Burned by a customer

[overskilled]

So I've made a decision...
Time to look for another job...
Reasons:
Did my taxes...made zero profit this year and things aren't looking great
Been sent a legal letter demanding almost £300 or they take me to court...insurance excess is 250 so just as well to pay it...too much risk and hassle trying to fight things...
Wife has been in the hospital so had a lot of time alone to think and realised I need to get a steady paying job to keep a roof over my head, the wife's head and the dogs head......
Even part time...

To that end there's some stuff for sale in the "for sale section" if anyone is interested with more to come.....
Got a fair quantity of appleby drylining boxes for starters
Listed so far is at least 20 metres of 10mm2 prysmian T+E, also on ebay
some BG MCBs
Some Wylex BS3036 fuses and carriers in a range of ratings (about a 2 litre icecream tub full)
a Paslode / Spit branded largeish bag
An MK insulated enclosure (just the enclosure no devices)
If anyone is interested, please let me know and I'm sure we can do a deal....

 

[jimmymac]

So I've made a decision...
Time to look for another job...
Reasons:
Did my taxes...made zero profit this year and things aren't looking great
Been sent a legal letter demanding almost £300 or they take me to court...insurance excess is 250 so just as well to pay it...too much risk and hassle trying to fight things...
Wife has been in the hospital so had a lot of time alone to think and realised I need to get a steady paying job to keep a roof over my head, the wife's head and the dogs head......
Even part time...

To that end there's some stuff for sale in the "for sale section" if anyone is interested with more to come.....
Got a fair quantity of appleby drylining boxes for starters
Listed so far is at least 20 metres of 10mm2 prysmian T+E, also on ebay
some BG MCBs
Some Wylex BS3036 fuses and carriers in a range of ratings (about a 2 litre icecream tub full)
a Paslode / Spit branded largeish bag
An MK insulated enclosure (just the enclosure no devices)
If anyone is interested, please let me know and I'm sure we can do a deal....

Is it that bad mate? Why not just get a job some where and build up your business on the side? p.s hope your wife is ok

 

[Geordie Spark]

Best Wishes to Mrs Overskilled.

Are you sure you want to knock the business on the head completely?

I'm with Jimmymac on this and think you should sleep on it for a bit then think about running the sparking thing alongside some other job.

The more strings you have to your bow the better.

There was a time I had three jobs on the go and 16 hour days were not uncommon (Maybe that's why I'm a burn-out case now but that's another story) but I'm not suggesting you go to such extremes.

 

[dan86]

sorry to hear you're thinking of knocking it on the head completely mate. I know others have mentioned sleeping on it a bit, but from what you said you have had a lot of time to dwell on it. at the end of the day you obviously need to do what's best for you and the family. nobody will blame you for that. shame if you do give it up though.you seem to be a decent and knowledgeable guy, and sadly these days they are few and far between.
I wish you all the luck with whatever you decide to do, and best wishes to the Mrs.

 

[jimmymac]

Best Wishes to Mrs Overskilled.

Are you sure you want to knock the business on the head completely?

I'm with Jimmymac on this and think you should sleep on it for a bit then think about running the sparking thing alongside some other job.

The more strings you have to your bow the better.

There was a time I had three jobs on the go and 16 hour days were not uncommon (Maybe that's why I'm a burn-out case now but that's another story) but I'm not suggesting you go to such extremes.

Same here mate. I had a full time job whilst I built my business up to a point where it would support me & my family. I never gave up and now that it's a good business i'm getting bored and thinking of going in another direction.........I'm never happy!

 

[Geordie Spark]

Same here mate. I had a full time job whilst I built my business up to a point where it would support me & my family. I never gave up and now that it's a good business i'm getting bored and thinking of going in another direction.........I'm never happy!

I've gone in so many directions I almost met myself coming back!

 

[Richard Burns]

A hard decision to make there, well done for managing to make the choice, but sad that you have had to step away.

Remember not to burn all bridges, always keep avenues open.

Anyway hope all goes well with both family and work.

This time is not good for financial security and it can be very difficult to manage no matter at what level you are positioned.

 

[GMES]

Sorry to hear that mate I for one have enjoyed your posts and think it is a crying shame that you feel you have no choice but to call it a day.
I also agree with the guys could you not keep your hand in and get a part time job to prop up the business, or maybe even take on a partner, hear my out 1st , I had a mate who went solo and really struggled to get the work he was very good at is job but something didn't click with growing the business, but then went into a partnership and it absolutely boomed . his mate got all the work in and between my mate ran the paperwork side and then between them they both did the graft, it was a match made in heaven.
Now this may not be for you but it is worth a thought before you give in totally. just my opinion, but whatever you decide I wish you all the luck in the world going forward, and hope your wife gets better.

 

[ipf]

Echo all the good luck wishes above, OS. Hope the mrs recovers well and good luck for the future. Stay in touch.

 

[dan86]

don't mean to bring back an old post, but haven't seen or heard anything from Overskilled in the last couple of weeks. you still about...?

 

[markc123]

Last log in 2days ago, so maybe.

However he has said he's left the trade, so doubt we'll see much more...

Probs had enough of us lot rabbiting on everynight, ha.

 

[overskilled]

I'm still around guys...
Just been taking time out.
Mrs was in hospital for best part of a week and needed serious looking after for a week or 3 afterwards....still not 100% but getting there...
Legal hassles settled....thank the gods
Was offered a couple of small jobs, one was done and no hassle with the payments.
Today was another story. Asked to go out and remove a water heater supply, got that done, customer asked about the possibility of moving a socket.
Quick test with the socket tester...no earth
Whipped off the front, 1mm2 T+E but earth connected though
Checked the socket I was told it was from....not there, but supply neutral loose so retightened it.
Found where it was spurred from...no earth as the supply was in Pyro and not glanded to the backbox, so no earth connection...socket looked like it had been raised at some point and looked likely that the gland was just buried underneath the socket, also both sets of cores slack in their terminals.
So got permission to pull the back box...back box out, no gland at all on the pot, gently pushed the cores back into the wall space with the ends of the cores made safe....and the cores snap...flush with the pot...
Also got permission to disconnect the spur cabled in 1mm2.
Rapid phonecall to some other local sparks, since I don't have pyro tools....one firm has the kit and pots etc, and they can do it first thing tomorrow morning as in 8 am..
Sorted with customer, leave it safe, advise customer to leave upstairs socket circuit off for tonight and offer to get her some extension leads as a temp measure, but tell her if she was to turn the power on after I leave that there is nothing I can do to stop her, all sorted anfd agreed (with some whinging about having to be up at 8am....), think all is good. Quote £30 due to having to pass work on elsewhere and hassle for her (was on site about 1 3/4 hours chasing down where this spur was from)
Customer going to work, I offer to come back for the cash later on (mistake mistake mistake...learned this before...)
Long story short, get there and only given £20 as "my mates man does electrics and he's going to sort it and I had to pay him 15....." blah blah blah and the usual chestnut "I didn't ask for...." and "I was originally only going to give you £15"....
Try to do someone a favour and save them getting electrically BBQ'd.....
Glad I'm getting out this....Told by a chippy down in London that his firm is seeing this kinda crap more and more...
Worst part...taxpayer is picking up the tab for her "motability car" as she has COPD due to chain smoking before she is 45 (AND she stills smokes heavily)....63 plate highish spec metallic paint brand new ford focus....son and his gf lay in bed all day long....massive telly in the lounge and all bedrooms also, has a part time "job" in retail...translation stand around doing nada, her main concern about the socket wasn't the safety risk..."I won't be able to watch the Tel-lay in ma bed".
fricking joke...whereas my Mrs with Multiple Sclerosis is denied her DLA renewal at the moment due to jobsworth decision maker......arguing over semantics and trying to get out of requesting medical evidence from those my wife ACTUALLY sees....
Urgh and I WAS in a good mood this morning.....
Looking at retraining as a welder...seems locally and regionally there is a dearth of welders....least it would be a steady wage with no worries about getting paid and having to argue over bills etc.....

 

[overskilled]

I had a love for electrics...now just getting sick of the trade and the hassles that come with it....its just not worth the stress nor the hassle anymore...the few pains in the rear make it...not worth it...

 

[dan86]

all the very best mate. such a shame you've had so much grief at work and its lead to this. not to mention your family situation which I truly hope gets better for you all.
as for being a welder, piece of pee mate! I weld just about every day and have done since I was 16.I'd like to think I'm pretty decent by now.
I hope you still decide to stay on here regardless of what you do, but if not, all the best.

 

[markc123]

I had a love for electrics...now just getting sick of the trade and the hassles that come with it....its just not worth the stress nor the hassle anymore...the few pains in the rear make it...not worth it...

I hear what you're saying, theres always gonna be people out their that try and rip you off. Fellow sparks can be the worst spreading rumor mill, but, clients can be pricks ... just dust yourself down and crack on. Obviouslly if you're getting sick of it, then leave, no point been unhappy.

But i know for alot of members here, including myself our love and interest in electrics keeps us going. I mean, im not that old and i get grief regularly ... i'll be a wrinkled mess by the time im 40 but it wont deter me.

All the best.

 

[ipf]

All the best whatever you do OS. Seems to keep biting you hard. Hope things improve with the mrs and both of your problems.
One thing though, regarding the welding....don't start pi$$ing about with that pyro, might get brassed off. :smiley2:

 

[baldelectrician]

I have pyro tools, but I would have left it at the pyro with no earth, you need to learn to stop, look at the bigger picture and learn to walk away.

i would have left after doing first job- after getting payment - and either rebooked it on a materials and labour basis or just told her it wasn't to current standards and needed replaced

On the important note- I'm glad your missus is out of hospital and felling a bit better.

On a side point- are you anywhere near Kiltarlity?
i am off to that neck of the woods tomorrow to see my mate who has bought a house there. I am having a weekend away from the wife and kids, doing a couple of outside lights and going on a distillery tour ( looking forward to the distillery tour).

 

[overskilled]

Cheers guys
What essentially settled my mind was looking at the tax return lol....-£6....would have been as well working in tesco....ok maybe not sanity wise
Plus if I get a steady wage...I can afford a holiday (finally) get a mortgage...something that can be tricky if your SE, oh and get this garage finally built....
I feel better than I've done recently, had my yearly with the doc and he reckoned it was understandable to be stressed out with all that was going on...reckoned he would be on edge if he was facing similar...

BE- Kiltarlity...no, I'm about 15 miles north of dundee (had to google where Kiltarlity was...)...Its nice up there...somewhere I wouldn't mind retiring to tbh...if I can ever afford to that is...lol
I know, its just difficult to walk away from a dangerous situation, thats where my business sense falls down....


I'll still kick around, likely do a few favours here and there, going to hang onto my test kit etc....but fancy a change where not dealing with joe public directly...I've done welding before at a decent hobby level, local college is doing a 2 year training course on welding and fabrication, which is what I'm looking for...spoke to my old man about it (he has done industrial work for the last 30 odd years) and he reckons there is definetely a demand for welders...coded or not, seems a few firms are refusing to code their welders as those that are coded, unsurprisingly get better offers from elsewhere....also reckons he might know of someone who would give me a start if I can show a decent ability to weld and an interest...which would be good...
was tempted by a maintenance job with hillcrest housing association, but again it could be a headache I could do without....

 

[GMES]

This may sound a silly question but have you thought about going on the books with a firm , that way you get a regular income and someone else gets all the stress.

 

[overskilled]

This may sound a silly question but have you thought about going on the books with a firm , that way you get a regular income and someone else gets all the stress.

GMES:
I did, problem is SJIB unlike JIB require an apprenticeship for a gold card, which most sites are asking for...plus job security ain't that hot still in the construction sector...still quite a few firms going titsup locally out of the blue....and thats something I'd like to try and steer clear of...
nothing is certain at the moment economically, Though I'm trying to find something that might give me some form of job stability if not job security...