Taking money for certification - customer dont wanna pay!

[Balarizaaf]

Let's try and get this thread back on track. You have done some work for a client she initially agreed price, now she feels that you are charging her for certifying said work, and refuses to pay. If you are charging extra to the original quote then she is right not to be happy, you should always include this within your price. As trev mentioned earlier in the thread all work should be certified, to cover your own backside and it is the least you can do for the client when charging for your services. The easiest way to resolve this confusing situation is to take an hit on the job, move forward, keep a good reputation for your company and learn from your mistake, good luck with your meeting.

I would never do such a thing, I have a very good personality. I even have done some work not included in price agreement for free... I installed few pendant and wall lights and fixed some serious electrical issues which were not a problem with older customer unit but after replacement didnt work. I had to change a cable from fuse box to the kitchen and didnt say anything: /
I also fixed broken cable in ceiling which joiners have destroyed whilst doing its renovation. I think she is very lucky I had a camera which I put through the hole and I was able to find a box so with almost 0dmg I fixed the light. Most electricians would just pull out cable from pendant, brake everything and tell her to renew ceiling from scratch.

she agreed to the final price at the very beginning, I havent added anything, even though I have done big surplus work.

 

[shagbite]

I would never do such a thing

, I have a very good personality. I even have done some work not included in price agreement for free... I installed few pendant and wall lights and fixed some serious electrical issues which were not a problem with older customer unit but after replacement didnt work. I had to change a cable from fuse box to the kitchen and didnt say anything: /
I also fixed broken cable in ceiling which joiners have destroyed whilst doing its renovation. I think she is very lucky I had a camera which I put through the hole and I was able to find a box so with almost 0dmg I fixed the light. Most electricians would just pull out cable from pendant, brake everything and tell her to renew ceiling from scratch.

she agreed to the final price at the very beginning, I havent added anything, even though I have done big surplus work.

ballsrizaaf..............trust him, he's an engineer.

 

[Guitarist]

I would never do such a thing, I have a very good personality. I even have done some work not included in price agreement for free... I installed few pendant and wall lights and fixed some serious electrical issues which were not a problem with older customer unit but after replacement didnt work. I had to change a cable from fuse box to the kitchen and didnt say anything: /
I also fixed broken cable in ceiling which joiners have destroyed whilst doing its renovation. I think she is very lucky I had a camera which I put through the hole and I was able to find a box so with almost 0dmg I fixed the light. Most electricians would just pull out cable from pendant, brake everything and tell her to renew ceiling from scratch.

she agreed to the final price at the very beginning, I havent added anything, even though I have done big surplus work.

You sound like a nice guy who the customer is trying to take advantage of. If the £150 was for "testing and certification" then stress that the certification was a tiny part of that, and the majority was for all the time you spent testing the circuits. As already said, if the total price was agreed, and you haven't exceeded this, then I can't see the issue.

 

[davethsparky]

I think she is very lucky I had a camera which I put through the hole and I was able to find a box so with almost 0dmg I fixed the light. Most electricians would just pull out cable from pendant, brake everything and tell her to renew ceiling from scratch..

Tell me please, who are these 'most electricians' to whom you refer? I hope you are not suggesting that the vast majority of us are cowboys?

 

[GMES]

I am not accusing you of doing anything bad or wrong here I am simply saying it sounds like you have done the invoicing side of things wrong. As me , guitarist and a load of other members have said if you stuck to the agreed quote and have not tried to add anything on then there really shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Balarizaaf]

Tell me please, who are these 'most electricians' to whom you refer? I hope you are not suggesting that the vast majority of us are cowboys?

there was damaged cable between box and light pendant so I was really lucky to find the box using my inspection camera and be able to replace a cable without destroying big amount of ceiling. There were just two small holes in the ceiling that has been just renovated two days before.

@GMES: yeah, I know. I think I will talk to her on Monday and we will solve an issue. She is arguing to pay 150 as other electrician told her I cant take money for doing that. But she still needs to pay the rest of price:/ Anyway, I believe we will figure it out and she will pay at least price close to the one agreed at the start.

 

[Guitarist]

there was damaged cable between box and light pendant so I was really lucky to find the box using my inspection camera and be able to replace a cable without destroying big amount of ceiling. There were just two small holes in the ceiling that has been just renovated two days before.

@GMES: yeah, I know. I think I will talk to her on Monday and we will solve an issue. She is arguing to pay 150 as other electrician told her I cant take money for doing that. But she still needs to pay the rest of price:/ Anyway, I believe we will figure it out and she will pay at least price close to the one agreed at the start.

He's talking absolute rubbish, plus it's nothing to do with him. You can charge for anything you like, especially testing.
Just type out another invoice then with testing and inspection for £0, and add the £150 to labour charge.

 

[staggie65]

I've looked at this thread. A marriage made in heaven. You've gone in too cheap, she liked a cheap quote.
You're trying to claw money back for you're mistake.
Provide her with a copy of the test schedule for £0 and put it down to experience.

 

[i=p/u]

And it could be just how he presented quote, broke price down and she thinks 150 for testing which he should be doin anyway.. But it's just how he presented it.

Am I reading this right...

Like if I was going to wire a small flat and said 2 days each fix and £ 150 for testing instead of adding it into days/hours ...

 

[FAA Greenie]

Wow, great thread. You just need to explain that there has been a misunderstanding, take it on the chin and look at getting some invoicing lessons.

For example, at the bottom of my invoices, I have a section labelled 'Testing, certification and building control notification'

For a full cert it's usually £25 or a tenner for a minor works, the customer then knows that

1, They are receiving a cert
2, The work is being notified
3, They have not been 'jobbed' by some cowboy who will tear half the ceiling down, 'like most electricians' and walk off with £150 to boot.

 

[Balarizaaf]

Mistery solved. Her boiler has broken, and gas specalist told her Im a retard putting 13amp fuse in cable to boiler and I destroyed the device.
So he blamed me that the boiler got broken and they got no hot water. I went to her and explained I could give a 3amp fuse, it could help to prevet boiler from getting damaged but It is not my fault that it took too much power and a pump blew off.

She understands that now and she said there is no problem to pay me. Looks like I am a little drama queen lol, sorry guys and thans all for your help!

 

[davethsparky]

Well you are a prat for putting a 13 amp fuse in for a piece of equipment which requires a 3 amp fuse. Doesn't everyone know a domestic gas boiler should be fused at 3 amps? And even if not then it will be in the instructions for the boiler which you read before connecting it I assume?

I hope you made a note on this famous certificate to say that you installed it other than in accordance with the regulations and manufacturers instructions.

 

[Balarizaaf]

Well you are a prat for putting a 13 amp fuse in for a piece of equipment which requires a 3 amp fuse. Doesn't everyone know a domestic gas boiler should be fused at 3 amps? And even if not then it will be in the instructions for the boiler which you read before connecting it I assume?

I hope you made a note on this famous certificate to say that you installed it other than in accordance with the regulations and manufacturers instructions.

My bad indeed, but it shouldnt blow because of me!

 

[davethsparky]

You may have made the situation worse though, the extent of the damage may have been less if a 3A fuse had been provided.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

I am so confused! Anyone care to summarise, I have read the whole thread and I have a few questions...

Whats the electricians handbook?

Why wouldn't you put a 30p fuse on the boiler?

Was the faulty boiler why she wasn't paying you or was she not paying you for the Certs?

Surely you have a good hard copy of your quote so if she refused to pay you, you would have a argument in court?

What is an inspection camera? Sounds like I'm missing out on some reveloutionary technology here :-/