You've heard it all before but I need to vent!

[scott-fitz]

few months ago I was introduced to a fella who had too much work on his hands and needed a touch, told the fella my day rate and he was more than happy to throw a few days my way.

So off I go to this job for him, which just so happens to be for a builder I know very well, who hasn't even considered me for the work, It's all simple enough - house getting made into two for the son and daughter-in-law to share with the mum and dad.

On unloading my tools I meet a fella in his 30s whos in the same boat as me, one man band and doing a few days for this fella. Mistaking his age for experience and only being in my mid 20s I was quite happy letting him act like the boss to the customer.

It soon became clear to me that this fella was an absolute --- - he would mis quote regs at me in front of the homeowners, tell them he'd "had enough of me" cause I corrected him as he was attempting to mega a live cable, then moments later ask me how to wire a 2 way light switch, and leave site whenever he pleased.

On one such occassion in the day the customer brought it to my attention that she wasn't happy with him and would it be possible for me to finish the job, I also learned he'd electrocuted her on the first day he was there, and wait for it.... used to work in the hospital until a couple of months ago when he done a months course, bought himself a van and set up his own electrical firm.

After hearing this I went through into the other section of the house were he'd been working - old colour cables had been used, the top of the brand new fuseboard had chunks hacked out of it were he'd taken his wiring in (in no way close to IP4X) and his wiring had so many joints and problems with it it was unreal, there was more but it would take me too long to explain, but the best one was him arguing with me cause he was adiment that he needed a 10mm cable to feed a 8.5kw shower that was going to be cliped direct less than 4 meters away.

I explained to the guy whos work it was and he, without telling the fella why kept telling him the job wasn't ready to go back to and to my knowledge plans on using him elsewhere - unknown to me at the time he had taken 5 weeks to reach the stage he was at (one side first fixed) and it took him a week alone to do the fuseboard :/ which had to come off. and he'd been paid over £900.

I corrected the work and completed the job with the help of another spark this fella took on board, that was 2 months ago now and I'm still owed 11 days pay.

So not only did I have to deal with this complete moron but I'm now out of pocket for it, has anybody ever been through the small claims court and have any advice on it?

 

[bugsy]

have you issued certification, if not dont
have a chat with the home owner and ask if this guy is owed any money
tell the home owner that that you own title to the materials until paid for ( assuming you supplied - hope you did ) and that unless your paid your takig them back ( even if you need a court order )
forget the small claims court - waste of time

 

[scott-fitz]

no mate, it was the first fellas job which he got off the builder i know, he will be providing the certs, he provided materials, he just needed a few lads labour, spoke to the lad who finished it off with me and he hasn't been paid either - spoke to the builder i know who won the work and he said hes paid the spark in full, so I threw an invoice in straight away for the remaining money owed but I just cant get in touch.

 

[Engineer54]

Scott,

Rant away mate, there are plenty of these so-called sparks about, and not only in the UK ...believe me!!! You usually find, when they talk crap, ...they are crap!!!

 

[bugsy]

so who owes you the outstnding invoice , the sparky or the builder
additionally, who is goiing to certify , based on your comments i wonder if wonder spark is part p registered

 

[Engineer54]

For 11 days pay, ....I'd be inclined to sit outside his house for him, with a couple of mates if necessary!! ...lol!!!

 

[scott-fitz]

customer has paid builder in full - builder has paid spark in full - waiting for him to pay me

wonder spark i presume you mean the fella whos give me the work, by all accounts yes - otherwise i would be very annoyed at the builder, like i said i know him well and not even been considered for the work, apparently hes always used this fella as "no1 beats his prices"

 

[Geordie Spark]

For 11 days pay, ....I'd be inclined to sit outside his house for him, with a couple of mates if necessary!! ...lol!!!

I was once owed £7k by a customer and after several pone calls in which he assured me that the cheque was in the post (yeah .... right !!) I presented myself along with 3 of my employees (all ex-shipyard lads) at his office and told him to tell my lads why I couldn't afford to pay them their wages.

We left his office with the £7k in cash and his assurance that we would never get another job from him again. That didn't bother me too much as some customers are more trouble than they are worth & he was one of them.

 

[Knobhead]

I was once owed £7k by a customer and after several pone calls in which he assured me that the cheque was in the post (yeah .... right !!) I presented myself along with 3 of my employees (all ex-shipyard lads) at his office and told him to tell my lads why I couldn't afford to pay them their wages.

We left his office with the £7k in cash and his assurance that we would never get another job from him again. That didn't bother me too much as some customers are more trouble than they are worth & he was one of them.

I like your style :83:

 

[Marvo]

Debt collecting is always a tricky one unless you're prepared to burn bridges. All you can do is make sure you have paperwork even if it's only a signed quote, make sure everyone is clear on who is paying whom and for what. Also keep all accounts current, immediately there's a payment overdue you energetically address it with the person.

In your position you need leverage so maybe take some photos of is dodgy work if you still can and suggest to him you'll report him if necessary.

 

[ipf]

Can,t agree that small claims is a waste of time. I had a problem a few years ago, client wouldn't pay full amount owing (about 1200 owed, 500 offered). Went to court nervously (first time), judge found in my favour- paid in 2 weeks. Your problem Scott could be who you are taking on. In my case it was direct against the homeowner, in yours there are complications. All the work done has been paid for, how should the payment be split? etc. Good luck
whichever route you take. Ian.

 

[Blowcat]

. attempting to mega a live cable, ?

I saw one guy do the same thing, his hands were shaking and you could tell he didn't want to touch the terminals with the test leads. Swore blind thats how he always done it, including all the other 20 circuits. Always got 999 every time surprisingly and never a blown fuse????. It's scary what some people do.

I had someone own about £15,000. Went to a solicitors with all the invoices, they basically wrote one letter saying if not paid in 7 days court action will be taken, and on the 6th day I got my money.
Good luck I know how you feel