Customers from hell.

[pritch]

I wired an extension for some very posh customers recently.I put the first fix in which included loads of spots throughout the house.I left all the cables for the spots above the plaster board ceiling and made a drawing telling me where to drill my holes. After i finnised i took less than half for the job leaving me with most of the money for the second fix. I brought all of the spots and sockets ready for 2nd fix then i got a call telling me they have found another electrician who will 2nd fix it for a cheaper price(not surprising because still money on from 1st fix).I told them this is very unfair because i still have money left in the job and I bought the 2nd fix gear,"oh well" they said
Dont know if any one's spotted it yet but I held the trump card. I had all the positions for the spot lights on a drawing and it would be impossible for them to find the cables because there was no access above the ceiling upstairs and would mean getting up the new laid floor for downstairs spots.
After a few days the customer called me up and asked me for the drawings and that they were his property,I told him to get his new sparky to find the cables. After about a week I recieved a complaint from the customer via the NICEIC and in the end I had to send him the drawings back. You live and learn I guess.

 

[D Skelton]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Tell me if I'm wrong guys but I would imagine that making damn sure you have these beauties somewhere in your T&C's would eliminate the chance of a problem similar to the OP's.

8 CANCELLATION [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]8.1 The Customer may cancel an Order for Services and/or Products by notifying the Supplier in writing at least one full working day before any Services have been provided and any monies paid by the Customer will be refunded in full subject to any deduction of costs that the Supplier has incurred.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]8.2 If the Customer does not notify any cancellation within the time specified in Clause 8.1 any monies paid will not be refundable.

Coupled with
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
5.5 The Customer is not entitled to withhold any monies due to the Supplier.[/FONT]



[FONT=Arial, sans-serif] I feel for ya buddy, but annoying as it is, and angry as I'd be, I would never let a situation like this cost me! I believe I have an obligation to make sure that nothing I ever do for anyone else (close family and friends aside) costs me any money whatsoever. Also, might be worth including a clause detailing something about intellectual property rights to make sure plans and drawings that you make to aid you in your job stay your property![/FONT]

 

[grantr37]

I wired an extension for some very posh customers recently.I put the first fix in which included loads of spots throughout the house.I left all the cables for the spots above the plaster board ceiling and made a drawing telling me where to drill my holes. After i finnised i took less than half for the job leaving me with most of the money for the second fix. I brought all of the spots and sockets ready for 2nd fix then i got a call telling me they have found another electrician who will 2nd fix it for a cheaper price(not surprising because still money on from 1st fix).I told them this is very unfair because i still have money left in the job and I bought the 2nd fix gear,"oh well" they said
Dont know if any one's spotted it yet but I held the trump card. I had all the positions for the spot lights on a drawing and it would be impossible for them to find the cables because there was no access above the ceiling upstairs and would mean getting up the new laid floor for downstairs spots.
After a few days the customer called me up and asked me for the drawings and that they were his property,I told him to get his new sparky to find the cables. After about a week I recieved a complaint from the customer via the NICEIC and in the end I had to send him the drawings back. You live and learn I guess.

Sounds about right, I've had to deal with people like that before, I spent hundreds on a job with one years ago, did all the work and never got paid or my money back on the parts...the guy had just had an old set of barns converted into 2 luxury flats with 2 jacuzzis in each, a wired in sound system, underfloor heating at nearly 80 grand,had wasteground made into a garden and everything was imported marble worktops, slate floor tiles, wood panneling etc....he even locked a load of tradesmens tools in a stone shed in his garden.....didn't get them back either....then some people who he owed money to from somewhere else he used to live found out where he was, appeared one weekend and he wasnt there so they just broke into his shed and made off with all our tools.....shortly after that he sold the buildings at a price which made him about 270k profit before tax which would have been about 160k after taxes, he was never seen from or heard of again.....I think he was one of those people who move about buying properties and using tradesmen to renovate them, then sells up and clears off, hes probably a millionaire by now and still abusing trades wherever he is...

 

[grantr37]

These kind of people would probably just get a big lawyer to start court proceedings if you didnt give them the drawings...

 

[mogga]

I tend to throw the smoke packet in the bin where its meant to go

 

[tonys]

There's always 2 sides to every story and who really knows what went on ?

The drawings might of been the property of the customer, and therefore legally they are entitled to them back. Also once the materials are installed on the premises I think your find they legally belong to the owner of the premises.

No smoke with out fire imo, so no-one can judge the situation with out knowing the full facts and terms and conditions can be deemed unfair in a court of law, so going to heavy won't win nothing.

Also any scheme providers will tell its members your not entitled to with hold test sheets for payment either, I don't care what they say, just thought I would mention it.

The op hits 60k a year, so should be fine.

 

[mogga]

Yip Tony I noticed 60K and a Warrier the customer probably thought he was paying towards the big flash motor n got the wee cowboy down the road with his smokey old transit in to do it
Altough I Wouldnt give over any Drawings and couldnt give certs as I havent tested it so what cert would Pritch give as for NicEic theyr being numptys and as ever it looks like one side of the story may not match the other side

 

[pritch]

Didnt think it would take long before ratty 1 and ratty 2 came out their holes.Its amazing how you pair provoke people and then turn the fault on to them.The 60k post was in a thread "what sparkys earn" i then went on to say what i earned, I had a good year and was doing work for a good company, you pair took offence to this and so keep bring it up.The second time tonys went on to say the the 'cowboy spark' would be laughing at me because i had part p and him not with me replying 'no i had the last laugh when he got into his transit smoker and i got in my warrior' but once again they took offence and keep bringing it up.
Both of you are very jealous indivduals who need to get alife away from this forum.
Can't really see the point in me posting again when all you will ever do is reply with sarcastic comments,so this is my last post.

 

[SMB]

rawl-plug tools at dawn.

 

[SMB]

I just don't get it.

Clever people on a forum, we are not builders (although im sure there are many clever builders out there)

Why is there 'issues' with people here?

Im skint. I don't even own a car at present and I live in a one bedroom council flat.

But im nice.





Start to get some respect. Offer respect. Try to help others.

 

[D Skelton]

Also once the materials are installed on the premises I think your find they legally belong to the owner of the premises.

Not true whatsoever. By law the materials would still belong to whoever installed them until there was a mutual agreement that the property owner became the legal owner of all materials installed. This can be further reinforced by the customer signing and agreeing to T&C's that explain how materials belong to the service provider until payment is received in full. Also, by law, the legal owner of the materials installed would be able to retrieve his property, without let or hindrance, so long as no criminal offence is committed in the process.

 

[malcolmsanford]

I just don't get it.

Clever people on a forum, we are not builders (although im sure there are many clever builders out there)

Why is there 'issues' with people here?

Im skint. I don't even own a car at present and I live in a one bedroom council flat.

But im nice.





Start to get some respect. Offer respect. Try to help.

Are you nice .......really really nice

 

[SMB]

mostly.

 

[millwall ken]

I just don't get it.

Clever people on a forum, we are not builders (although im sure there are many clever builders out there)

Why is there 'issues' with people here?

Im skint. I don't even own a car at present and I live in a one bedroom council flat.

But im nice.





Start to get some respect. Offer respect. Try to help others.

I'm quite 'Nice.' But still a little strange... However you're quite right.

 

[pushrod]

Start to get some respect. Offer respect. Try to help others.

IMO a very good philosophy for life

 

[tonys]

Didnt think it would take long before ratty 1 and ratty 2 came out their holes.Its amazing how you pair provoke people and then turn the fault on to them.
Both of you are very jealous indivduals who need to get alife away from this forum.

lol you are funny

I don't even know ratty mogga, but his posts, clearly working class and would fit in with me all day long ha ha

 

[LukeD]

Never leave site /job with money owing . I had it years ago , the client got chatting to another trades on the job and he offered to get the job done 20% less than my quote for "part 2" . As I had he dates for "part 2" in the paperwork and agreed by the client etc . I said either i finish the work as planned or they pay me for loss of earnings as i had 48 hours notice to find 4 days work etc . I knew it would end messy so , I stuck my to my guns and fronted the other guy for "robbing business" . Lost the plot a little . Client offered to pay me some money etc but i walked away.

Roll on 3 days time and i get a call saying "where is what"

I replied that i was available for "consultation" at 50% more than my daily rate !! And i wanted paying cash upfront. The phone went dead.

It must have taken them ages to sort it all out !

Robbing trades git and his mate also got about £500 worth of parking tickets over the next year ..........."karma" and a set of false plates work a treat !!

 

[grantr37]

Not true whatsoever. By law the materials would still belong to whoever installed them until there was a mutual agreement that the property owner became the legal owner of all materials installed. This can be further reinforced by the customer signing and agreeing to T&C's that explain how materials belong to the service provider until payment is received in full. Also, by law, the legal owner of the materials installed would be able to retrieve his property, without let or hindrance, so long as no criminal offence is committed in the process.

Imagine somebody getting a kitchen and bathroom from one of the big sheds, or a posh high street showroom, getting it fitted and then not paying for it, using some long outdated defence that it was now their legal property as it has become part of the fabric of their building......I think that people can still do that legally but only if a contract is not signed, the big players are more likely to make you sign a contract, pay in full up front then not bother fitting it at all, or even go bust after leaving you waiting for 18 months then you lose your money....