Why do customers lie?

[kingeri]

So just spent an hour investigating a fault on a customer's lighting circuit (MCB tripping). He has lived there for over ten years. I asked him if anybody had done any work on the wiring recently, he said none of the electrics had been touched whilst he has lived there. Seemed to be a dead short L-N.
No carpets down on landing or stairs, saw a few boards up. Found a total of five Hager MF joint boxes! Actually none of them involved the lighting, but obviously they haven't been on the market THAT long. I mentioned this to the customer and he went bright red and finally came clean that he had been 'tinkering' with the electrics. I asked him to show me what else he had been up to, showed me a mass of wiring in the loft. Fairly old original wiring mixed with JBs and new colours. Eventually, I found where he had actually wired a L and N together in a JB.

I told him I couldn't fix the issue without sorting out the total mess he's made, he looked a bit sheepish but gave me a wad of cash to sort it out.

I did tell him that he's made a right mess of his wiring, and had a chat about Part P etc. I also advised him not to lie!

Sorry to rant on.

 

[sparks1973]

caus they get an embarrasment on...

 

[sedgy34]

Who are you the electrical police oliceman:

 

[kingeri]

Haha nope but it makes it harder to do my job when I'm being lied to.

 

[sedgy34]

Haha nope but it makes it harder to do my job when I'm being lied to.

Just think of that cash you are going to tell the taxman about

 

[sparks1973]

what you have here Kingeri is a norm....
customers are always right...even when their not.....but can always be `won round` by care, attention to detail and not being made to feel like fools.....i think thats what sedg is trying to get across here...

- - - Updated - - -

and fault finding should always go on `time` rates.....

 

[1shortcircuit]

Whenever I have to deal with situations like this I always chat with the client and try to put them at ease. I then ask questions about any recent work being done and explain that it's important they tell me everything because fault finding can take a long time at £x per hour so it's in their interest to tell me if "SOMEONE" has been tinkering with the electrical installation because it may reduce the amount of time required to find the fault.

By using "SOMEONE" you are not accusing "THEM" so they are more likely to volunteer information. The "IMPORTANT" issue is finding the fault and rectifying it as quickly as possible.

The beauty of using "SOMEONE" is when discussing the work that has been done with the client (Wife normally) you can explain that it was left in a potentially lethal condition (if that was the case) and it's lucky that the house wasn't burnt down. You can guarantee the "SOMEONE" will be in for a right ear bashing if it was them and won't be getting any for a while lol

 

[sparks1973]

Whenever I have to deal with situations like this I always chat with the client and try to put them at ease. I then ask questions about any recent work being done and explain that it's important they tell me everything because fault finding can take a long time at £x per hour so it's in their interest to tell me if "SOMEONE" has been tinkering with the electrical installation because it may reduce the amount of time required to find the fault.

By using "SOMEONE" you are not accusing "THEM" so they are more likely to volunteer information. The "IMPORTANT" issue is finding the fault and rectifying it as quickly as possible.

The beauty of using "SOMEONE" is when discussing the work that has been done with the client (Wife normally) you can explain that it was left in a potentially lethal condition (if that was the case) and it's lucky that the house wasn't burnt down. You can guarantee the "SOMEONE" will be in for a right ear bashing if it was them and won't be getting any for a while lol

so if its someone you dont like....you just tell their wives yes....job sorted!!.....thing is here though as well short.....its no use just asking them if they`v tinkered with the electrical install......its all about ANY RECENT WORK DONE....and that would include Mr. wetpants....joiners/kitchen fitters ....the guy with the rolls of loft insulation....the `friend` down`t pub....handy andy....and last but not least...themselves....

 

[1shortcircuit]

so if its someone you dont like....you just tell their wives yes....job sorted!!.....thing is here though as well short.....its no use just asking them if they`v tinkered with the electrical install......its all about ANY RECENT WORK DONE....and that would include Mr. wetpants....joiners/kitchen fitters ....the guy with the rolls of loft insulation....the `friend` down`t pub....handy andy....and last but not least...themselves....

I completely agree

I then ask questions about any recent work being done and explain that it's important they tell me everything

I include examples such as hanging picture frames, replaced floor boards any other trades people been working I the property etc etc etc This is get's followed up by "Has SOMEONE had to do any work to the electrical installation".

 

[Octopus]

I've found that explaining how long fault finding can take (and cost) often makes customers remember what they, or others, have been tinkering with!

 

[sparks1973]

well you can often count out picture frames if if the fault isn`t on lighting (obviously)...but the fact remains...that customers often are very secretive about what they`v done...or had done....so, as Murdoch says.....

 

[Des 56]

Whenever I have to deal with situations like this I always chat with the client and try to put them at ease. l

The most effective way is to grab them by the shirt collar, beat the living daylights out of them till they cough up and confess,then in good old "Life of Brian voice" tell them " Don't do it again"

 

[sparks1973]

The most effective way is to grab them by the shirt collar, beat the living daylights out of them till they cough up and confess,then in good old "Life of Brian voice" tell them " Don't do it again"

or else!!

 

[malcolmsanford]

won't be getting any for a while lol

I'll have to remember to mess up the next project Mrs "She who as to be obeyed" wants done .....................when you have been married as long as I have that is quite a nice status quo to be at

 

[vernam616]

Love it when you catch them out and they start to stutter, followed by a bag full of "erms"

Erm erm well i just thought id pop to b and q erm and erm , have erm a go myself

 

[Marvo]

I also advised him not to lie!

Everybody Lies

 

[Geordie Spark]

Haha nope but it makes it harder to do my job when I'm being lied to.

I agree completely.

I had a similar thing one Sunday morning when I was called to a house where they couldn't cook the Sunday dinner because the "leccy's gone off".

I asked if anyone had been doing any work of any kind & was told "no", but on looking upstairs I found the landing carpet was rolled up & there was signs of new nails in the floorboards.

Further investigation found the nail through the cable ........

 

[ian.settle1]

Just think of that cash you are going to tell the taxman about

What are you the HMRC:25:

 

[alarm man]

Who are you the electrical police oliceman:

have you seen his car....

 

[sedgy34]

What are you the HMRC:25:

I am yes but got some cream for it lol