My last job! retired now,

[DONJAY]

Hi guys, as above retired now, But having problems with the customer trying to baffle me with science! witholding money on the pretext of what her DIY enthusiast boyfriend says, The installation is 16th Edition, He is quoting 17th Ed. and Bonding, etc, This is not about a lot of money,it is about poor health now, ungratefull people upset me, i was a sparks for many years when core colours were Red Black. Worked for MOD, oil refineries Kilns in schools etc. but i fitted a new light in Kitchen and changed a single socket for a double! sins i know! i have wired thousands of domestic properties, but just trying to help, I have written a letter now 18 pages long, and this dispute has gone on for a long time! Basically what i would be gratefull for is someone to read what i would like to send! i would be gratefull, i think i have got all the regs that apply, i need a second view of my long letter! but it would have to be private if poss, if any one has some spare time, Please email [email protected] if this is allowed?
Regards, absolutely peed off, DONJAY

 

[telectrix]

can you not post a precis, condensed to 1 page, so we have some idea?

 

[jedisparks]

Hi DONJAY

Sorry to hear of your trouble. as above, can you outline a few details of what has happened?

 

[RISElectrical]

Hi mate, as said just put a brief outline, I tried to email you as i have a spare 15 mins before I leave for the day however the email bounced back

 

[DONJAY]

Thanks for replies guys, i don't mean to be obstructive, the problem is that this has made me ill and lost all confidence, all because of a spitefull customer, and this has gone on for a very long time! i wake up with my head spinning and it's the last thing i think about before my drug induced sleep, iv,e even had counselling! crazy or what, this is from trying to help a customer,most of which was decorating! i have sat on it for far too long, which is not a good thing to do, i have mentioned it before, i write and re/write letters which i feel i must do to try and move on from all this crap! but i have done this so many times i think i have lost the plot, My very long letter to this customer, is how i believe things to be regarding regs, i was a sparks many years ago, but switched to Domestic repairs, after losing my head for heights after installing Lightening conductors down oil refinery chimneys, I would add that i have fitted a light in the kitchen, and replaced a double with a single 13a Socket, drilling out the tiles to do so, My mistake out of habit was to mention the bonding! this i did just out of habit! What i need is someone i can trust to read my long letter, and tell me where i have gone wrong, but i do appreciate this is not fair to this forum, its members or it's regulations. So the first thing i would like permission to ask, is this ok? My email is now working again, i will understand if this breeches rules of the forum, but add it has taken a long time to be able to try and resolve, Regards donjay

 

[alli]

Your health is the most important thing and not worth the aggro, if I was you and able to write off the amount I would consider it, it is not worth being put into hospital because of it.

I would read your letter but I am not knowlegable enough to give an opinion that others may easily contradict. There are some unbelievable knowledgable electrical engineers on here, if you gave an outline of the dispute. e.g. I changed a single socket to a double and the bonding was not touched, and was 4mm on a TNCS was this acceptable.....you would very quickly get replies that would support (or not) your argument.

I am assuming that you are not a member of a part p scheme provider - if you are, get them involved and have it independantly checked by them. If your not and you are happy you have worked within all the current guidelines and regulations, I would consider having a third party check the work, maybe something like the local authority building control. If they are happy with the install, then it will be very hard for the clients to argue against that.

If you are owed a lot of money, I would consider talking to a solicitor. I know a friend who told the customer that if no payment was recieved in 7 days he would be taking him to the small claims court to recover his money, it was amazing he was paid the next day! The bonus to using a solicitor except the amount your paying them is that they take all the aggro and nastiness of dealing with the client.

I hope you get it sorted quickly. Good luck. David

 

[Octopus]

Thanks for replies guys, i don't mean to be obstructive, the problem is that this has made me ill and lost all confidence, all because of a spitefull customer, and this has gone on for a very long time! i wake up with my head spinning and it's the last thing i think about before my drug induced sleep, iv,e even had counselling! crazy or what, this is from trying to help a customer,most of which was decorating! i have sat on it for far too long, which is not a good thing to do, i have mentioned it before, i write and re/write letters which i feel i must do to try and move on from all this crap! but i have done this so many times i think i have lost the plot, My very long letter to this customer, is how i believe things to be regarding regs, i was a sparks many years ago, but switched to Domestic repairs, after losing my head for heights after installing Lightening conductors down oil refinery chimneys, I would add that i have fitted a light in the kitchen, and replaced a double with a single 13a Socket, drilling out the tiles to do so, My mistake out of habit was to mention the bonding! this i did just out of habit! What i need is someone i can trust to read my long letter, and tell me where i have gone wrong, but i do appreciate this is not fair to this forum, its members or it's regulations. So the first thing i would like permission to ask, is this ok? My email is now working again, i will understand if this breeches rules of the forum, but add it has taken a long time to be able to try and resolve, Regards donjay

Please don't take this the wrong way, but if your letter to your client is laid out like your post, it will be difficult to read and understand. You can edit your posts here by hitting the "edit" button. Using shorter paragraphs would help.

 

[the pict]

What is needed here is someone close to the OP geographically who is registered and a Royal Marine or Para reservist to nipalong inspect , test, and sign this off with a MWC, then shove it up this customers arse and light it
PIct

 

[RISElectrical]

Email is still bouncing back.

However reading what you have put this is a case of a socket change and a few minor jobs, of which the value of the works I am guessing is sub £500?! Correct me if I am wrong.

Now in all honesty unless what you have done is a danger to the customer and needs to be rectified then I would just let it go. For the value of the payment your chasing does it really justify causing health problems? I am also assuming that now you are in retirement then you a. Don't need this money although it may be nice and b. don't really need to hassle. It comes across to me that this is more a matter of principal which in all honesty doesn't seem worth it for the distress it's causing you.

Like I said I am more than willing to read your letter but I think my advise would be the same as above.

Good luck and stop losing sleep over it. I would value your Heath more than any value of dispute

 

[oldtimer]

Sorry to hear that I was in building maintenance for 25 years but it got to much and I said one day well there is no use in moaning about it and making you ill so I chucked it and set up a small electrical repair business and I have no regrets . Although with regards to your situation I had a problem when a woman called me out for her shower switch I gave her a fixed price quote over the phone she said that great so when I turned up at time that suited her ie Friday 6pm there was the boyfriend standing looking macho and giving her the nod as if to say watch this.

So he said sorry you are too expensive I think you can reduce your cost because we aint paying you that I said well I did declare the cost before I came down plus I am not VAT registered well you will have to reduce your cost big time the cost was £75 to replace the pullcord so I said well thanks anyway and when I was getting my gear together he was still giving her the I have got him look when he said well your here now so we can agree on a cost I said thanks but no thanks and when the door closed behind me I heard well clever cloggs how am i going to get a shower now then it will b next week before...............................well you know the rest anyway enjoy your retirement.

 

[telectrix]

Sorry to hear that I was in building maintenance for 25 years but it got to much and I said one day well there is no use in moaning about it and making you ill so I chucked it and set up a small electrical repair business and I have no regrets . Although with regards to your situation I had a problem when a woman called me out for her shower switch I gave her a fixed price quote over the phone she said that great so when I turned up at time that suited her ie Friday 6pm there was the boyfriend standing looking macho and giving her the nod as if to say watch this.

So he said sorry you are too expensive I think you can reduce your cost because we aint paying you that I said well I did declare the cost before I came down plus I am not VAT registered well you will have to reduce your cost big time the cost was £75 to replace the pullcord so I said well thanks anyway and when I was getting my gear together he was still giving her the I have got him look when he said well your here now so we can agree on a cost I said thanks but no thanks and when the door closed behind me I heard well clever cloggs how am i going to get a shower now then it will b next week before...............................well you know the rest anyway enjoy your retirement.

and i hope you sent an invoice for £40 ish for the call out.

 

[oldtimer]

and i hope you sent an invoice for £40 ish for the call out.

No but it was worth the look on her face and to see his macho ego being pricked for being a ----- mind I am alway amazed as I can spot these clowns a mile away I can even suss them out on the phone when they say how much is it and well we will discuss that when you arrive and I say well no actaully this is my business model and I get well hold on then I will phone you back but I guess even if they cannot get anyone cheaper the macho pride kicks in and they will be damned to phone me back and this suits me

 

[RISElectrical]

Reminds me of the "I will pencil you in for the job but ring you back to confirm". I don't even add these to the appointment book as it basically translates to "I can't afford it and will get someone cheaper in"

 

[telectrix]

a lot of filling stations are now demanding payment before fuel after a certain time. might be a plan for out-of-hours call-outs.

 

[oldtimer]

Yep they do this in the USA so if you say to the attendant over the intercom $40 please they set the pump for that ammount but to be honest I over the past 2 years I have had not a lot of bother with payments