New here, looking for advice on an invoice, am I being ripped off??

[choccywoccy]

I apologise if this is posted in the wrong place, I hope someone can help me please to decide whats fair..

I asked for a quote from a local electrician on a rental property I have. He gave my husband a verbal quote "off the top of his head" but did not give a written quote. He was looking at an electrical safety certificate which we paid £85 for plus 20% VAT and he disconnected a dangerous wire the previous tenant had put in (outside lights wired to the mains) it took seconds to do and he said at the time it was no charge as it was lethal it couldn't wait. I paid his invoice totalling £102.01 which detailed the disconnected wiring as £0.01cost and the certificate. He then arranged to come back to do a few other "bits" as I shall explain - but I am being charged a further £510.00! I have asked for it to be itemised and the following is what I was charged for. Is this fair?
1. £25 broken socket on landing
2.£35 cables installed in garden I have disconnected today for safety (surely I paid £0.01 for this already??!!)
3. £20 some (3) light fittings missing shields
4. £30 Its a TT Installation and the electrode needs replacing ?
5. £25 Earth to the water not connected
6. £35 earthing to gas not within 600mm
7 £20 2 gang switch in bedroom only needs to be 1 gang (this was NOT DONE!)
8 - blank
9. £135 mains smoke detection (THIS WAS NOT DONE!)
10.£65 bathroom light not IP rated - (new one was fitted)
11.£30 Pale (??) Available (cannot read writing well here)
12.£45 No supplementary earth bonding
13. £25 TV socket in lounge broken
14.£20 socket plug top missing for gas ignition

Now I have disputed the two things not done, he has admitted that he was wrong to include the smoke detectors so agreed to deduct the £135 - although I have a backdated text message from him that actually quoted £125!!) however disputes the rest and says that that the two gang light switch was replaced - said he did it himself! But it remains a two gang flipin socket to this day!

He says he was there on site on 26th july and it was himself with two workmen..says my husband let them in and they were there 4 hours! well I know I was there myself I have a text message from him the day before arranging to meet me at 8.30am the next day, (my husband was in N Yorks that day) and I asked the two lads to drop keys off with my neighbour which they did 2 hrs later! so as he is clearly lying about things I want to know what else he is trying to rip me off for here.. but as I don't understand my quote..I don't know what some of the things on it mean as he didn't explain them and need advice. is what he is asking for the rest a fair price? any one can help me decide a fair payment for this work???? I have no objection to paying a fair price, I simply don't trust this guy now.. anyone Please?

 

[Marvo]

Welcome to the forum Choccy.

 

[telectrix]

i'd say about £100 -£140 over priced .

 

[choccywoccy]

i'd say about £100 -£140 over priced .

Wow really? as much as that - could you elaborate a bit - Id need something to go back to him with, I think he is trying to play on the fact that I know nothing about what his quote says its for! :deal:

 

[Octopus]

Well, deduct the £135 for the smoke alarm not done and you are a down quite a bit.

How long was he with you for?

Shame he didn't give you any indication of costs.

 

[choccywoccy]

he sent two lads to do the works and they were there 2 hours. He is says they were there 4 hours but they dropped keys with my neighbour at 11am so I know this not to be the case. He has agreed to drop the £135 as he "remembers now" that I didn't want the smoke alarms in ... but I still reckon the other things are over priced massively .. I know he didn't fit a new 1 gang light switch.. so that's another deduction... what about the replacement sockets? and the 3 light skirts - they cost 58p in B&Q .. I cant see how he is able to justify charging me £20 even if he did "fit" them on himself!

 

[polo1]

It's always difficult to comment on jobs/works one has not seen, though charging a customer for work they did not order and was not done suggests something less than good practice. Based on the info you have given, I'm inclined to agree with Tel that the work does appear overpriced. I'd certainly want to know what Item 11 is, especially if I was being charged £30. As for the work done, it all depends upon what you actually asked him to do e.g. go in an fix any obvious safety issues OR can you please let me know what needs to be done to ensure my tenant is safe and give me a detailed breakdown and quote for the work are two entirely different things, Oh and two sparks @2 hours each (if that's what they worked) is 4 hours and may include chargeable travel time.

 

[Geordie Spark]

<<< he sent two lads to do the works and they were there 2 hours. He is says they were there 4 hours >>>

Could he mean 2 x men were there for 2 x hours making it 4 man hours??

 

[Sintra]

Or the 2 lads where there for 2 hours but told their gaffer they where there for 4

 

[polo1]

<<< he sent two lads to do the works and they were there 2 hours. He is says they were there 4 hours >>>

Could he mean 2 x men were there for 2 x hours making it 4 man hours??

C'mon Geordie lad, ye'll need to be quicker than that:tongue3:

 

[telectrix]

I apologise if this is posted in the wrong place, I hope someone can help me please to decide whats fair..

I asked for a quote from a local electrician on a rental property I have. He gave my husband a verbal quote "off the top of his head" but did not give a written quote. He was looking at an electrical safety certificate which we paid £85 for plus 20% VAT and he disconnected a dangerous wire the previous tenant had put in (outside lights wired to the mains) it took seconds to do and he said at the time it was no charge as it was lethal it couldn't wait. I paid his invoice totalling £102.01 which detailed the disconnected wiring as £0.01cost and the certificate. He then arranged to come back to do a few other "bits" as I shall explain - but I am being charged a further £510.00! I have asked for it to be itemised and the following is what I was charged for. Is this fair?
1. £25 broken socket on landing..................... £15
2.£35 cables installed in garden I have disconnected today for safety (surely I paid £0.01 for this already??!!).......NIL
3. £20 some (3) light fittings missing shields.......... £20
4. £30 Its a TT Installation and the electrode needs replacing ? can't price without seeing
5. £25 Earth to the water not connected.... £25
6. £35 earthing to gas not within 600mm ........ can be left as it's not absolute 600mm
7 £20 2 gang switch in bedroom only needs to be 1 gang (this was NOT DONE!)....... NIL
8 - blank
9. £135 mains smoke detection (THIS WAS NOT DONE!)
10.£65 bathroom light not IP rated - (new one was fitted)............ ABOUT RIGHT
11.£30 Pale (??) Available (cannot read writing well here) ?????
12.£45 No supplementary earth bonding ........... MIGHT NOT BE NEEDED IF OTHER CONDITIONS APPLY.
13. £25 TV socket in lounge broken..... £15
14.£20 socket plug top missing for gas ignition............. freebie

Now I have disputed the two things not done, he has admitted that he was wrong to include the smoke detectors so agreed to deduct the £135 - although I have a backdated text message from him that actually quoted £125!!) however disputes the rest and says that that the two gang light switch was replaced - said he did it himself! But it remains a two gang flipin socket to this day!

He says he was there on site on 26th july and it was himself with two workmen..says my husband let them in and they were there 4 hours! well I know I was there myself I have a text message from him the day before arranging to meet me at 8.30am the next day, (my husband was in N Yorks that day) and I asked the two lads to drop keys off with my neighbour which they did 2 hrs later! so as he is clearly lying about things I want to know what else he is trying to rip me off for here.. but as I don't understand my quote..I don't know what some of the things on it mean as he didn't explain them and need advice. is what he is asking for the rest a fair price? any one can help me decide a fair payment for this work???? I have no objection to paying a fair price, I simply don't trust this guy now.. anyone Please?

I get that to £140, plus the unknown, whatever it was, and earth electrode cost. to fit a decent coupled rod properly could be anywhere from £40 to £120. the 3ft coat hanger he's probably quoted for is about as much use as a hairbrush to Harry Hill.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Definitely overpriced. £20 to fit a plug top? Come off it. £25 to change a socket outlet? Come off it.

The job should be priced Man hours @£x per hour, materials, traveling and VAT.

So I would say, 2 men @ £30 an hour = £120.

Materials £50 (generous estimate).

Traveling 40p per mile, local electrician say 10 miles each way, round it up call it £10

That's £180 + VAT (£36).

Total bill = £216.

:bigear:

 

[VoltzElectrical]

me and Tel posted at the same time.

 

[robbalaar86]

I went to my garage the other day for a mot they charged me 200 quid for a couple of jobs.

Jobs that sound easy and I could have got the parts for less.

However I paid it because I'm not qualified to do such jobs.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

I went to my garage the other day for a mot they charged me 200 quid for a couple of jobs.

Jobs that sound easy and I could have got the parts for less.

However I paid it because I'm not qualified to do such jobs.

But you agreed to their hourly rate before hand.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I apologise if this is posted in the wrong place, I hope someone can help me please to decide whats fair..

I asked for a quote from a local electrician on a rental property I have. He gave my husband a verbal quote "off the top of his head" but did not give a written quote. He was looking at an electrical safety certificate which we paid £85 for plus 20% VAT and he disconnected a dangerous wire the previous tenant had put in (outside lights wired to the mains) it took seconds to do and he said at the time it was no charge as it was lethal it couldn't wait. I paid his invoice totalling £102.01 which detailed the disconnected wiring as £0.01cost and the certificate. He then arranged to come back to do a few other "bits" as I shall explain - but I am being charged a further £510.00! I have asked for it to be itemised and the following is what I was charged for. Is this fair?
1. £25 broken socket on landing
2.£35 cables installed in garden I have disconnected today for safety (surely I paid £0.01 for this already??!!)
3. £20 some (3) light fittings missing shields
4. £30 Its a TT Installation and the electrode needs replacing ?
5. £25 Earth to the water not connected
6. £35 earthing to gas not within 600mm
7 £20 2 gang switch in bedroom only needs to be 1 gang (this was NOT DONE!)
8 - blank
9. £135 mains smoke detection (THIS WAS NOT DONE!)
10.£65 bathroom light not IP rated - (new one was fitted)
11.£30 Pale (??) Available (cannot read writing well here)
12.£45 No supplementary earth bonding
13. £25 TV socket in lounge broken
14.£20 socket plug top missing for gas ignition

Now I have disputed the two things not done, he has admitted that he was wrong to include the smoke detectors so agreed to deduct the £135 - although I have a backdated text message from him that actually quoted £125!!) however disputes the rest and says that that the two gang light switch was replaced - said he did it himself! But it remains a two gang flipin socket to this day!

He says he was there on site on 26th july and it was himself with two workmen..says my husband let them in and they were there 4 hours! well I know I was there myself I have a text message from him the day before arranging to meet me at 8.30am the next day, (my husband was in N Yorks that day) and I asked the two lads to drop keys off with my neighbour which they did 2 hrs later! so as he is clearly lying about things I want to know what else he is trying to rip me off for here.. but as I don't understand my quote..I don't know what some of the things on it mean as he didn't explain them and need advice. is what he is asking for the rest a fair price? any one can help me decide a fair payment for this work???? I have no objection to paying a fair price, I simply don't trust this guy now.. anyone Please?

rite then:

1) about rite in some areas

2) he agreed to do this for the original cost....he should`v gained permission before carrying out any remedial work

3) again...he has just been diving in

4) was a Ze carried out?...if you dont know what a Ze is...then just ask him if he carried out a Ze test...he will/should know what this is....and ask to see the value he recorded...a Max. of 200 ohms is acceptable ...although i would want to see it much, much lower

5) as long as the bonding cable & clamp was in place...and fit for continued service...then its a tenner

6) this is ideally (within 600mm)...not cast in stone....he dont know the regs this fella

7) is the switch accessory still good for continued service (barriers & enclosures + operation)?...if so then he has no business saying it needs changing..

8) ???????

9) if it wasn`t done...then you dont pay...come on..you know the score..surely?

10) if you specified a particular fitting...then he has an obligation to that

11) ??????

12) what board is it?...are there RCDs present and functioning correctly?

13) about rite

14) is it wired into a fused spur?..if its on a plugtop with no cover then this needs sorting...but its about a tenner...

hope this is of some use..
Glenn.

 

[robbalaar86]

I see both sides of the coin.

The op has been mislead.

However they also see our job as just changing a socket few wires etc.

The rubbish I hear at work everyday.

P.s I didn't agree to the 2 dust caps at 3.50 each -_- haha

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Glenn, your 'about rites' surely are if you are called out to do that one specific thing only? E.G. can you come around and change a broken socket? If you then multiply that pricing structure to every point in a house where multiple things need doing then you end up with stupidly high prices, as this lady has done here, being charged twice what she should have.

 

[telectrix]

wahey!!!!! glenn in glorious technicolor. you lost your colouring book?

 

[VoltzElectrical]

I could have spent all day at her house for that £250 and been chuffed.