clients property. He should also have completed a PIR and notified his work. Do you or your insurance solicitors have a copy of that PIR??

 

[jo4nny8]

Ahhh but thats the whole point why im worried. Legal expenses cover only covers the cost of fighting the claim. if the other side wins, any money she is awarded is payable directly by my company (im ltd) and its not coverable by any legal expenses insurance.

Thats why i am so worried.

I cant call the other electrician as a witness as he is both involved in her side of the claim (he held our installer up for 2 days and the customer is also claiming we took longer than was suggested) and also he is acting as her expert witness to state we havent fitted the kitchen correctly. if someone can show me how to upload a pdf to here i can show you his report you you know what he is saying is wrong

 

[telectrix]

just seen your last post. you are a limited company? worst scenario is to liquidate the ltd. co. untill then fight her tooth and nail. and since when has an electrician been an expert on kitchen fitting?

 

[SimpleSimon]

Any idea if the electrician and claimant know each other before the incident? Ask for an independant PIR from her/lawyers. Get an independent sparky to see what the actual problem is.

I wouldn't rule out that the electrician and clients are friends and they're in it together.

 

[Engineer54]

This gets weirder and Weider, .....How can an electrician be called upon as an expert witness for fitted kitchen cabinets???

Someone tell him how to upload his pdf file please, ...This i just ''must'' see!! lol!!!