Kitchen Electrics and the law | Page 5 | on ElectriciansForums

Discuss Kitchen Electrics and the law in the Electrical Wiring, Theories and Regulations area at ElectriciansForums.net

The problem with discussing issues like this on public forums like this is that any revelation that is written in them can be used as easily against you as for you. But I suspect that horse has already run.

So. I humbly offer my 10ps worth m'lud and I'' stick my neck out and talk about things Im emminently unqualified to do.

The electrical regulations as such don't apply as you have not undertake any electrical work and, I think, are confusing the issue.

I suspect the key point here is this:
...After explaining to the customer that we had not charged for this and were performing NO electrics within the installation he would have to pay for the remedials required and as such we suggested that this other electrician is best to do the work as he is already on site. The customer agreed and we left it at that....

She would have to deny this. There's not a lot you can do if she does (word against word) apart from the fact that your terms and conditions support this discussion could have taken place as they clearly state the you do not do electrics. AFAIK when T&Cs conflict between 2 parties it is the those on the latest dated document in a contract that apply and are deemed to be accepted by both parties. Unless the client has written something to the tune of "the installer will undertake electrical work" on a document that forms part of the contract between you, your T&Cs will apply, and unless they are unreasonable, the courts should uphold them.

Also, when a dispute such as this exists, it is normally accepted that the installer must be given reasonable opportunity to correct any defects in a reasonable time. If the installer refuses, or the correction is not to a reasonable standard then the process moves to the next level.
If you were not given this opportunity, you can argue that you would have been happy and still are happy to make satisfactory corrections at your own expense. In this event there are no corrections to make so you should be home and dry.

The client may be trying it on and hoping that you will make an out-of-court settlement. You could call their bluff, but that's easy for an outsider to say. Sometimes a few hunderd quid as "full and final settlement" is worth the cost just to get them off your back, but that's maybe what they are hoping for. If I were to make an offer, I'd be prepared to up it, so I wouldn't open with my top figure. I would be tempted to say "see you in court" and let them call my bluff, but there may be other aspects to this that would make this inadvisable.

I'm no solicitor, so this is not gospel, just an opinion.

I hope this helps. Good luck.
 
It could be a one in a million chance but it may be a good idea to watch what is said as the electrician involved could be a member off this site or knows someone who is.
 
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.

The above is the only mention of this subject, and it might be the important bit.
 
i hope you win this case. in future tell people they need a elec test in writing before you will fit any new applience. this country is full of c**ts and soliciters are the biggest of the lot
 
The above is the only mention of this subject, and it might be the important bit.

Nah, the electrician (well hes only registeed as a domestic installer) told the customer they werent up to standard and thats it, the customer told me i 'had' to change them and i said we werent as we werent doing any electrics. i told them it was their problem and said for them to sort but they never did anything about it. i know now its not my problem and have enough evidense to back this up. ill let you know how i get on when it comes to the case
 
Now the customer (6 months later) is taking me to court over a few items and the main point is with these electrics and that he now has to have a whole new kitchen (the quote has come from this other electrican) and wants £8000 off me because of this.

I had a similar problem just over a year ago.
I did a really good deal on a bathroom, it was for a friends daughters first house. I got all the best deals on parts, passed on all the discounts to her, and only charged £75/day plus parts. From day one she was a real PITA. Anyway, it took 2 weeks from start to finish. She paid for this no problem.
I had to go back a couple of weeks later to tile around the window where a new window had been fitted. Took me most of the day to do, and another day to paint the ceiling/door. I sent her a bill of £160 for this,on December 12th.
I got a letter from her on 27th January, saying she would not be paying me as my standard of work was so bad that she would have to pay someone else to fix it.
She even said do not ring me, if you need to contact me, them put it in writing. So, I sent a letter off same day, saying I'd gladly go round to fix things to her satisfaction. She replied saying she didnt want me round her house again.
Now, when I finished this job, I was that pleased with it that I took a number of photos. Her complaints were completely unjustified, and it can clearly be seen in the pics that it was a good job.
She just didnt want to pay. If I wanted I could have claimed the payment if I went to Court. But, she was a friends daughter, and this caused me no end of stress.

Anyway, back to your problem, I really cannot see that she has a legitimate claim. You didnt use 2nd hand parts, you didnt touch the house wiring, so there can be no legitimate claim against you.
If there is a report saying your work is not up to standard, then you must be allowed to get an Independent report into the quality of the install.
The customers first call should have been to you to complain about it. Then if you do nothing, then they can take things further. As I understand it, you have had no opportunity to rectify any genuine faults.
How on earth can a new kitchen be required? Is every unit damaged?
Without allowing you to repair it, the Customer cannot really expect to win any claim against you.

Alan.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The report is not a report it is an estimate of works from the third party electrician and pretty meaningless at that,(even for an estimate) the some total of the electrical part is about 7 words followed by other items and a figure to do the work.

There's no point posting it, as its completley worthless and supposedley forms part of the evidence from the "expert witness" electrician the defence solicitor will wet themselves laughing when they see it.
 

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