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.

 

[UNG]

I worked for someone who would not tolerate lone working and it isn't just about an accident happening during the work being carried out. Anything can happen like heart attacks, strokes etc... and whilst your colleague may not be able to help medically they can call for assistance.

Did he always have a passenger when he drove anywhere, was he high risk for heart attacks or strokes!

 

[baldelectrician]

Did he let you know of the cooling off laws- see link?
The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/3134/regulation/30/made

If he did not he may be unable to make you pay without a court order

Offer to pay what you think a fair price is (point out the above law) and ask for the certifiactes
He is required to send them- has he sent them?

 

[mainline]

However we confirmed the exact scope of works needed in writing.

#42

let's see a copy, I am always cautious when I see these threads, there is usually 2 sides to everything, let's see the work agreed in writing, and then we can give you a proper opinion.

A redacted copy of the invoice may be helpful.

 

[mainline]

Did he always have a passenger when he drove anywhere, was he high risk for heart attacks or strokes!

You can't compare working in a dusty, hot attic to driving.

 

[pirate]

Is there actually a contract? Until we see the exchange of emails etc we will not be able to judge.
There are so many ways to look at this, but I can't believe any competent electrician would quote, say £500, and then, on finding other remedial works are necessary, plough ahead and up the bill to £2000 without even a phone call to the client. This alone makes me think the electrician is trying it on. After all, if there's no contract, how can he be sure the client will pay the extra?
Lack of communication is key here. I am assuming the electrician did not at any point pick up the phone and ask for approval to additional works.

Yes, he has to be paid...but how much?
Three possible answers, given there is no contract:
1. Quantum lucratus
2. Quantum meruit
3. Agent of necessity, which includes the above 2 points.

No. 3 is so outdated these days given the easy contact via mobile phone or email and only really arises in cases of emergency.

If the "contract" says "do this and that and whatever is necessary to get everything working properly" then the OP is on a sticky wicket...but to plough on to incur vastly more expense than both parties originally envisaged is foolhardy, since a quick call could have clarified things.

 

[Dustydazzler]

2 grand to change a couple face plates and swap out a couple lamps, even for my day rate that seems a tad high

I personally would never allow a very small job ( a single day job ) to spiral up to £2000 without ringing the customer first and then getting confirmation they want me to continue in the form of a short email.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I worked for someone who would not tolerate lone working and it isn't just about an accident happening during the work being carried out. Anything can happen like heart attacks, strokes etc... and whilst your colleague may not be able to help medically they can call for assistance.

Makes you wonder how postman, bus drivers and most couriers cope.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Did he let you know of the cooling off laws- see link?
The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/3134/regulation/30/made

That seems to be the sale of goods act, not works.

 

[westward10]

Makes you wonder how postman, bus drivers and most couriers cope.

Cope with what?
My post had a sound argument which is supported by modern working ethics.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Cope with the fact they are working by themselves.

 

[westward10]

Cope with the fact they are working by themselves.

It isn't about coping with working by themselves it is about lone working whereby an incident would go unnoticed because they are alone. Your examples are individuals lone working amongst other members of the public, they are not alone. To use the word "cope" suggests they are not competent to work by themselves and that is not the issue and if it were that is something completely different.

 

[timhoward]

Cope with the fact they are working by themselves.

It's just common sense though isn't it. Since I've had an assistant (fairly recent thing) I've been ultra-aware of my responsibility to make sure he gets home at end of day.
We recently had a fault find and CU change job that was an hour's drive into the middle of nowhere with zero phone reception, and unoccupied. No neighbours anywhere near. Even though there wasn't enough continuous work for two I decided we were both going as if anything had happened, either of us (alone) wouldn't be missed until that evening. At end of day it was a very unusual situation and better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Mike Johnson]

There are 3.1 million sole traders in the UK are they all at risk? There are exceptions of course as Tim points out above, but insisting that you do not work alone is in most instances not viable or makes financial sense.

 

[Risteard]

I worked for someone who would not tolerate lone working and it isn't just about an accident happening during the work being carried out. Anything can happen like heart attacks, strokes etc... and whilst your colleague may not be able to help medically they can call for assistance.

This is precisely the issue. I had the HSE out with me a number of years ago to offer advice about RAMS (gratis in fairness to them), and these were some of the points made. It's difficult to argue with the logic too.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I work 99% on my own , so who foots my ladder when im fitting the outside vent to the 3rd floor bathroom

 

[mainline]

There are 3.1 million sole traders in the UK are they all at risk? There are exceptions of course as Tim points out above, but insisting that you do not work alone is in most instances not viable or makes financial sense.

You are taking it to the extreme by saying everyone.



Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, you must manage the risk to lone workers, think about who will be involved and which hazards could harm those working alone.

 

[davesparks]

There are 3.1 million sole traders in the UK are they all at risk?

Yes, every person alive is at risk of something.

But that's not the point here, the point is that we can take measures to reduce the risk to people.

 

[LukeD]

You are taking it to the extreme by saying everyone.



Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, you must manage the risk to lone workers, think about who will be involved and which hazards could harm those working alone.

we are becoming very "american" and litigation is well on the rise . As mentioned ,I have via work and she is also a friend access to the UK's highest ranked employment lawyer . The issues she has seen and worked on over the last 30 years is unreal and the changes recently are madness .So, Yes an EMPLOYER really has to be on the ball as a simple mistake can cost them their whole business or most of their savings . WHy? well, not because they are in the "wrong" .But because their lawyers will have to advice them to "payout" in most cases .As the cost to defend /instruct Barrister etc etc might not be worth it as the chances are they will lose. Its like people are going out to find a "Accident " etc and chance their luck as just about any claim under £17k is classed as "might as well just pay out" ... Its super sad . And there is a HUGE rise in "sexual abuse /assault " cases and careers are been wrecked by employees just "making a claim" against a director etc etc. Some where the evidence is SO STRONG against the claimant .Yet the company does not want it to go to court etc etc .Payouts of 80k and more just been paid to make the matter go away . So yes, the madness of "elf and safety" is real and if you employ anyone now, dont take it lightly !

 

[pc1966]

I would think that most employers now have to think about the lone working risks and address them as far as reasonably possible. In some cases it is just getting another person to call in from time to time to check, or maybe using CCTV at a remote site so the service person can be watched arriving and safely departing again.

A university we had plans to work with had the use of some app for lone staff that they had to respond every hour or two or an alarm was raised. At my previous job at another university many years ago a colleague (who usually worked shifts) had a fit and we needed to get an ambulance/medical assistance. Thankfully it happened while there were folks around. After that we made some arrangements that the other guys who did evening shifts would have friend or family checking up on them by phone just in case.

 

[DPG]

I would think that most employers now have to think about the lone working risks and address them as far as reasonably possible. In some cases it is just getting another person to call in from time to time to check, or maybe using CCTV at a remote site so the service person can be watched arriving and safely departing again.

A university we had plans to work with had the use of some app for lone staff that they had to respond every hour or two or an alarm was raised. At my previous job at another university many years ago a colleague (who usually worked shifts) had a fit and we needed to get an ambulance/medical assistance. Thankfully it happened while there were folks around. After that we made some arrangements that the other guys who did evening shifts would have friend or family checking up on them by phone just in case.

That's a good point - a lot of places use lone-worker apps these days.

 

[MDJ]

Makes you wonder how postman, bus drivers and most couriers cope.

They are not stood on ladders by themselves with nobody footing them, they are not doing any jobs which need 2 people, sparks often do Mike, just saying

 

[Mike Johnson]

I am so glad I am retired and don't have to deal with people who will find any excuse not to do a job.

My attitude was you never work off a ladder, it's for access only, plenty of other means of getting to a work face.

 

[westward10]

I am so glad I am retired and don't have to deal with people who will find any excuse not to do a job.

My attitude was you never work off a ladder, it's for access only, plenty of other means of getting to a work face.

The majority of people are not looking for excuses not to work and that is not the point it is about a duty of care to your staff. One company I worked for were fine with lone working which suited me fine and they kept in constant contact but another would not tolerate it and it had nothing to do with finding excuses.

 

[Mike Johnson]

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

 

[westward10]

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

It is nothing to do with attitude to work or getting on with the job.