Excessive electrican cost.

stuartscott

Please help. I had a verbal quote for electrical work as follows. Two men for one day to first fix a kitchen and two men for one day to second fix the kitchen would be £1000 + vat. This worked out at £250 per man per day. The first fix was one man over two days and the bill for £500 + vat was persented and paid for. The second fix was one man for three hours, the bill has arrived for £500 + vat, making his work £200 per hour. I have questioned the owner of the company and he said I agreed to the price so I have to pay the bill. My question is: Do I? I am willing to pay £125+ vat for the half day. Can I do this.

southcoastrgi

Did you get more than one quote because if that's labour only that's way ott

WannaBLoaded

It's over the top but by the sounds of it you used a bigger company and their prices are always expensive.

There are laws regarding being charged excessively but you would need to be being charged something mega like grands for that to work. What you have been priced is probably in the region of what companies like British gas would charge.

brightontraveller

Those charges are not uncommon when you use certain larger companies that charge per hour? Even if you get fixed price quote they will be similar some might say inline with what other trades would charge when works require certification e;g straight boiler swap

Rate examples
http://www.aspect.co.uk/rates/
http://www.pimlicoplumbers.com/charges

As an average of the two days first was cheap second expensive but overall inline with the above, Weather price for first and second fit for kitchen is excessive depends what they did who supplied materials etc

Compared to average small or one man band then likely many would consider them high but compared to many large firms not so, Can you withhold payment for excessive charging yes if you want too? Would you win if they decided to take legal action very likely not … You agreed the price and it certainly in the eyes of a court would not be deemed excessive ? Location and demand in area etc will all be considerations,,,

If you only got one quote then hopefully you will have learned to get others next time ? If you did get more than one and they were all priced similar then that was the going rate regardless of time,,,,

ryder72

Did you agree a fixed price quote of £1000+VAT labour only or was it labour and materials?

£250 per day in the south east is not far off the mark.

If it was a fixed price for labour only to do the job, then you havent got a leg to stand on as the contractor did what they said - if it had taken 5 days, you wouldnt have been expected to pay more.

If its was a quote charging you £250 per man day, you may have a case to pay for what time was spent doing the job.

If its labour and materials, its a completely different beast.

stuartscott

During the quote the tradesman said it would take two men one day to first fix and two men one day to second fix. At £250 per man per day it would be £1000+ vat.

victor2

stuartscott wrote: »

During the quote the tradesman said it would take two men one day to first fix and two men one day to second fix. At £250 per man per day it would be £1000+ vat.

Sounds like he quoted you £250 per man day, and did the arithmetic for you to say at their estimate of 4 man days, that would be £1,000. They probably never charge less than a man day. Similarly, if it had taken two men three days, you would have got a bill for £1,500.
I can agree you would expect to pay just 3 man days, but it's all very vague with nothing in writing.

jcb208

To late now but it is always wise to get 3 fixed quotes then there is no dispute about costs

al69

Did he give you a cooling off period in writing ? If not they have fallen foul of the door step selling regulations, trading standard prosecute over this.
Even though they have been around several years now most trades seem totally unaware of these powerful regulations that can land you in prison.

greenface

A grand to power up a kitchen is expensive depending what the work is . Are you happy with the work ? If they took longer would you be happy . ?