More Cowboys.

Specialist · Dec 3, 2011

Had 2 callouts today, 20 miles apart but both after the same Bodgit & Run Cowboy.

1) An old couple both Disabled, been without lights all night because they did'nt want to disturb me on a Friday night. Got to the house to find the Lighting fuse was blown (1 fuse for all lights), the old woman apparently went to the Bathroom & as she turned on the light there was a big flash & bang then darkness.
When I looked in the Bathroom, I found the idiot they had to do the wiring when the Bathroom was altered had fitted a 240v GU10 spot lamp about 2 foot above the sink. Fitting was soaking wet & had gone to that great scrap yard in the sky, i've just disconnected it & made it safe for now & re-instated the fuse so they've got lights.

2) Public house 20 0dd miles away, apparently had a Fault last night & lights blew. They called the local "Electrician" & he came out & repaired the fuse but now they can smell a plasticy burning smell & this guy is apparently too busy (Are'nt they allways?), so a customer suggested calling me.

Got there & sure enough there's a nice burnt plastic smell in the air, checked the fuse that had been repaired & find not fuse wire but a short length of flex in place of it. Hmm anyway remove the cover of the box & find the wiring going to the fuse terminal loose & burnt. Cut back the wire & re-made it to the terminal, Re-wired the fuse with nice new 5A Fuse wire and to be safe checked the current draw on the circuit with all lights on (4A) so boxed it back up again. Talking to the Landlord & asked who the Genius was and Lo-behold it was the same moron did the old couples lights.

I know Cowboys keep us in work but they're scary.

dingledong · Dec 3, 2011

well done specialist i thought i was the only poor sparky cos i'm soft, as i would not have charged the elderly couple either

Specialist · Dec 3, 2011

dingledong said:
well done specialist i thought i was the only poor sparky cos i'm soft, as i would not have charged the elderly couple either

Cheers mate: In the past i've been labelled a fool for not charging an old woman in a similar situation, but I can't do it. At the end of the day, way I look at it is were all getting older & could be in the same situation eventually. Like you i'd rather be poor than con the Elderly / Disabled.

GLENNSPARK · Dec 3, 2011

BS3036s.....the most abused dis-boards goin..lol...."michael jackson boards" i call em...lol....so its a bit of flex now is it?...lolffs...seen cpc being used a few times and a nail once..lol......

Specialist · Dec 4, 2011

seen cpc being used a few times and a nail once..lol......[/QUOTE]

Ex boss of mine (Brilliant old Spark) told me about useing nails in Cinemas, apparently used to be a technique used by some if they could'nt find a cable fault & the cables were buried in walls etc. They'd take out the blown fuse & fit a heavy nail in it's place, then switch back on & where the wall blew out that was where the short was. He may have been winding me up but he was'nt known for his sense of humour.

alarm man · Dec 4, 2011

Lenny said:
Drop me a PM if you like. Not many chaps round our way that I don't know.:disguise:

he was taking about sparks lenny..

Cyberprog · Dec 4, 2011

Specialist said:
Yes mate, a few from the pub but did'nt have the heart to charge the old couple.

That's the best way to work sometimes, if it doesn't take long/much to fix, the word of mouth advertising that you'll get from it, and possible future work, will pay back many times over.
As long as they're not too old, and don't croak it soon...

Richard Burns · Dec 4, 2011

Good responses from you and I am glad they are safer, well done on the not charging, good if you can do it for small jobs.

Not quite so bad as your two but I have just changed a floodlight fitted by a "professional electrician" wired in white T&E coming out of a brick ventilator to light, flex out of light (only designed for one flex) drilled into unsealed conduit going straight down into external light switch as an override, which was nicely filling with rain and rusting, the switch wired in series with the neon so it didn't work, lovely.

Knobhead · Dec 4, 2011

Specialist said:
Yes mate, a few from the pub but did'nt have the heart to charge the old couple.

They say what goes around comes around. Hopefully you’ll gain due to good reports. On the other hand hop-along will probably loose out due to bad reports. Never under estimate the power of the elderly chatting about good / bad service.

Just be sure you don’t become a charity.

Specialist · Dec 4, 2011

alarm man said:
he was taking about sparks lenny..

:biggrin::rofl:

Specialist · Dec 4, 2011

Richard Burns said:
Good responses from you and I am glad they are safer, well done on the not charging, good if you can do it for small jobs.

Not quite so bad as your two but I have just changed a floodlight fitted by a "professional electrician" wired in white T&E coming out of a brick ventilator to light, flex out of light (only designed for one flex) drilled into unsealed conduit going straight down into external light switch as an override, which was nicely filling with rain and rusting, the switch wired in series with the neon so it didn't work, lovely.

Oooh Richard, don't be so picky:tounge_smile: there's nothing wrong with a good water filled switch. Don't you remember, water makes an excellent conductor :smile5:

Specialist · Dec 4, 2011

Tony said:
They say what goes around comes around.
Just be sure you don’t become a charity.

I hope so mate, unfortunately useless thieving scumbags like this guy usually prosper & those of us who try to do a good & honest job don't. No mate I won't become a charity but once in a while you've just gotta do it Lol.

Allways wondered how these people can get even the simplest & most basic jobs so wrong ? Domestic aint exactly rocket science.

kung · Dec 4, 2011

As long as the old cpl dont tell all their friends you didnt charge or they might think you dont charge old folk and even if you charged another £1.50 for a rewire it might cause a fight ! i takee my hat off (not a cowboy hat) to you buddy for helping them in a nice way ! i charge with a discount for the old, single parents, disabled and emergency services, makes me feel better and still cover my fuel etc.

Specialist · Dec 4, 2011

kung said:
As long as the old cpl dont tell all their friends you didnt charge or they might think you dont charge old folk and even if you charged another £1.50 for a rewire it might cause a fight ! i takee my hat off (not a cowboy hat) to you buddy for helping them in a nice way ! i charge with a discount for the old, single parents, disabled and emergency services, makes me feel better and still cover my fuel etc.

Mate: Under normal circumstances i'd have done the same, it was just they were such a nice couple & even after spending the night without light they still were'nt complaining. I walk through the front door & first thing I get offered is a Hot cuppa & breakfast (not many like that any more). Basically it was 30 minutes out of my day & i'm glad they called me rather than some Rip off merchant.

kung · Dec 4, 2011

Good on you mate ! as said it makes you wonder how some people can sleep ! and when you get a nice customer its even more of a mystery how someone can do it. Your get a good name as said also on being a good honest caring spark. Makes you feel good being self employed ! last year i done some cover work for a company named on here before that was charging £78 call out ! not to bad for a big ind job but to a hard up family, pensioner etc its alot anyway went to this nice womans house for a smoke alarm fault ! job sheet said replace batt and hover sensor ! phoned comp to say smoke was shot and was told thats going to cost her £78 call out plus another £78 revisit after getting a new smoke plus £30 for the new smoke ! when it was just unplug knakered smoke and replace with £20 new smoke = £30 1 hr call out plus £20 for smoke and discount = £40 for me when they were charging £186 for same job ! and believe me they are flooded with work ! does make you wonder !