- Reaction score
- 3,570
Ok, so I'm registered with Rated People. I don't use them very often but once or twice I have purchased a lead that has turned out to be very profitable. I usually get about 10-15 emails per day from them and most are just deleted however this one caught my eye! Now this isn't a rant about Rated People whatsoever but instead a rant at Joe 'bloomin' dimwitted cheapskate' Public!
Below is what can only be called an essay of a job description, read it and weep!
[FONT=&]This job involves electrical inspection and testing, plus lighting and power installation; partly outdoors with armoured SWA cable (requiring a ladder and drilling through an external wall) but mostly indoors. As much detail as possible is provided below as requested. A 6A lighting circuit and 32A sockets ring has been built in the loft space at the property, terminating in a large cupboard in the loft. These circuits require inspection, testing and certification if possible, before connecting into the consumer unit directly downstairs in the 1st floor kitchen, via a length of SWA armoured cable running down the outside of the house. As an indicator of the level of complexity of the loft lighting that needs to be checked, the circuit consists of 16 x 50W GU10 spotlights supplied by 2-way master switching between a ceiling-pull switch, accessible from downstairs, and a conventional rocker switch, accessible in the loft. This switched master supply feeds 2 x 400W rated dimmers which control 8 x 50W spotlights each. There are also 4 x bayonet bulb fittings in the corners of the large loft cupboard, controlled from a single conventional rocker switch never carrying more than 300W total (due to the 100W bulb having been banned). These lighting circuits have been built in oversized 2.5mm2 T&E cable because in some places the cables lie on insulation. 3-core 2-way switching cable was found only to be available in 1.5mm2 although this is thought not to be a problem as it will only ever carry the maximum 3.3A used to supply the spotlights. The cables leading from the junction boxes to the individual spot fittings are also only 1.5mm2 although this is thought not to be a problem because they are only carrying the 0.2A supply for each 50W spot. These circuits need checking, including switch capacities, successful earthing, earth tails to metal back boxes and brown sleeving as appropriate at switching junctions etc. As an indicator of the level of complexity of the loft sockets that need checking, the ring is made up of 8 x twin sockets with no spurs. The ring has been built using oversized 4mm2 T&E cable because in some places the cables lie on insulation. Continuity of the ring and earthing needs checking, including earth sleeving and tails to metal back boxes etc. After checking, the loft lighting and sockets circuits will need a small 2-gang MCB fuse box installed in the cupboard in the loft so that they can be isolated individually. The SWA cable connecting this box to the consumer unit in the kitchen can probably be 6mm2 to carry the required 38A (say 40A with losses) and is unlikely to need to be more than 5m in length, although using 10mm2 x 10m long would offer contingency. Using 3-core with a spare earth so as not to rely on the armouring to carry the earth is fine - whatever is best practice. The SWA cable will need clipping to the brick wall outside and will need to pass through the soffit board (max 25mm thick) into the eaves of the loft with some silicone sealant. Likewise the SWA cable will need to pass through the external wall of the kitchen (approx 300mm thick) and be sealed afterwards. An armoured cable is already in place through the wall of the kitchen to the garage - it may be possible to share the same hole with some enlargement and reseal. The consumer unit is sited in a kitchen cupboard directly against the external wall so very little indoor routing of the SWA cable is required. The existing consumer unit is old and does not include RCDs, however the cupboard is cramped, making the fitting of a stand-alone RCD unit difficult. For this reason we would like to replace the consumer unit entirely with a new version with RCDs built in, provided this is not too expensive. We are hopeful that this will not uncover residual current faults elsewhere in the flat although recognise that resolving these faults falls outside the described scope of work. The work is expected to occupy less than 2 days (half day inspection + half day armoured cable routing + half day replacing consumer unit) and materials are expected to cost less than £150 incl. VAT (£60 RCD consumer unit + £20 2-gang MCB enclosure + £30 10mm2 x 10m SWA cable). If possible we would prefer the work to be completed in one long day, starting early. This work needs to be done ASAP to allow work to continue on insulating the loft. If the total price could be less than £300, including materials and VAT, we would be happy. My wife and I have not been homeowners for very long - future work is very likely if we can find a good electrician; trustworthy, neat etc. Thanks in advance.[/FONT]
Now to sum that up, essentially, this is some complete and utter melt that not only thinks he knows it all but most worryingly of all, he expects a qualified spark to come round and spend two days completeing this work, and probably have to put up with this turnip watching over thier shoulder the whole time for £150 labour! That's £75 a day!!!! Please bear in mind this customer is in central London as well!
IS HE MENTAL?!?!?
I was tempted to purchase this lead just to hurl some abuse at him!
Rant over.
Below is what can only be called an essay of a job description, read it and weep!
[FONT=&]This job involves electrical inspection and testing, plus lighting and power installation; partly outdoors with armoured SWA cable (requiring a ladder and drilling through an external wall) but mostly indoors. As much detail as possible is provided below as requested. A 6A lighting circuit and 32A sockets ring has been built in the loft space at the property, terminating in a large cupboard in the loft. These circuits require inspection, testing and certification if possible, before connecting into the consumer unit directly downstairs in the 1st floor kitchen, via a length of SWA armoured cable running down the outside of the house. As an indicator of the level of complexity of the loft lighting that needs to be checked, the circuit consists of 16 x 50W GU10 spotlights supplied by 2-way master switching between a ceiling-pull switch, accessible from downstairs, and a conventional rocker switch, accessible in the loft. This switched master supply feeds 2 x 400W rated dimmers which control 8 x 50W spotlights each. There are also 4 x bayonet bulb fittings in the corners of the large loft cupboard, controlled from a single conventional rocker switch never carrying more than 300W total (due to the 100W bulb having been banned). These lighting circuits have been built in oversized 2.5mm2 T&E cable because in some places the cables lie on insulation. 3-core 2-way switching cable was found only to be available in 1.5mm2 although this is thought not to be a problem as it will only ever carry the maximum 3.3A used to supply the spotlights. The cables leading from the junction boxes to the individual spot fittings are also only 1.5mm2 although this is thought not to be a problem because they are only carrying the 0.2A supply for each 50W spot. These circuits need checking, including switch capacities, successful earthing, earth tails to metal back boxes and brown sleeving as appropriate at switching junctions etc. As an indicator of the level of complexity of the loft sockets that need checking, the ring is made up of 8 x twin sockets with no spurs. The ring has been built using oversized 4mm2 T&E cable because in some places the cables lie on insulation. Continuity of the ring and earthing needs checking, including earth sleeving and tails to metal back boxes etc. After checking, the loft lighting and sockets circuits will need a small 2-gang MCB fuse box installed in the cupboard in the loft so that they can be isolated individually. The SWA cable connecting this box to the consumer unit in the kitchen can probably be 6mm2 to carry the required 38A (say 40A with losses) and is unlikely to need to be more than 5m in length, although using 10mm2 x 10m long would offer contingency. Using 3-core with a spare earth so as not to rely on the armouring to carry the earth is fine - whatever is best practice. The SWA cable will need clipping to the brick wall outside and will need to pass through the soffit board (max 25mm thick) into the eaves of the loft with some silicone sealant. Likewise the SWA cable will need to pass through the external wall of the kitchen (approx 300mm thick) and be sealed afterwards. An armoured cable is already in place through the wall of the kitchen to the garage - it may be possible to share the same hole with some enlargement and reseal. The consumer unit is sited in a kitchen cupboard directly against the external wall so very little indoor routing of the SWA cable is required. The existing consumer unit is old and does not include RCDs, however the cupboard is cramped, making the fitting of a stand-alone RCD unit difficult. For this reason we would like to replace the consumer unit entirely with a new version with RCDs built in, provided this is not too expensive. We are hopeful that this will not uncover residual current faults elsewhere in the flat although recognise that resolving these faults falls outside the described scope of work. The work is expected to occupy less than 2 days (half day inspection + half day armoured cable routing + half day replacing consumer unit) and materials are expected to cost less than £150 incl. VAT (£60 RCD consumer unit + £20 2-gang MCB enclosure + £30 10mm2 x 10m SWA cable). If possible we would prefer the work to be completed in one long day, starting early. This work needs to be done ASAP to allow work to continue on insulating the loft. If the total price could be less than £300, including materials and VAT, we would be happy. My wife and I have not been homeowners for very long - future work is very likely if we can find a good electrician; trustworthy, neat etc. Thanks in advance.[/FONT]
Now to sum that up, essentially, this is some complete and utter melt that not only thinks he knows it all but most worryingly of all, he expects a qualified spark to come round and spend two days completeing this work, and probably have to put up with this turnip watching over thier shoulder the whole time for £150 labour! That's £75 a day!!!! Please bear in mind this customer is in central London as well!
IS HE MENTAL?!?!?
I was tempted to purchase this lead just to hurl some abuse at him!
Rant over.
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