what would you do?

[telectrix]

got a customer, bought a house. basically gutted, so asked me for a quote, labour only, to do some electrical work, extra sockets, etc. install new CU. now, technically, i have no problem. it's the financial side that buggers me. basically, i quoted £700 to do the CU and the bits and pieces. all good so far. now, he wants downlights throughout. i planned it out, 32 downlgihts in total. quoted £20 per fitting ( labour and cables), got knocked down from £640 to £450, now he wants 8 more fittings ( total overkill, 6 in a 3m x 3m bedroom and hall & landing) without paying any more. so far, i've had £500 out of the £700 initial quote which barely covers the time spent so far. my thoughts are to walk away, cut losses, move on. i can see future problems as he wants outside work and won't pay for safely installation. btw, he's just had all the front and back fenced and block paved... materials alone must have come to £5K. should i walk?

 

[R G]

Trouble is you gave in to him in the first place with Labour only , as a contractor I never do, he wants you to certificate it as well afterwards , Do you have it all on paper as to what your doing for the money and does he have a copy , if so point it out and tell him its all extra , if he don't like it just do what you have quoted so far(£700) and get the money before you finish too...

 

[dave274]

I'd walk otherwise he'll continue to take the pi$$ and you'll lose even more money.

 

[hasel5]

If it was me I would of refused to start after being knocked on the down lights and told him to get someone else.

 

[ruston]

^^^^^
I agree, He is a chancer, You have done too much for the money now.
You need to get paid up to date and start again , at the very least.

 

[R G]

Makes you sick some people , they are willing to go out and buy materials but want to pay you Jack all ...

 

[ruston]

It was RG's post I was agreeing with lol. This 3 mobile is so slow.
Hasel as a good point though also.

 

[hasel5]

Did he accept the price for the first part of works ok ?or did he Knock you on that as well. Were the down lights a addition after you started?

 

[Englishman]

Can't understand why you let him knock £190 off your bill. I won't even let someone knock 190p off of my price.

 

[LankyWill]

Try and cover your loses and walk, fake your own death.. or tell him you want what was quoted or you will walk, that might tempt him in to paying you more. Bloke sounds like a numpty...

 

[telectrix]

basically, the initial work was for £700. most has been done except the DB swap. he's paid £500 so far, so i'm not too much out of pocket. the downlights were added as an extra. i based quote on £20 per fitting (labour and cable) but expecteed a bit of a haggle, that's part of the job. what has boiled my poo is him wanting an additional 8 fittings without an increase in labour charge. sod it. i'm walking.

 

[amlu]

Had same crap this Monday, 3 bedroom rewire to do, £200 knocked off the price, then he wants lots of spotlights added.
4 Messy builders working there all day every day.
Kitchen work to be done after a month, means i cant do it all in one go.
Gave him his cheque back and walked off.
Cost me £10, managed to install a henley block for my temporary power....

 

[sparksburnout]

I don't suppose the reduced price for the downlights is too bad, depending on if you have to lift floors above them and so on, but it really brasses me off when customers start the "while your here could you just do xxxxx". Like they would stop behind after work for an hour for nothing if there boss asked them to.

 

[Andy78]

Right decision Tel. The guy sounds like the personification of the phrase "give em an inch and they'll take a yard"

If he starts backtracking and tries to get you to complete the work, I'd be asking for the original quoted price of £20 per fitting paid up front. Put the ball right back at your feet.

 

[telectrix]

without being rascist, the guy's a gypsy. i've done some work for others in the area and had no problems. they've all paid 50% upfront and cash on the nail when done, but this guy is taking the proverbial. he wants a 3k job doing for peanuts, so i'll tell him to seek a contractor from chester zoo. it's only a few miles away for him.