Where can I get advice on pricing domestic Electrical work?

[gungho]

Hello,
I am not an electrician but I hope someone can help me out? I have had some rewiring started at my house (a 3 bed semi). The work was done by a friend I've known for years, so I completely trusted him and didn't question his price. I paid him all the money at the end of the first fix. I have since been told that he may be a bit expensive. I would like some advice about his price and if it is fair and reasonable? I haven't started the second fix yet.
I realise this may not be the place for this type of discussion, if not could someone point me in the direction where I can get some electricians opinions about it?
Many thanks in advance.

 

[telectrix]

first, what was his quote?

then a breakdown of what is to be fitted would help to get a more accurate price.

 

[gungho]

*I realise this thread may be in the wrong section ( sorry I didn't realise which section it was in at the time I posted it!)

Thanks for the response, I have attached a photo of his breakdown ( which he gave me after I had paid him)
He discounted the price from £6947 to £5400 as I was a friend.

I was also concerned because this did not include rewiring the kitchen. Just 2 reception rooms, hallway, landing, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, a light and socket in the loft. He used a plastic consumer unit (should this be metal?), reconnected the old cooker supply and some of the old pre existing kitchen sockets.

Thanks

 

[Spoon]

As Tel has already asked:

Also:
Is your friend an electrician?
Is he giving you the correct certificate at the end of the job?

 

[gungho]

Yes he is an electrician. I think he works for a company. He took holiday to do my house.
He took 11days to do the first fix.
He said 3-4 days for the second fix.
He did say to me (after he started the work) that he can't sign off the work, I could get someone else to do that if I paid them. But I did't need a certificate anyway so not to worry.
I was naive as I didn't know that electrical work required a certificate. I've never had electrical work done before. I trusted my friend to steer me in the right direction.
Thanks

 

[Octopus]

I don't think you should be on the internet with this. You engaged a spark at a price too do work. You and they have an agreement.

There's always a cowboy who can do it cheaper for cash, no invoice, no certs no part P

 

[Spoon]

Post deleted.

 

[Andy78]

I don't think you should be on the internet with this. You engaged a spark at a price too do work. You and they have an agreement.

There's always a cowboy who can do it cheaper for cash, no invoice, no certs no part P

Sounds like that's what he's got but without the cheap part.

 

[Spoon]

The work was done by a friend I've known for years,

Are you sure he's your friend....

 

[Spoon]

I don't think you should be on the internet with this. You engaged a spark at a price too do work. You and they have an agreement.

There's always a cowboy who can do it cheaper for cash, no invoice, no certs no part P

Buy the electrician has given the OP incorrect info. He does need a cert for this job.

 

[Octopus]

You should agree to pay on the basis that you get an EIC and part P. Notification.

And then. Call hmrc

 

[Octopus]

Buy the electrician has given the OP incorrect info. He does need a cert for this job.

Yup, misunderstood that originally

 

[gungho]

I am not really sure anymore if he is a freind from what I hear. The problem is I trusted him to give me a fair price for the work, not cheap or put him out of pocket just an average price where he makes some money and i get a decent job done. I am willing to pay him what he asked. Which is what i did in good faith. I was just hoping to find out from some experienced electricians what they thought about the price?
I made the mistake of not getting quotes but then i trusted my friend and thought i wouldnt need to.
Thanks again for your help.

 

[Spoon]

Yup, misunderstood that originally

It would have helped if my spelling was correct mate.

 

[Spoon]

I would do all future communications to the electrician via email, so you have proof of conversations.
I would email him asking him if you will receive any paperwork or certs once the job is finished. See what you get back. He as stated that you don't need any but lets see if he's willing to put it down in writing.

 

[Skelly]

You don't need enemies when you have " So called Friends " Like that, And insult to injury he can't sign it off, Not good

 

[telectrix]

for that price £5400) you should have the kitchen done as well and he can pay LABC the £300 to obtain a completion certificate. definitely not a cheap price as it stands.

 

[andyb]

Does this invoice include materials? if so why has he itemized trunking and capping separately? (£100.00/10m)
Also as this is 1st fix what's the £450 D/B?
Are you sure this is not the cost of the whole job 1st and 2nd fix?

 

[Spoon]

Does this invoice include materials? if so why has he itemized trunking and capping separately? (£100.00/10m)
Also as this is 1st fix what's the £450 D/B?
Are you sure this is not the cost of the whole job 1st and 2nd fix?

From what I understand andy, the quote is for 1st and 2nd fix but the OP has paid £5,400 (reduced quote price) after the first fix. Correct me if I'm wrong OP.

 

[gungho]

From what I understand andy, the quote is for 1st and 2nd fix but the OP has paid £5,400 (reduced quote price) after the first fix. Correct me if I'm wrong OP.

Thats correct i paid him 5400 for the whole job. But he asked to settle up after the first fix so i trusted him so i paid him.

I guess i really want to know has he betrayed my trust?
Would anyone be willing to give me a rough ballpark figure for the job?



Obviously all i can do is appeal to his good nature. As someone has already pointed out i agreed a price with him and a deal is a deal.

Although if it had been someone i didnt know i would have checked his price and wouldnt be in this situation.

Thanks

 

[Leesparkykent]

Very quick calculation on the list you provided I come to around £4850 without seeing the job and just working on averages. That would be fully certificated and notified. But depending on where about in London you are the price could easily climb due to travel, traffic, parking, congestion zone and so on. IMO £5400 is the higher end of things so he certainly hasn't done you any favours/mates rates but in all honestly I don't think you've been done over if he has done a decent job. The only down side is the job is notifiable under part P and this should be included in that price of £5400. If you manage to get him to notify the job by using some one he knows who's registered or using LABC then the price is not the end of the world IMO.

Edit: why are you paying for his van hire? surely he should cover this or use his car.

 

[Spoon]

This is purely my opinion:
You agreed to the price on the quote. If you have been overcharged that is another thing but you was initially happy with the price.
He has betrayed your trust, as he gave you incorrect info.
He has used the existing cooker and kitchen circuit. What test where done on these to verify they are up to scratch? Ask to see the results.
Demand a cert when the job is done.

 

[telectrix]

Thats correct i paid him 5400 for the whole job. But he asked to settle up after the first fix so i trusted him so i paid him.

I guess i really want to know has he betrayed my trust?
Would anyone be willing to give me a rough ballpark figure for the job?



Obviously all i can do is appeal to his good nature. As someone has already pointed out i agreed a price with him and a deal is a deal.

Although if it had been someone i didnt know i would have checked his price and wouldnt be in this situation.

Thanks

£5400 is a reasonable price for a good complete job.and that includes a certificate and LABC notification.

 

[Spoon]

Forgot about the metal / plastic CU. Where is the CU fitted? What date was the quote done? I presume after 30th June 2015?

 

[gungho]

for that price £5400) you should have the kitchen done as well and he can pay LABC the £300 to obtain a completion certificate. definitely not a cheap price as it stands.

The kitchen isnt part of the job and his full quote is £6947 he "discounted" it for a friend. He maintains the job is worth £6947.

 

[gungho]

Forgot about the metal / plastic CU. Where is the CU fitted? What date was the quote done? I presume after 30th June 2015?

The CU is under the stairs. He quoted in april 2016 and did the work a couple weeks later.

 

[gungho]

Obviously I understand its impossible to give an accurate price without seeing the place. But thank you for all your input.

 

[Spoon]

The CU is under the stairs. He quoted in april 2016 and did the work a couple weeks later.

Then the CU needs to be ''manufactured from non-combustible material'

 

[Octopus]

Why did you pay it all after 1st fix. That is asking for trouble

 

[gungho]

Why did you pay it all after 1st fix. That is asking for trouble

I wish I hadn't but because it was a friend I totally, blindly trusted him. Even if I had only paid some of it I still agreed to his price.
The second fix is yet to happen and I am not sure how to proceed.?

 

[Spoon]

I wish I hadn't but because it was a friend I totally, blindly trusted him. Even if I had only paid some of it I still agreed to his price.
The second fix is yet to happen and I am not sure how to proceed.?

You can't change that you have paid him in full. Did you get a receipt?
Regarding the second fix, get him to finish off is work. Get him to change the CU to one that is to regs. Also get him to give you a certificate for the work and LABC notification.
Send him an email detailing all the work that has been done up to now, how much you have paid and what needs doing to finish the job.

 

[Octopus]

I wish I hadn't but because it was a friend I totally, blindly trusted him. Even if I had only paid some of it I still agreed to his price.
The second fix is yet to happen and I am not sure how to proceed.?

I'm guessing you haven't got a receipt or invoice from him.

I would suggest you email him to ask when the 2nd fix is happening (how are you living without electrics?), And also request an EIC and labc confirmation too.

This all sounds really messy.

 

[7029 dave]

IMO that is about right, I see you are in London,it does make all the difference location.When I say about right I am talking the whole job, testing as well, some guys in the smoke will not touch rewires unless 10K plus.

 

[gungho]

IMO that is about right, I see you are in London,it does make all the difference location.When I say about right I am talking the whole job, testing as well, some guys in the smoke will not touch rewires unless 10K plus.

Thanks for your reply. When you say about right, would you expect that to include the whole house including a kitchen? Or just what has been done?
The location is just inside the M25 in bexley. I don't know if that changes things.

 

[gungho]

I'm guessing you haven't got a receipt or invoice from him.

I would suggest you email him to ask when the 2nd fix is happening (how are you living without electrics?), And also request an EIC and labc confirmation too.

This all sounds really messy.

He said that he isnt qualified to do the certificate and i dont need one anyway?
The house is empty while we have the work done. There is central heating going in, and we thought a rewire was best to happen while the house is back to bare walls and floorboards.

It is all very messy as we now have issues between friends and family as he is actually distantly related by marriage.

 

[Andy78]

He said that he isnt qualified to do the certificate and i dont need one anyway?
The house is empty while we have the work done. There is central heating going in, and we thought a rewire was best to happen while the house is back to bare walls and floorboards.

It is all very messy as we now have issues between friends and family as he is actually distantly related by marriage.

This is not true.

There are no qualifications needed to be able to sign certificates, just competence.
In accordance with the wiring regulations, all work must be tested and a certificate produced to prove that the installation conforms to the wiring regulations and is safe.
All work of this nature must be notified to building control so a building control certificate can be issued. This is law.

What your friend actually means is that he does not have access to a piece of test equipment regularly, is not a member of a scheme and did not tell building control before the work started so cannot now notify the work, and has his money now so it's your problem not his.

 

[ETO]

11 days first fix?

 

[Nolnoc]

How did this finish up......

 

[ferg]

It turned out that the butler did it.