Electrician Didn't Complete

MFW_DannyG

Hiya just wondered if anyone had any advice really, or if something similar had happened to anyone else.

In December last year, I had a new carpet fitted on my stairs, just as the fitters were finishing off, my electric blew. I went upstairs and the fitter said it was as he put a staple in to the carpet it all blew. to cut a long story short they left as they had finished and said I was to contact them if any problems. I tried to find a way of fixing the electrics but nothing i tried worked so my last resort was to go through the yellow pages and eventually i found an electician who came out around 5pm on a saturday evening. Obviously i was relieved and he was a nice bloke who found the problem was a staple gone through a cable. he told me due to current regulations he couldnt just put a junction under the floor he would have to put it on surface. He didn't have a junction box on him so he temporarily pulled the wires through and taped them up. He said he would return one day the following week to finish and he would write an invoice stating the carpet fitters were to blame.

The following week.... nothing. Gave him the benefit of the doubt as it was near christmas and as a plumber i understand that things were busy.
The week after nothing, decided if i hadn't heard the week after i would ring and find out what had happened.
The week after i recieved an invoice For £235 including £10 for parts?!
So I rang up and the receptionist said she would get the engineer to ring me back that night.
Nothing... so a week later i rang up again, this time the engineer rang me back and said he was sorry he had forgotten all about it but would come that weekend to finish and he would bring a new invoice for me to claim back of the carpet fitters.
Nothing again so i decided that was it... I got somebody else to finish it off, a mate who did it for a pint.

I thought that was that. Then March 31st 2009 I get a letter saying my account is seriously overdue! Please pay by return to avoid further action!

So I wrote a letter back stating that the work was never completed despite several phone calls, the invoice stating the carpet fitters were to blame was never recieved. I also said i had photos of how the wire was left just taped up and i would be happy to report these to the Electrical safety Register. I also mentioned that the engineer had been aware my girlfriend was pregnant at the time and he had even commented it would be a fire hazard if left too long. Basically it was unacceptable and i wouldn't be paying.

I then got a letter back about a month later saying they had noted my concerns but the engineer has tried to call to complete the work but no answer ( both my home and mobile numbers have answerphones and nothing has been left. Also there has never been a calling card posted through the door). Also they did leave the cable in a safe condition (I wouldnt call a bit of tape and a wire sticking out of a step, up to standards) And finally, they had sent a letter outlining fault of the carpet fitters - but they had also enclosed another copy ( that was nice of them... :mad:) And to finish the letter they put.... We hope this now resolves the matter and we look forward to your remittance.

That was the end of May and i hav'nt heard anything since but obviously i am expecting to. Basically ( and i apologize for the life story) Where do i stand? i know im in the right... but what are my rights!?

I would really really appreciate any help fom people! Thankyou in advance!!:beer:

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

They cant expect you to pay for a new junction box but they can charge you for the call out and restoring the electric and the report blaming the carpet fitters.