Working through a builder

[rob121]

Evening,

Just wanted to get some opinions on a situation im in. I was asked by a builder I used to work for (when I was doing general building) to phone one of his customers as they was after an electrician to do some work for them. Anyway phoned customer got the job, completed, went to see customer for payment after telling him about some faults I found and he went on to tell me that the builder has told him anymore work that he wanted me to do would have to go through him. Basically I assume he wants to make some money out of me doing the work, which then meant the customer couldnt afford to pay for me to rectify the faults. Just wondering what your ideas are on this?
Im self employed but still do some work for the builder so dont want to p**s him off but I personally thought it was a cheek to sub me out when im not employed by him and he just fits kitchens and bathrooms.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[Octopus]

You are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. You want the business but going through the builder makes you too expensive.

My guess is that the builder is VAT registered and you are not so, your cost has his margin on it then VAT on top - making you too expensive.

Not an easy situation to deal with - maybe your builder mate would appreciate a few beers as a "thank you"?

 

[rob121]

Murdoch, thats what im going to try, see if hes just in it for a drink. Just to me it seems a bit harsh that its purely electrical work, which hes not involved with, and after adding his bit it means none of us earn any money out of it and the work goes elsewhere. Like you say though, I want to keep both there business. I thought I would ask on here incase it was something that a lot of sparks do, get work through a builder and he takes a cut?

Thanks,

Rob

 

[topquark]

Never been asked for a cut before, but do normally provide a finders fee of a few beers. It's also a two way street, if you come across folk that need some building work, you could recommend them, assuming you'd want to of course

 

[Octopus]

If you don't tackle him, you end up with a reputation for being far too expensive.

Doing electrics as part of a big job is one thing, working "through him" for extras/repairs etc is something else.

Good luck

 

[rob121]

Exactly. It was only minor works, etc and as the customer said, he now cant afford to do it as the builder basically doubled the cost. I know hes got to make money and as mentioned if it was part of his building work I could understand him wanting to stick a few quid on.

Ill offer him a few beers and see what he reckons, if not ill recommend another electrical company to the customer "Bright Sparks" which just happens to have the same number on it as mine (by the way, thats not the name I trade under, incase you was preparing some abuse lol)

 

[FAA Greenie]

I found myself in a similar situation not long back with a plumber, I got round it by telling him that the customer was 'insistant' that i quote him directly for the job. It did the trick and has become the norm now with not a bad word said.

 

[Deleted member 19807]

sorry but i think the builder is after a free ride on your back, in the end you both get a bad reputation and you will loose out when his work dries up.