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]

I agree regarding the actual bottom line, but they might raise an eyebrow at doing work that wasn't requested. I know of a case where Napit did.

This could be a bonus point..... He has done un authorised work. Tell him you will arranging for a EICR to be carried out to ensure his work is safe etc and will be sending him the bill...... Have some fun with the guy , I hate people that cheat and rip people off

 

[timhoward]

@AlexanderSmi123 are you able to describe the work he did beyond the work that you requested?
I'm wondering if any of it is notifiable to LABC under part P of building regs.

 

[AlexanderSmi123]

@AlexanderSmi123 are you able to describe the work he did beyond the work that you requested?
I'm wondering if any of it is notifiable to LABC under part P of building regs.

Aside from what we ACTUALLY asked him to do, he apparently "investigated" a bunch of things, cancelled supplies and sockets, tried and failed to install LEDs, checked lights and some circuits, Disconnected the supply cable going to Transformers 12V output, installed a new smoke alarm and etc (a few other things). As said before NONE of these were requested, and we did not know until he sent us the invoice.

 

[mainline]

Aside from what we ACTUALLY asked him to do, he apparently "investigated" a bunch of things, cancelled supplies and sockets, tried and failed to install LEDs, checked lights and some circuits, Disconnected the supply cable going to Transformers 12V output, installed a new smoke alarm and etc (a few other things). As said before NONE of these were requested, and we did not know until he sent us the invoice.

Get a cost of materials from him and go from there.

Was it just him doing the work ?

 

[AlexanderSmi123]

Get a cost of materials from him and go from there.

Was it just him doing the work ?

Actually no, without telling us apparently 3 more people were involved and "helped" him, for which he is also charging a management fee. Although we never explicitly agreed he would work alone, I believed it is reasonable that this is a 1 person job.

 

[LukeD]

You 100% you have not skipped a thing in the written communications ?

 

[buzzlightyear]

What was your contract with him & what was your jobs in regarding the work,
E. G. stick some lights in.
We can only go by hear say.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Aside from what we ACTUALLY asked him to do, he apparently "investigated" a bunch of things, cancelled supplies and sockets, tried and failed to install LEDs, checked lights and some circuits, Disconnected the supply cable going to Transformers 12V output, installed a new smoke alarm and etc (a few other things

without telling us apparently 3 more people were involved and "helped

Now, he has contracted to other party's
So was it a mangerment company that worked on your behalf.

 

[James]

4 days work seems excessive for the work listed,
£200 material and 30 hours at £60 (guessing here)

It is possible that when changing sockets or lights, a wiring fault was found that needed to be located and repaired or if there are a lot of downlights maybe some of the drivers needed changing.

I would start with a simple email.

Thanks for your invoice,
I am not happy with the invoice amount, the work we asked to be done was

1. change all socket faces to new crabtree white.
2. change all lamps and ensure they are working

It seems the job has taken a lot longer than estimated and i don't understand why.

I did ask for a written quote before the work started but you were unwilling to do so.
when we discussed the works required, i was led to believe that this would be a simple job that wouldn't take too long.

could you please provide me with a complete list of works done and if it was above and beyond the work requested, then could you explain why it was essential to be done without any consultation with myself.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Is your place rented or other.

 

[AlexanderSmi123]

You 100% you have not skipped a thing in the written communications ?

100% sure, we initially talked over the job verbally, and then I followed up with a written message confirming the works, which he confirmed too.

 

[AlexanderSmi123]

What was your contract with him & what was your jobs in regarding the work,
E. G. stick some lights in.
We can only go by hear say.

We did not have a contract, I met him through a friend of mine, we talked over the job verbally when he visited the flat and I later follows up by message with the scope of the works, which he confirmed. Besides that there was no contract or other documents signed.

 

[AlexanderSmi123]

Now, he has contracted to other party's
So was it a mangerment company that worked on your behalf.

The electrician is not solo, from what I understand he works for a company which is NICEIC Approved. We contacted him directly, and I do not know where the other 3 people came from, nor that there was anyone else involved until the invoice.

 

[AlexanderSmi123]

4 days work seems excessive for the work listed,
£200 material and 30 hours at £60 (guessing here)

It is possible that when changing sockets or lights, a wiring fault was found that needed to be located and repaired or if there are a lot of downlights maybe some of the drivers needed changing.

I would start with a simple email.

Thanks for your invoice,
I am not happy with the invoice amount, the work we asked to be done was

1. change all socket faces to new crabtree white.
2. change all lamps and ensure they are working

It seems the job has taken a lot longer than estimated and i don't understand why.

I did ask for a written quote before the work started but you were unwilling to do so.
when we discussed the works required, i was led to believe that this would be a simple job that wouldn't take too long.

could you please provide me with a complete list of works done and if it was above and beyond the work requested, then could you explain why it was essential to be done without any consultation with myself.

To be honest I agree it is possible that there were problems with the wiring, which means further work was needed. However I believe in those cases it is reasonable for him to contact us about it and say that additional work is needed, as opposed to messing with the wiring without our permission or knowledge.

 

[AlexanderSmi123]

Is your place rented or other.

No not rented, we bought the flat and were refurbishing it.