Advice request from Electrician

Terraza

Hi
I have a house that is being totally refurbished due to smoke damage -
an electrician tested the system and deemed it safe.
The builder doing the refurb has presented me a handwritten piece of paper with his own electricians costs and I can't quite believe it, there is also VAT added on this scrap of paper?
The house was completely empty and stripped of ceilings and plasterboard walls when his electrician started his work.
The only differences to the original wiring (which remained intact) were:
1.Supply and Fit 2 x mains fire alarms
2.Repair where the tenant had tried to bypass the meter
3.Fit connections for 4 under cabinet lights in kitchen
4.Supply and Fit 9 led downlights (new cable had already been run by previous electrician)
5.Install oven point and outlet
6.Change faceplates for sockets and switches
7.New ceiling roses in 3 beds and fit bathroom and kitchen lights.

Everything else is exactly as it was. I am being told that this work cost £2,297 plus VAT = £2,756.40
His cost for testing was £195 plus VAT (incorporated in above figure)
Am I being treated like a fool here?
Thanks for any help - btw, the house is in Herts

southcoastrgi

Terraza wrote: »

Am I being treated like a fool here?

errrrrrr yep

suisidevw

Err.... didn't you get this breakdown before you told them to start work, or is it included in an 'overall' package your paying to the builder?

NVRAM

So are we talking 2 seperate electricians here?

Did you get a quote or give the OK for the builders (mate? ) to carry out the work.

That price looks like an absolute ****take

My sister has just had a house fully rewired for less than that with a new consumer unit!

brightontraveller

Sounds strange a competent electrician on an istallation with walls and ceilings missing but I assume cables still in-place would call it “safe” ? Is installation metal conduit throughout ? Even if all cables were supported, capped etc the back boxes secured to brickwork etc there would be risk of ingression, problems due to smoke damage correct readings etc ?
What certificate did first electrician issue you ? Must be some creative writing on it ? Did they ask for hay for there horse ?

1.Supply and Fit 2 x mains fire alarms
(Varies location, type used, but most would feed from existing lighting supply so few meters of cable screws clips etc materials 50 -100 same again on labour

2.Repair where the tenant had tried to bypass the meter

One thing that stands out immediately as BS bypassing would mean prior to meter all before meter is responsibility of you supplier? Is meter and prior supply your own ?they don’t take kindly to anyone touching there cables etc

3.Fit connections for 4 under cabinet lights in kitchen
Are they on same wall. how are they switched., fusing down and spur from ring, lighting running new cable etc not enough info

4.Supply and Fit 9 led down lights (new cable had already been run by previous electrician)

Lights very from £15 to over £100 each, type of switching (one two way etc) again height location etc type of fitting but should be no more than day £120 - £175 labour (If the cable is correct)

5.Install oven point and outlet

Not enough info distance from fuse board cable used, routing etc should be no more than day though £120 - £175 labour

6.Change faceplates for sockets and switches
Depends on quantity, quality replacements Most would charge between £30 – £ 60 incl materials for standard trade white socket/ faceplates single, prices reduces with greater quantity ?

7.New ceiling roses in 3 beds/
Depend on quantity, quality etc standard white trade £5 - £10 each labour dependant on heights locations etc £30 – £ 60 per light prices reduces with greater quantity ?

7/ fit bathroom and kitchen lights/
Dependant on type quality quantity etc Materials ? labour £30 – £ 60 per light prices reduces with greater quantity ?

Smoke can damage contacts in switches etc ditto dust etc

Personally I’d say builder and electricians use the term loosely you should be opening a stables the amount of cowboys working there ?

[FONT=&quot]I’d stop all works ask for a Schedule from both builder and electrician and breakdown of works/ materials etc Agree a stage payment schedule at least you can see if they do x you owe x not y if there are extras you'll know per stage these type love adding extras at the end although That's not exclusive to builders clients can be just as much of a pain? The builders sounds worse than the electrician he should know better than a bit of scrap paper even if your paying cash you need to know whats what ? Hes employing /putting forward the electrician if he puts forward cowboys whats that make him the Marshal lol[/FONT]