Screwed Over By An Electrician - Desperate For Help, What Can I Do?

[Bazzzy]

Hi All,

Thinking I would get decent, honest service, I went with a locally advertised Electrician/workman for some electrical work & a complete room renovation.

At first he was very good but then started to slack off badly & eventually stopped turning up. I managed to persuade him to call round after a week & he said he was just in one of those moods!

We agreed that he would deal with his issues first & then start the following week but made it clear he simply keep me informed. I even brought back some duty free cigarettes for him from a trip! Unfortunately, he has again not turned up once and is refusing to reply to any of my calls.

I am recovering from a heart attack and am due to have major surgery in 3 weeks time for a very invasive & painful throat operation & informed him of that. I also live with a very ill elderly & disabled mother to whom this has caused so much trouble & hassle - it has broken my heart. She is really suffering because of this.

He has left my room completely gutted with various electrical cables lying across the floor (live) connected just to these metal boxes & sockets with wires hanging out of the wall as well as incomplete plumbing and destroying my phone line.

I am extremely upset about this & because he has hurt not only me & taken my money, he has actually hurt my very ill mother. Is there someone or some professional or official body that I can complain to so that they can take action against this guy? For all I know, he could have left my house as a potential death trap. Can I get him via some authority to either finish the work or repay my money by dictate or threat to have his license revoked by some governing or licensing body? I am hoping that faced with this, he will learn that will not get away with what he has done. If anyone can be of help, please kindly tell me what I can do? I am really desperate now & very depressed as my operations are only 3 weeks away & I will be bedridden for at least a few weeks to recover and there is no way I can live in the state he has left my room in. Please someone tell me how this guy can either be struck off or forced to honour his obligations.

With Sincere Thanks,

Bazzy.

 

[Bazzzy]

Hi All,

I am so very, very sorry - I rely so much on the net but since this guy has cut my telephone line I have lost both my landline & internet which I rely on. This is why I cannot get on the forums most of the day as I have to wait for my sisters to come hoe & use her company laptop which is connected to her work router & will not allow anyone to add a network to for security reasons. It means I might be a little late in getting back to all if that is OK? I have tried going to the local library but they are taken & booked for most of the time! I will keep trying though.

I would love to confront this guy if we can all get together - taht way he knows we mean business & may well see sense not to do the same to others. I loved the idea of booking a n appointent somewhere & getting him to turn up & then see his reaction - is this viable?

Can I report him to the local Council somehow - is there a standards or safety division that I can approach as well & get an Officer to investigate?

I am happy to accept help at Any Time - I really am - I was just following advice so you all could co-ordinate things together so you can agree to the best course of action. Like I said previously, if we get any (or hopefully all) of the money back that I paid this guy, I will most gladly donate it to a pertinent charity of your choice.

I Pm'd Bugsy yesterday with the details he requested as well as acat, sintra & others & was waiting for them to suggest things & convey to everyone.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do & once again really sorry about the internet thing.

Bazzy.

 

[eddielarge]

sorry but this post is just becoming a joke ,, ok i know i will get ripped to pieces but all this talk of meeting him mob handed and setting him up was a joke , and now bazz want to do it .

enough is enough

Bazz i know your ill but why have you paid him for work he didnt do , you employed polish builders to do work , that in its self goes against my beliefs , then you get a jack of all trades to do electrics with no proof of qualifications.

i know i will get shot over this but it sounds like you have gone for cheap options each time ( not that i know what they charged)

And all this rubbish about too proud to claim benifits is crazy , your entitled to it.

just a suggestion why dont you claim the benifits long enough to pay an electrician to do it properly.

IM NOW DUCKING FOR COVER ( this is my view and not the view of the other sparks on this site)

 

[mogga]

Im tending to agree with Eddie although neither I nor Eddie have been party to the PMS that have been sent One thing I do feel needs nipped in the bud is this gungho "Lets get him " ect ect REPORT him to trading standards Thats what they are there for your local council has one its free to use Rant over now Im ducking down

 

[Bazzzy]

Hi,

To eddylarge & mogga, = In no way was I suggesting a mob mentality or harm in any way - I mentioned I was a Buddhist & believe in non violence accordingly. I only meant to imply that on my own, he would not tale any notice but if he knew I had other professionals with me who know about things, them maybe that might spark his conscience somewhat & he might act with reasaon for fear losing his license etc & take remedial steps as well as think twice about doing the same to others that's all.

I did not do anything on the cheap - he quoted a price and I did not even barter - I was so happy to find a supposed decent local guy that I could use in future, I agreed to his price & paid him what he wanted & when so as to please him. He was contracted to take care of everything, gave me a quote & I agreed - including the damage done by the Polish guys which I was upfront & honest about & did not hide in any way.

As for not claiming benefits - may I should claim but I can prove I am not doing and will gladly do so if need be. Maybe I am being silly & too proud but I was always brought up with some very old school values where a man that does not work is of no value or is not a man etc type of culture. If was claiming, then the flip side would be that maybe some in society might say I was sponger and just milking the situation so I cannot win I guess.

Yes, I chose a cowboy, but I did not know that at the time & have already explained why I went with someone who was a UK citizen, English National, English speaking & local so what more could I do. I have been too naive and thought if this one person who supposedly does most trades, then why not let him take care everything rather than get a a bunch of different people for different things & wait till high heaven for them to all be available when needed etc.

As for the Pm's stuff I was told not to post regarding the guys details I emailed Sintra & acat Pm'd Bugsy yesterday for the info he requested - I am sure he will pm everyone soon. I am happy to post here but did not want to break any rules and did as I was told. If I missed anyone it was only because I assumed that members would get in touch with other when they had a chance or could.

I understand & appreciate your views & opinions & fully agree, I may have been too trusting & a little naive but in no way was I suggesting anything that was untoward or harmful in any way.

Bazzy.

 

[All Sorts]

I've just read through this thread and smell a rat.

Too much information, with so much of it a distraction due to it's irrelevance to the issue at hand. It's all too perfect... and I'm surprised to read from a seemingly intelligent buddhist, such a sweeping generalisation as "like some of the Eastern European types" (and I thought Gordon Brown was supposed to be this weeks bigot!).

I can see there are some good hearts on here (and it's nice to be nice) but don't believe all you read!

 

[Bazzzy]

I've just read through this thread and smell a rat.

Too much information, with so much of it a distraction due to it's irrelevance to the issue at hand. It's all too perfect... and I'm surprised to read from a seemingly intelligent buddhist, such a sweeping generalisation as "like some of the Eastern European types" (and I thought Gordon Brown was supposed to be this weeks bigot!).

I can see there are some good hearts on here (and it's nice to be nice) but don't believe all you read!

Hi,

I am very sorry to hear that - if in my frustration & emotion, if I was inappropriate in any way, I sincerely apologise but I understand why you would feel that way - this has been a nightmare and I may not always been eloquent or very nice in some of my descriptions for which I am in error. I am happy to answer any questions you have - I have not been insincere or dishonest in any way & have described things as accurately & with as much detail as I can in order to provide as much information as possible. It is understandable why folks would question things and I welcome them. I am happy to come to the offices of the forums or & take a lie detector test if need be and any number of them.


Bazzy.

Bazzy

 

[gerry.slater65@]

Aaaaah, finally, the rub!

 

[acat]

Bazzzy sorry but I have removed the second paragraph from your post as it is not releveant to this forum and some may see it as spam.

We are taking you on face value and as you have seen many members are only to happy to help put things right. We have every sympathy with your situation but please remember that this is an electricians forum nothing else.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.


Chris

 

[eddielarge]

I've just read through this thread and smell a rat.

Too much information, with so much of it a distraction due to it's irrelevance to the issue at hand. It's all too perfect... and I'm surprised to read from a seemingly intelligent buddhist, such a sweeping generalisation as "like some of the Eastern European types" (and I thought Gordon Brown was supposed to be this weeks bigot!).

I can see there are some good hearts on here (and it's nice to be nice) but don't believe all you read!

Glad its not only me

 

[Spudnik]

I really dont think there is anymore help that can be given with regards to this matter via a thread.

Bazzy can continue via pm with the members that have offered their services should he wish to go ahead.