UK Opinion on these pics please

[Apple1973]

Hi,
I am the wife of an electrician feeling absolutely gutted. We have had a complaint from a customer who is seeking a £500 refund for a consumer unit change that my husband undertook for her. I joined here in the hope other electrician's could shed some light on what's happened as I have no clue what consumer unit wiring should look like. I can't confront my husband over this at the moment as his mum is dying and I don't want to add to his stress so I am trying to figure it out myself. My husband has been an electrician 30 years. He is a part P domestic installer, Niceic registered and 18th edition updated last year. We have hundreds of happy customers since he went self employed 2 years ago. I do all his books and customer communication etc and he has never had a complaint up until now.
So basically he started on a job where there were other tradesmen present , including another electrician who was retired .My husband did lots of various electrical jobs for this lady who paid us promptly after each installation and was very happy with his work ,even leaving a good review on Google ads for him ..but then something happened, roughly 4 days after he replaced her consumer unit she called us to say it keeps tripping. He went back over there to try to figure out what was happening and spent half the day there. He came back very frustrated saying he couldn't figure it out. There were 5 other tradesmen there,( the place is being renovated) including this other electrician who apparently couldn't understand why it was tripping either. My husband said he ended up ripping all the wires out in order to get to the bottom of it. ..It ended with my husband telling the customer he was completely stumped and that she should get a second opinion.... I then get sent these pictures a week later from the customer of what she says is my husband's work. I am baffled! To me it looks a mess but I realise she probably took this photo AFTER he dissected it for the tripping fault??
Please can anyone of you guys offer me some opinions here as I'm really distressed by this.

 

[Andy_Reynolds51]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but gives some good learning points. Best to test the installation before conducting any works to see if you will inherit a problem. Best done with the customer and other trades out of the way and not interfering. With a change of consumer unit you may not have the length of cables required to make it look good or follow the convention of highest load next to the incomer but have to go your best when under the scrutiny of other trades and the unqualified internet experts. Testing upon completion also helps to defend your position especially as other trades continue to work on site. It is possible some disturbance may have occurred unbeknown to them or others. Due to the delay of four days before a problem is noticed it could be weather related - outdoor lighting? Could it be component failure, even if new equipment? Could be the neutral of one circuit being returned to the other neutral bar - split load board but has been known. Interference, additional circuits or modifications since departing site? Some things to consider.

 

[telectrix]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but gives some good learning points. Best to test the installation before conducting any works to see if you will inherit a problem. Best done with the customer and other trades out of the way and not interfering. With a change of consumer unit you may not have the length of cables required to make it look good or follow the convention of highest load next to the incomer but have to go your best when under the scrutiny of other trades and the unqualified internet experts. Testing upon completion also helps to defend your position especially as other trades continue to work on site. It is possible some disturbance may have occurred unbeknown to them or others. Due to the delay of four days before a problem is noticed it could be weather related - outdoor lighting? Could it be component failure, even if new equipment? Could be the neutral of one circuit being returned to the other neutral bar - split load board but has been known. Interference, additional circuits or modifications since departing site? Some things to consider.

this is why it's imperetive to take pics of your finished work. THEN IF ANYTHING HAS BEEN DONE (BY CUSTOMERS OR OTHER CONTRACTORS/TRADES), you have proof of how youleftit.

 

[richy3333]

We always take pics of our finished work and have now started using stick on seals that can only be removed by cutting them - so you know somebody has tampered with the CU

 

[loz2754]

We always take pics of our finished work and have now started using stick on seals that can only be removed by cutting them - so you know somebody has tampered with the CU

That's a good idea. Where do you get the seals please?

 

[littlespark]

That's a good idea. Where do you get the seals please?

Some goof gaffa tape would do the same job. Obvious that it’s been peeled off

 

[telectrix]

That's a good idea. Where do you get the seals please?

from the seal fairy. where else?

 

[stevethesparks]

from the seal fairy. where else?

I was banking on you saying the circus

 

[loz2754]

from the seal fairy. where else?

Thanks telectrix, fairy helpful.

 

[stevethesparks]

Joking aside, I'd like to hear what the final outcome is @ Apple1973 and hope you can resolve it satisfying all parties.

 

[UNG]

Something isn't ringing true with the OP for me, there is no clear reason why the customer wants a refund, the language also seems a bit strange my wife would talk to me not confront me,
Those points aside we are told the RCD tripped 4 days after install and keeps tripping but with no indication of the frequency or timing of the continual trips
Another electrician has apparently unsuccessfully looked for the fault after the OP's husband so does this fault really exist on the fixed wiring as 2 electricians haven't found any reason that would cause the reported issue
I think until the electrician involved can post his account of events leading up to the customer requesting a refund it is difficult to make a judgement

 

[richy3333]

That's a good idea. Where do you get the seals please?

Here you go, link below. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07WQRCM9P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[loz2754]

Here you go, link below. Amazon.co.uk - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07WQRCM9P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Great thanks

 

[Mike Johnson]

Here you go, link below. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07WQRCM9P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ohh I like those, must get me some, do they print them in French, kidding. ?

 

[Timbo]

Or for those who have a Brother P-touch label printer:

Brother TZE-SE4 - 18mm Black on White Security Tape

TZ-SE4 - 18mm Black on White Security Tape for Brother P-Touch printers. Free UK delivery & fast despatch.

www.labelzone.co.uk

and create your own.

 

[nicebutdim]

Or for those who have a Brother P-touch label printer:

Brother TZE-SE4 - 18mm Black on White Security Tape

TZ-SE4 - 18mm Black on White Security Tape for Brother P-Touch printers. Free UK delivery & fast despatch.

www.labelzone.co.uk

and create your own.

The Amazon labels would work out cheaper.