I think I have been ripped off/scammed (Electrician)

sniggings

if I were you I would cancel now and get the proper electrician back, £220 sounds fair for a guy to come out and quote the job, to then come back and do the job.

Your posts are very telling as you say

"So I got a proper electrician to quote me and they said £220."


"So I posted an ad on gumtree and got a local guy"

Surely you would want a "proper" electrician to do this type of job!
It's true what they say, you get what you pay for.

and sorry but as soon as you smelt the alcohol you should have shut the door on him, if he were laying carpet etc then the worst that can happen is he ruins the carpet, working with electric, he could kill those in the house.

booty40uk

You've been scammed . Learn from it and move on.

T_T_2

As sniggings was saying, everything about your post suggests that you knew you were taking a big risk and that you knew that he wasn't a qualified electrician. He didn't scam you - your desire to do the job on the cheap meant that you scammed yourself.

ashleypride

muckybutt wrote: »

Electrician also needs to be part P registered being as its a new installation, if they were just swaps it wouldnt matter but new lighting of this nature will need to be signed off as compliant.

Depends if a new circuit is required, if they are just adding to the existing lighting circuit, and not located in kitchen or other special location, the work is likely to be non-notifiable.

diable

Buy cheap pay twice as my Mum used to say.

blossomhill_2

Sorry to hear about this OP - have you done a search on his phone no, it will probably be a throwaway mobile but may bring up other activities he is involved in

I'd be tempted to text him on Sunday pm and ask him to bring his qualification certs with him Monday

dacouch

Try ringing from someone else's mobile phone, people who are avoiding someone will often ignore calls from specific numbers or with held numbers but often answer numbers they don't recognise

Fire_Fox

You found someone on Gumtree but didn't check their qualifications, allowed someone smelling of alcohol to work on your electrics, you gave cash to someone for whom you only have a mobile number??? TBH you are lucky not to be dead at the very least you would have caused yourself headaches when you come to sell because of illegal electrical work: get a proper electrician in, get a proper quote on headed paper with the business name and address, check the qualifications/ professional memberships, get a certificate at the end.

IPIP

Its Sunday today and I texted him. He hasn't replied back.

Can I not do anything since I have his car plate number?

I was thinking of reporting him to the local police.

A.Galloway

IPIP wrote: »

Its Sunday today and I texted him. He hasn't replied back.

Can I not do anything since I have his car plate number?

I was thinking of reporting him to the local police.

Hi,

It's not Monday yet, give him until tomorrow.

If, however, he doesn't turn up tomorrow, you cannot involve the police because it would be a civil dispute between yourself and the tradesman.

I hope you got an address? If you have an address, visit him and demand your money (if he doesn't turn up on Monday that is). It's pointless going to the small claims court over a few pounds.

If I were you, I'd admit defeat and get a 'real' tradesman in. When it comes to electricity, I want a full qualified person in case the house blows up!

AG