Feel like I'm being used

[lofty84]

Just a quick question really how much is the going rate for connecting a shower up (the cable was already run so I just had to terminate it) installing a bathroom light and pull cord and wiring up a switched fused spur for a towel radiator, next was putting in an earthrod to earth these 2 new circuits and then installing a new 2 way board for the circuits, I had to move the meter do new tails and take a new earth to the water pipe, I just wondered how much one would charge for that ad I got the handsome sum of 57 pounds which when I minus my petrol money a 60 mile round trip probably leaves me with 50 quid if that. How much would he have charged do u think min

Thankyou

 

[lofty84]

I guess I work for him as he's usually always there but I was left to do that job on my own so that time I was a subby. He does say its best to be a subby but I don't know if he's spinning me a yarn

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I don't work for him all the time just when he had a job come in which isnt that often which might say something

 

[lofty84]

Pc If you want to add anything please feel free mate. Admitably I've become wound up by people saying I've been well and truly used. I'm annoyed with how I've been treated as I'm basically being paid as a labourer only getting to do the rubbish dirty parts of the job. To date I am 2230 and 17th eddition with a couple of years decent experience in the domestic sector.

 

[lofty84]

I liked peter and his mate the were really good to work with but there comes a point when u think hang on and getting £57 a day for doing all that (and being ttold to move the meter, which is apparently illegal) was it . now I just feel like I have been beig used for cheap labour as and when I was needed because I'm a reliable enthusiatic hard worker. Its not as tho i have learnt anything new other then how to roll up insulation and haven't been able to do anything other then the dirty stages of first fixing where I would rip out all the old cables which probably cover my wages anyway.

 

[lofty84]

 

[Amp David]

Quite a lot of the time, these clowns who advertise for sparks to sub out to them, either under quote their jobs to get the work or don't have a clue regards a proper rate for a subbie. They're sat in the world of what you pay them is their take home pay.

They want to pay you an equivalent rate to an employee but don't want to have the responsibilities of all that goes with employing people.

My last enquiry regards subbing out to someone highlighted that they were paying 120 a day CIS. Then they told me I was having to pay my own tax too.
I was always under the impression that with CIS the contracter was to take 20% for your tax. This just goes to show that most of em think they are big boys in the electrical contracting world, where really they ain't a clue.

God only knows how they manage to get by with regard HMRC etc.

 

[Octopus]

Your "position" re wages and tax sounds very dodgy. If the HMRC come knocking, a defence of "ignorance" will not be one they will believe - be warned.

For Surrey your rate is FAR too low.

 

[Guitarist]

lofty, if you moved a meter without knowing it is illegal then I would say that you really aren't ready to go out on your own at this time. You will not always be able to ask on the forum when on a job, and trust me, there will be many times when you will need to call on experience to make a decision. I think the builder realises this, which is why he is giving you such a pittance.
Maybe there is an electrician in your area who would employ you to work with him at a decent, but reduced rate.

 

[JD6400]

To be honest Lofty , Guitarist just beat me to it .
At least you are getting paid , all be it poorly !
Their seems to be a fair few , far more qualified on here that can not even get one job in a month at the moment ! So it maybe best for you to just bite your lip and push for more money as and when you can ?

 

[lofty84]

He does deduct tax for me

 

[lofty84]

To be fair I've probably burnt those bridges, the problem with me is I get wound up very quickly

 

[Knobhead]

I’m sorry, but more fool you for doing it!

 

[Plonker 3]

He does deduct tax for me

I take it he gives you a wage slip, or CIS certificate then to show this?

 

[lofty84]

no although I do ask for one

 

[derek preece]

You need your CIS slips to claim your tax back at the end of the financial year, if he hasn't get them then chances are he is pocketing the money.

 

[Octopus]

oh dear, sounds like you'll be having fun with the "employer" and the tax man then!

 

[derek preece]

HMRC are going to want their cut out of your already meager wages, the contractor will probably claim that you were responsible for paying your own tax, though I'm not sure how that stands legally.

A quick look at the HMRC website seems to suggest that the contractor should be registered with CIS and so is responsible for making deductions for subbys CIS, they are obliged to give you a statement of deductions and payments.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/cis340.pdf

 

[Current Affairs]

My rate would be £300 + Materials + Fuel. Not sure what you have set up with this chap, he is mugging you. I have a rule, I only complete a job after a quote in writing has been accepted by the customer. It is the only way to work, everyone knows what they are paying and I know how much I am earning.

Why are you moving a meter? that is only a job for the Supplier. I may be assuming some points as not sure I have the whole picture, but sounds like you are breaking the regs & being paid peanuts for it. I dont touch the meter side for any amount of cash, I wont even pull the supply fuse, always get the customer to get their supplier to fit an isolater if required before I complete the work

 

[Guest111]

sounds like this guys having you off big time,I,m sure if we are honest most of us have pulled a service fuse at some time, but you can be sure it wasn,t for such a small amount, plus breaking seal on meter (some dno,s look at this as worse than pulling a fuse) However one thing you can be absolutely sure of,if it came that dno/supplier decided to make an issue of this firstly they would contact the builder who then and I guarantee you this 100% would turn round and say"well the spark said it was ok to do it" and then its you who ends up in court,not going to criticise your work mate haven,t seen it however what I would say is I think you need to get a bit more streetwise.you are a very fresh fish in an ocean with a lot of sharks and if you aint carefull you,re gonna get a nasty bite! As I said I aint having a go just trying to clue you up a bit.

 

[lofty84]

No I appreciate it boys I wont lie I've worked with so many sparks that just pull the main fuse I thought it was standard practice. Ive got a good mind to call up the guy who told me to do it. Basically to get around this you ask the customer to get there supplier of electricity to come out and fit an isolator so I am able to work safely on the install. What a cheeky *******.

 

[lofty84]

ps how long would this usually take as 9/10 wouldn't the customer/builder just get another sparky who was prepared to do it to do the job because it was quicker then having to wait for the supplier to come out. If i was the customer I would wait and go with the sparks who said they needed an isolator to be fitted but if I was in a rush ......

I guess there's a big danger of blowing myself up pulling the fuse in and out, if no what the reason one cant touch it, am i putting the client at risk by taking it out and the putting it back in, especially once i have lefty and its further down the line?

 

[baldelectrician]

You are basically taking 90% of the risks and getting 10% of the money

You need experience, but do you need it at any cost?

How much inspection and testing are you getting, how much fitting out are you doing? These are the things that make your trade and experience

 

[trev]

ps how long would this usually take as 9/10 wouldn't the customer/builder just get another sparky who was prepared to do it to do the job because it was quicker then having to wait for the supplier to come out. If i was the customer I would wait and go with the sparks who said they needed an isolator to be fitted but if I was in a rush ......

I guess there's a big danger of blowing myself up pulling the fuse in and out, if no what the reason one cant touch it, am i putting the client at risk by taking it out and the putting it back in, especially once i have lefty and its further down the line?

1) If they do get another guy in who is prepared to pull the cut out fuse what have you lost? This guy is having your pants down mate so all you'll be losing is another screwing. Do you need another one? I'd reckon not
2) Yes there are dangers inherent on pulling the fuse, the DNO train their staff to do it safely. That's why we, the untrained, are not supposed to di it

 

[lofty84]

I do hope he reads this, im sure he uses the site

 

[Plonker 3]

I do hope he reads this, im sure he uses the site

Don't take this the wrong way. But if he is he will be laughing very hard at your expense I feel.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[lofty84]

Just looking on the direct gov website for a new job and there's not much on there for GU15 area. Surely I should risk going out on my own even if I am going to encounter moments when I don't know what i'm doing at least this way ill be able to learn fast although I admit it will be unfair if its at the clients cost but that's how it is i'm afraid. Hopefully a sorry look would get me out of most sticky situations. Its either this or change career. If I earn 25 000 a year it will be allot more then what i'm on now or what ill be on with a career change.

Dillb i'm not sure if your trying to wined me up but it's done now mate, all I can do is learn from my mistakes, although I wouldn't say it was a mistake I just put my trust in them and they proved untrustworthy. If he was to laugh in my face though it would be a different story but he wouldn't do that

 

[Plonker 3]

Sorry didn't mean to rile you.

As for going on your own do you think it is fair to use it to gain experience. I know I wouldn't be best pleased if someome turned saying I will try and do it but promise I will. As has been said get in touch with local firms and see if you can buddy up with them first to gain more experience.

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[alarm man]

Just looking on the direct gov website for a new job and there's not much on there for GU15 area. Surely I should risk going out on my own even if I am going to encounter moments when I don't know what i'm doing at least this way ill be able to learn fast although I admit it will be unfair if its at the clients cost but that's how it is i'm afraid. Hopefully a sorry look would get me out of most sticky situations. Its either this or change career. If I earn 25 000 a year it will be allot more then what i'm on now or what ill be on with a career change.

Dillb i'm not sure if your trying to wined me up but it's done now mate, all I can do is learn from my mistakes, although I wouldn't say it was a mistake I just put my trust in them and they proved untrustworthy. If he was to laugh in my face though it would be a different story but he wouldn't do that

he is taking the **** mate,dont wait for him to laugh at you,just laugh at him when he tells you what he wants to pay...tell him your price or walk away..pride doesnt pay the bills,neither does what he's paying..

 

[lofty84]

Sorry didn't mean to rile you.

As for going on your own do you think it is fair to use it to gain experience. I know I wouldn't be best pleased if someome turned saying I will try and do it but promise I will. As has been said get in touch with local firms and see if you can buddy up with them first to gain more experience.

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I think i've got to take the bull by the horns taking on little jobs from start to finish gradually building my business up. I feel i'm just as capable as everyone else out there just a bit slower and less experienced but ill get there. I wouldn't take on something I didn't know how to do or at least feel confident in doing.

ps I know your not meaning to rile me up but the whole thought of him getting me to put my career at risk for such little money has really hit a nerve with me

 

[Plonker 3]

Lesson learned. We have all had to learn the hard way at some point. So don't think this is a isolated incident and it just happened to you.

I admire your persistance ans if you feel confident go for it. At least then you can say you have done it.

Good luck for the future. Use this experence as a positive one and don't look back.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[lofty84]

cheers Dillb