Unreasonably high invoice bill from an electrician

[AlexanderSmi123]

Good afternoon everyone, I am Alex and I'm new here.

I am posting this to ask for advice with how I should approach this situation.

We called in an electrician, and as confirmed in writing by messages, the original request was to change the socket covers and change lightbulbs through the flat (1 bedroom flat). After completing the job, the electrician sends us an invoice which lists the labour and material costs, and a rough breakdown of the works done. The final bill is OVER £2,000 (almost all of it labour) and lists 30 hours of work. On top of the requested works, it also details a lot of other works, which were not requested nor authorised by us, including various tests and other changes. To make the situation more difficult, we were away during this time as the flat was under renovation and could not confirm what works exactly have been at the time.

Given this extremely unreasonable bill, what is the best way to approach the situation?

Any help would be appreciated, and thank you for your advice.

 

[LukeD]

soon it will be a Min of 3 people per job .....!! Some of us will laugh and think its all pathetic and we will be right. But lawyers always tend to be the winners now and its crazy . I can see many people STOPPING employing anyone as it really can be the death of a business if you get a 'wrogun" who is out for a "claim".

 

[davesparks]

It's about attitude to work and getting on with the job in hand, the point is each member of staff/workforce have a responsibility for their own safety,

And a responsibility for the safety of others around them.
It's not just getting on with the the job, it is getting on with the job in as safe a manner as possible and everyone going home alive and well at the end of the day.

what did we do before the advent of mobile phones and apps?

Radio or pager based lone working systems were used, and in some cases still are.

Before mobile phones and then smart phones it was harder to monitor lone working the way we can now. But now technology has improved and so we are better able to keep workers safe.

To be blunt, before we had mobile phones and apps more people died at work. This is not to say that mobile phones are responsible for the reduction in deaths but advances in technology in that area have definatelly helped.

 

[mainline]

My attitude was you never work off a ladder, it's for access only

Lucky you were never a window cleaner then, by the time you put the scaffolding away the windows would be dirty again

 

[James]

Been a long time since I have seen a window cleaner up a ladder
, its another one of the “people used to do that” things, like the workers sitting on a beam eating lunch whilst building a sky scraper.

 

[mainline]

Been a long time since I have seen a window cleaner up a ladder
, its another one of the “people used to do that” things, like the workers sitting on a beam eating lunch whilst building a sky scraper.

Even with all the new technologies that are out there, traditional window cleaning is still the best way to guarantee that streak free finish that all window cleaners are aiming to get.

Ladders in situations where other means of access or water fed poles are not suitable.
For example, low level windows, tight access situations and inside building cleaning.
When carrying out window cleaning with ladders, operatives work with “buckets on a belt” making it possible to keep three points of contact with the ladder at all times. All ladders are fitted with anti slip devices, or footed by another operative.

Industry standard window cleaners ladders are to the specification below:
Pointed top fitted with white rubber block (105mm wide) and a tapered/splayed base

Manufactured from hollow seamless aluminium extrusions with radiuses corners for extra strength.
Rungs of 24mm diameter serrated tube fitted through stiles at a rise of 250mm by a special locking method to prevent turning and for increased strength.
Ends of ladder stiles fitted with rubber plugs.



A few years ago, the Work at Height Regulations changed – a lot of people thought that window cleaners were not allowed to use ladders any more. They are, and the Health and Safety Executive gives guidance for ladder usage.

 

[MDJ]

Been a long time since I have seen a window cleaner up a ladder

been a long time since I have seen a window cleaner

 

[DPG]

Even with all the new technologies that are out there, traditional window cleaning is still the best way to guarantee that streak free finish that all window cleaners are aiming to get.

Ladders in situations where other means of access or water fed poles are not suitable.
For example, low level windows, tight access situations and inside building cleaning.
When carrying out window cleaning with ladders, operatives work with “buckets on a belt” making it possible to keep three points of contact with the ladder at all times. All ladders are fitted with anti slip devices, or footed by another operative.

Industry standard window cleaners ladders are to the specification below:
Pointed top fitted with white rubber block (105mm wide) and a tapered/splayed base

Manufactured from hollow seamless aluminium extrusions with radiuses corners for extra strength.
Rungs of 24mm diameter serrated tube fitted through stiles at a rise of 250mm by a special locking method to prevent turning and for increased strength.
Ends of ladder stiles fitted with rubber plugs.



A few years ago, the Work at Height Regulations changed – a lot of people thought that window cleaners were not allowed to use ladders any more. They are, and the Health and Safety Executive gives guidance for ladder usage.

You haven't seen the window cleaners round our way!

 

[mainline]

 

[richy3333]

This soon veered off topic. Would be good to hear from the OP with the written info?

 

[Dustydazzler]

Window cleaner who does my parents house has a van with a pump in the back he attatches a long pole with to a hose to the pump and can reach the 1st floor no problem. No ladders required,]
£40 cash and he is there about 15 mins

 

[LukeD]

This soon veered off topic. Would be good to hear from the OP with the written info?

Good point...funny how they want help then go quiet ..

 

[HappyHippyDad]

So... Unreasonably price bill has twisted and turned into a discussion on window cleaners.

 

[baldelectrician]

So... Unreasonably price bill has twisted and turned into a discussion on window cleaners.

Q: What is the ideal name for an English window cleaner?

A: Seymour Clearly

Don't thank me all at once.

 

[nicebutdim]

Window cleaner who does my parents house has a van with a pump in the back he attatches a long pole with to a hose to the pump and can reach the 1st floor no problem. No ladders required,]
£40 cash and he is there about 15 mins

Fairly standard semi-detached costs £8 here with water-fed pole. Our window cleaner had to take about six months off for health related reasons. Reckon the windows will keep until his return and, besides, I don't like the guy who cleans most of the houses as he has a habit of blocking our drive, which causes me to break or accelerate every time I drive over the hoses he leaves snaked up and down the street.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

We never quite know the full picture do we. I remember quoting around £600 for changing quite a few sockets and switches. It seemed alot, but it would have taken quite some time. Also, you know that 10% of them are going to go wrong, threads disappear on the lugs, screws snap, you need to use deeper metal back boxes etc etc. I didn't get the job.

30 hours of work at £45 p/hour = £1350 plus the cost of sockets/switches, plus the extra work. Could be around £2000. I do like trying to play devils advocate. we've got to try and look at the other side, however unlikely.

It's very odd the electrician just choose to do lots of extra work, almost too odd. There are many different explanations for this. The most obvious one would be lack of effective and clear communication between customer and electrician.