connecting an electric cooker -RM10

FunkyMunkey

trf1960 wrote: »

I liked the fact that someone can even mention it being "a 10 min job" without even seeing it:rolleyes:

I said "probably". Just going on the info OP provided and trying to help.

computerwoman

the only time when I did call in a tradesman was when I was there for 2 hour's and after doing everything by the book...I was afraid to turn it on...so I got a local tradesman to come and check it over...he charged me £25 pounds cos I did actually not fix the wire's tight enough...but he was here for 1 hour so I didn't think it was bad...the wiring I got wrong was at the back of the cooker...and not at the wall socket...easy mistake...but it is always advisable that if in doult get a professional...phone round afew and get some quote's...they should not charge you more than £30 for there time...and if they do want more I suspect that they are just odd job men who charge whatever they want...make sure they are qualfied before you let them do anything...be safe not sorry...:D

trf1960

Computerwoman I have to say I find your statement "they should not charge you more than £30 for there time...and if they do want more I suspect that they are just odd job men who charge whatever they want.." extremely arrogant and I am not a tradesman !!

So you called a local tradesmen around to basically tighten a wire, paid him £25 for his hour's work (50 mins of which he no doubt strung out) and you thought that was well earned. Oh well....

Tao81

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good afternoon: It sounds as if you don't know the right tradespeople... but we (electricians, plasterers, brickies, painter/decorators, carpenters,double glaziers, builders, plumbers, other trades...sorry if I've missed you out!!.. and even CORGIs ) are here helping folks on MSE every day...sometimes the 'Thanks' button gets pushed, occasionally we find out the end result, every so often the OP never responds or, as today, we get tarred and feathered with the same brush...such is life...but it hasn't stopped most of us from contributing sound, moneysaving advice. As Martin says in the Forum Etiquette section 'Please be nice to all Moneysavers. There is no such thing as stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps' :think:
Thank you.

Canucklehead

P.S. My apologies to the OP for intruding on his/her thread.

Canucklehead - Sorry didn't mean to cause you personal offence, sad you took it that way, apologies offered.

However, I feel strongly that my MSE etiquette is perfectly in order. I wasn't intentionally seeking to be discourteous to any individual MSEr, simply expressing my own opinion by enquiring why we the general public should not be able to expect to be charged a more reasonable rate for small jobs. It is a regular habit of most MSEr's, as this is a free speech site, is it not?!!!, to question high charges and encourage others to avoid being overcharged unnecessarily.

I was merely guilty of mildly expressing my disgust at the potential for being charged double or even triple the cost of what would be a fair rate for a small job :think:(just go back and refer to the wide variance in quotes reformedeffortmaker was given for such a simple 10 min job!!!!) when tradesmen are quite freely able to act equitably by working the requests for such small jobs around the larger ones, and not be guilty of, as often happens, using the blanket excuse of "It's so small a job Luv. Just coming out to you won't support me and my 21 children!!!!". "Therefore, I'll have to charge you an [strike]extortionate[/strike] higher rate for this one!!":mad:

Small jobs are frequently fitted around much larger jobs (yet we the consumer are regularly kept in the dark and charged the full whack regardless!). I feel, if more tradesmen where honest then most small jobs could commonly be more reasonably priced.

I wish I had a trade where I could go out, even in the evenings? Do a couple of jobs and earn at least £30-£40 quid for an hours work.....or sorry was that £40-£60 where a cooker connection is concerned?!!

Think I'll give up my current life and go train!!!! Would anyone be willing to offer me a work placement? or am I too strong a minded woman and to 'gobby' for all you sensitive male egos out there?!!!!!:rolleyes: .......... I'd bring my own packed lunch, honest!!!!!

I applaud you caknucklehead for coming on this site and offering any suitable advice and help you can with the intention of saving others time and money. Keep up the good work :A

However, myself and plenty of others find it is extremely difficult to locate tradesmen of your calibre and integrity within most localities, especially those of us who are in a vulnerable group.
You must have watched programmes such as 'House of Horrors', 'Tradesmen from Hell' and similar at some point in time? - Their findings heavily support my past experience and stance on this issue. Why do they never put a man in one of their 'house traps' unless he is old and frail.....this alone illuminates what a big issue it is for women on their own and the elderly particularly?!

I don't mind offending all those in the trades who don't show the consumer (often poorly paid) little courtesy and respect by taking them for an expensive ride.....You know who you are, and we're on to you!!

Sorry for having been forced to hijack this thread.........I'm off now hopefully never to return, now I've said my piece!!:p

reformedEffortMaker_2

Thanks to everyone for your replies, and sorry if I caused any grief!

To be honest, although it probably isn't that hard, I don't feel very confident with DIY things as I always mess it up, and as its a new house, I think it would be best to get a professional.
The reason why I posted this question was because I once paid someone £70 to change a fuse and tighten a washer on a toilet pipe (about 4 minutes work in total-and it was ME who noticed that the plug had no fuse in it!!!) so now i've become very distrusting of tradesmen, which is why I wanted to post to get a rough idea of prices.

I know I should have just protested at the time, but i got all the "I've travelled here on a Saturday, I gave up another job to come here etc etc....and also, as a female living on my own, i'm not always happy to argue with a man I hardly know in my home.

Based on responses, I think I may well be ringing back the company that quoted £40.....Thanks again for bothering to reply!

Nutty_Tart

Hi rEM,

You should be looking in the £30-50 ball park figure, depending on where you live. This is for an hours labour (usually minimum charge), even though the job may take less to do. Please make sure though, that the electrician you have is NICEIC or similar approved/registered (you can check on NICEIC website).

Hope it helps.

NT x

Canucklehead

Tao81 wrote: »

Canucklehead - Sorry didn't mean to cause you personal offence, sad you took it that way, apologies offered.

However, I feel strongly that my MSE etiquette is perfectly in order. I wasn't intentionally seeking to be discourteous to any individual MSEr, simply expressing my own opinion by enquiring why we the general public should not be able to expect to be charged a more reasonable rate for small jobs. It is a regular habit of most MSEr's, as this is a free speech site, is it not?!!!, to question high charges and encourage others to avoid being overcharged unnecessarily.

I was merely guilty of mildly expressing my disgust at the potential for being charged double or even triple the cost of what would be a fair rate for a small job :think:(just go back and refer to the wide variance in quotes reformedeffortmaker was given for such a simple 10 min job!!!!) when tradesmen are quite freely able to act equitably by working the requests for such small jobs around the larger ones, and not be guilty of, as often happens, using the blanket excuse of "It's so small a job Luv. Just coming out to you won't support me and my 21 children!!!!". "Therefore, I'll have to charge you an [strike]extortionate[/strike] higher rate for this one!!":mad:

Small jobs are frequently fitted around much larger jobs (yet we the consumer are regularly kept in the dark and charged the full whack regardless!). I feel, if more tradesmen where honest then most small jobs could commonly be more reasonably priced.

I wish I had a trade where I could go out, even in the evenings? Do a couple of jobs and earn at least £30-£40 quid for an hours work.....or sorry was that £40-£60 where a cooker connection is concerned?!!

Think I'll give up my current life and go train!!!! Would anyone be willing to offer me a work placement? or am I too strong a minded woman and to 'gobby' for all you sensitive male egos out there?!!!!!:rolleyes: .......... I'd bring my own packed lunch, honest!!!!!

I applaud you caknucklehead for coming on this site and offering any suitable advice and help you can with the intention of saving others time and money. Keep up the good work :A

However, myself and plenty of others find it is extremely difficult to locate tradesmen of your calibre and integrity within most localities, especially those of us who are in a vulnerable group.
You must have watched programmes such as 'House of Horrors', 'Tradesmen from Hell' and similar at some point in time? - Their findings heavily support my past experience and stance on this issue. Why do they never put a man in one of their 'house traps' unless he is old and frail.....this alone illuminates what a big issue it is for women on their own and the elderly particularly?!

I don't mind offending all those in the trades who don't show the consumer (often poorly paid) little courtesy and respect by taking them for an expensive ride.....You know who you are, and we're on to you!!

Sorry for having been forced to hijack this thread.........I'm off now hopefully never to return, now I've said my piece!!:p

Good evening: I appreciate your candour....as a woman( did you assume I'm a guy?) I can appreciate that the more unscrupulous individuals in all walks of life will attempt to take advantage of our status as members of the opposite sex and assume we know nothing about cars, reading maps, property, financial management, DIY etc...but as my tagline says 'Knowledge is power'. MSE forums are powerful tools...to share expertise, seek advice, offer opinions and encourage healthy debate.
IMHO, shows such as House of Horrors etc sensationalize and are not representative of trades as a whole....a secret camera filming my OH repairing/installing a boiler would not make riveting television or expose dubious practices.;)
In regard to your comment about seeking a trade...after 5 years training you could become a qualified plumber. The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers has a very active 'Women in Plumbing' group http://www.iphe.org.uk/wip.html and could provide you or any other female MSEr interested in a career as a plumbing and heating engineer with further advice.

On a final note....
Both the IPHE and CORGI are important sources of accurate information and advice...they offer a 'Find a Plumber/Heating Engineer' search facility on their respective websites.
Always get at least 3 quotes, try to use someone who has been recommended to you by a reliable source, and research,research,research!

Costs vary across the UK quite considerably...it would be illuminating if MSErs could post what they have been charged for various jobs then we would all have a source of comparison...unfortunately this isn't common practice at the moment....perhaps this could become a new thread/sticky?

On that note I wish you all safe moneysaving.

Canucklehead

reformedEffortMaker_2

just in case anyone is interested in the outcome, I booked a guy from the yellow pages on the weekend, he was round within two hours, fitted the cooker in less than 15 mins and charged me £40. He even fixed the adaptor on my fridge for free!

What cant it always run that smoothly