"terminate and test 5 No electric sockets" ???

Leif

I have a bill for £150 described as "terminate and test 5 No electric sockets" which I believe relates to 5 sockets in rooms other than the kitchen. Could someone explain what that means?

I had the fuse box replaced, and the kitchen rewired to be compliant with the latest regs. Would the "terminate and test 5 No electric sockets" be required to satisfy the new regs? As far as I can see they did nothing to the sockets themselves (I replaced the front plates.)

squeekswhenwalking

If a consumer unit is replaced, the existing circuits need to be tested, as if they are unsafe the electrician has a duty of care not to reconnect them

Leif

squeekswhenwalking wrote: »

If a consumer unit is replaced, the existing circuits need to be tested, as if they are unsafe the electrician has a duty of care not to reconnect them

So that would be part of the charge for replacing the consumer unit would it not?

I was originally quoted for replacing the consumer unit, and rewiring the kitchen. Then a couple of months after the work was done, they added this extra charge in addition to the original quote. It seems odd because they could not have forgotten to include something so basic, or am I missing something?

iamcornholio

Fitting the CU would include the cost for testing the whole installation, but not for extra work in correcting problems found

Get this extra charge clarified and if it does relate to the CU or kitchen work then it should not be chargeable

Leif

iamcornholio wrote: »

Fitting the CU would include the cost for testing the whole installation, but not for extra work in correcting problems found

Get this extra charge clarified and if it does relate to the CU or kitchen work then it should not be chargeable

According to an electrician, it means stripping the wires and connecting to the face plate. They certainly did not do that, so I will get it clarified in detail. I suspect they are surreptitiously trying to charge me for the repair to the kitchen window frame due to damage they caused.

keystone

Leif wrote: »

so I will get it clarified in detail.

Yes that is the right thing to do.

I suspect they are surreptitiously trying to charge me for the repair to the kitchen window frame due to damage they caused.

Suspicion requires evidence rather than speculation but if he can't provide you a valid and demonstrable reason for the charge you may, possibly be correct.

Cheers

Leif

keystone wrote: »

Suspicion requires evidence rather than speculation but if he can't provide you a valid and demonstrable reason for the charge you may, possibly be correct.

Yes, of course you are right.

DVardysShadow

Leif wrote: »

According to an electrician, it means stripping the wires and connecting to the face plate. They certainly did not do that, so I will get it clarified in detail. I suspect they are surreptitiously trying to charge me for the repair to the kitchen window frame due to damage they caused.

Ah, if that is your suspicion, then do press them to explain in writing what the £150 covers and look back at the original scope of the job to see if it is covered. If it is arguably covered and they did not raise a variation at the time, it sounds like a try on.

Leif

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Ah, if that is your suspicion, then do press them to explain in writing what the £150 covers and look back at the original scope of the job to see if it is covered. If it is arguably covered and they did not raise a variation at the time, it sounds like a try on.

Basically if it was required as part of the new fuse box, why did they not include it in the original quote? If it was not required, why have they done it without my consent? Or maybe I am missing something.

pauletruth

what was up with your old box and why did the kitchen need rewiring. I thought it was only the new bits that need to conform to the new wiring regs not the old wiring. unless of course it was extremly old.

Leif

pauletruth wrote: »

what was up with your old box and why did the kitchen need rewiring. I thought it was only the new bits that need to conform to the new wiring regs not the old wiring. unless of course it was extremly old.

It was the original late 60's kitchen which was being completely refitted, and regs require a new fuse box. Also the sockets all needed moving up the wall as they were too low, plus new sockets for appliances, boiler etc.