how do i sack a workman?

asp746

to cut a long story short i need to tell a workman i don't want him coming to my house anymore. he was recommended by a girl at work. the qualiy of the work seems ok but he's not turning up for days at a time and a job that was to be spread over 6 days is now entering its 3rd week and i've had enough.

the job is a rewire and he's just rung to say his mate will be out on friday to issue the certiicate for the rewire.....should 'mates' be doing work like this....shouldn't it be independent inspectors?

there is a gaping hole about the side of a saucer in my stairwell where he said he was pulling up a floorboard that was part nailed to the plaster hence the hole.....can i bill him for this...he just made light of it and said i was getting a plasterer in anyway so i'd be ok but shouldn't he put good his mess.

another thing, all the lagging in the loft is just all tossed on one side and the lofthach not even been closed after him.

I could go on and on. I haven't got a written contract with him but i want to terminate it on him failing to do the job in a reasonable time even allowing for delays which he said he had to do as they were cash jobs and i wasn't going tobe paying him till the 20th but he knew that and still agreed the timescale.

he also said his reputation was important to him but i told him he can't do otherwise he's have turned up but again he said he was doing this around his cash jobs.

is there a killer phrase i can use to get rid of him - i don't mind paying him more money - i've already paid £600.

ideally i want to pay him for works already done but i don't know how to price that, and i want to employ another electrician through a proper company to finish off the job and certify the works.

misgrace

Whatever you have paid him up to now, get a receipt of him, perhaps wait till friday till matey turns up, and see if he is qualified to certify you, if not, then get someone else.
If he is qualified, then get the certificate, as that is the main priority, then tell the matey that you dont want him back, and work out how much left is outstanding, and then haggle as he has messed you around.

If the guy is not cerified, then you contact matey, and explain that your not happy with the guy who has come to give you the certifictae, explain why, then go on to explain all the things he has messed up, infact, write everything down before you actually confront him.

If your not happy with his work then you shouldnt have to pay, you wouldnt pay for a bad meal in a restaurant, so why should you or anyone else have to pay for shoddy workmanship.

Hope you get this sorted out.:D

asp746

locked door from inside today so he couldn't gain access. when daughter came home from school he was sitting in the car outside and asked if he could get his tools. she agreed and phoned me whilst he was moving them i asked to be put on to him and told him exactly what i thought of him etc etc. then thought it was a bit daft as dd was at home on her own:eek:

a male colleague and i hotfooted it home and sure enough he's scrammed. DD told me he said to her 'so your mums not happy?' DD also said that when h was on the phone to me he said 'you still owe me money'. That may be but 1st i want a receipt for monies paid, and his full name and address. also an itemised invoice.

a new sparky is coming at 8am tomorrow who lives in our area - he can't do anything for a few weeks as he's mad busy but he's going to give me a quote for the work outstanding and also give me a rough idea of the money value of work that's already been done so i can make him an offer.

i was due to pay him next week so it'll be interesting to see if he turns up. Its a shame cos on the whole his work seems to have been ok it was just his time keeping sucked ie turning up 4 days l8.

HugoSP

Speak to the professional electrician and then decide what the work to date is worth.

Have the correct money available but insist on a receipt before you hand it over. If he doesn't bring one or can't give you one, write one out yourself and get him to sign it for all monies received and dates they were paid.

If he argues, tell him it's either this or nothing. If he's bright he won't want to involve police HMRC etc, he'll just want to cut his losses.

You're not in SE Cornwall are you? This idoit sounds like a sparky around my way.

EDIT: Sorry, just seen you're in Mersyside.

asp746

an independant sparky came out today 8am prompt as promised:T

only had a quick look round and is coming back 2morrow for do a full report that will cost £80 and be 6 pages long.

He said the work hasn't been done by a qualified sparky as some things haven't been done correctly ie sockets not sunk sufficiently - looked at the stop !!!! and gas meter and i think he said something abotu them not being earthed?? Anyway he's comig at 9am tomorrow so i have to take another day off work :eek: but it will let me know exactly what's what.

the new sparky said my house would be a sweet job and really straightforward and he would have done it with 2 men and taken about 4 days and also replastered after chasing walls out - the other bloke was not prepared to replaster.

i'm so annoyed, i trusted this recommendation as it came from someone in work who is in a position of trust which is why i was more lax than usual in asking for proof of paperwork etc so i really feel ripped off.

Andybez38

He's not one of them Polish / eastern europeans is he? Does a cheap job but a crap job.

budget_counsellor_shaz

I had a similar problem with a plasterer (although his work was very good) But he had an alcohol problem and didn't turn up for weeks after ringing and ringing his home......I instructed another plasterer to complete the work. I paid the second guy what he wanted. Then I paid the first plasterer the remainder owing from his original quote.

To be fair the first plasterer was very apologetic because he had let me down.

So I still ended up paying the original quote.:o

I hope this helps

Shaz

HugoSP

IMO the OP, nice as she is, has made a classic mistake, not in paying cash in hand or in choosing her workman but....

The OP is probably not tecnically competent in assessing how good electrical work is. I mean no disrespect when I say this but, unless she has qualifications and experience in domestic electrical installations, then she will not be able to objectively assess the work being carried out. It seems that the 2nd electrician is, and his assessment has given her a few nasty surprises.

I am a builder specialising in small jobs. At the moment I am repairing a floor for a client. This involves joist repair as the old ones have rotted out. Now the client knows that I am leaving the place clean and tidy, and that the mess between the joists and on top of the ceiling downstairs is cleared away. However the client doesn't know if the work I am doing is technically correct. He may not be able to answer the following:

Have I used the right ironmongery?
Have I used the right mixture of sand and cement?
Have I made adequate provision for end supports on the joists?

Electrical work is especially acute, as most of what I am doing can be quickly assessed by someone who knows the game. However, as a qualified domestic electrician myself, I know that an electrical installation cannot be fully assessed just by looking at it. The kit to do the assessment costs around £700, and has to be calibrated annually. In addition there are a whole host of regulations, BS7671, that have to be adhered to.

If it turns out that you owe the first comedian nothing, then stick to your guns. The report that the 2nd electrician come up with will be admissable in court should he be so stupid as to take you there.

navig8r

Andybez38 wrote: »

He's not one of them Polish / eastern europeans is he? Does a cheap job but a crap job.

Not all do a cheap crap job, the ones I have come across are reliable and hard working!

dave

asp746

paid £80 and gotta periodic inspection report for an electricalinstallation (IPM3).

The installation was overall in an unsatisfactory condition. and the genreal condition of the installation: in a poor and dangerous condition.

there are 21 faults 17 of which are code 1 (requires urgent attention) and 4 faults code 4 (dont comply with BS7671).

some faults are: no main equipotential bond to water or gas; no cross bonding in bathroom; bare cpc at ceiling rose; metal boxes not cut in deep enough; circuits not identified; no ring mains wired. i could go on.

the guy who did the inspection has told me he would charge £1800 to do the whole lot again including plastering; i told him i don't have 1800 and am unable to get a loan but I have £700 so could he do this value worth of work to make dangerous things safe and he said he could only do it all or nothing I'm now left scared that one of us could get an electric shock due to lack of earthing; and can anyone advise - would other electricians be able to do at least some of the work to make it safe - i feel so sad that i'm playing russian roulette with our lives and will take about 3mths to save that sort of money.

Keeping_Positive

Sorry cant help with your question except to ring around. Maybe trading standards could give reputable contacts?

Make sure you show report to first workman and dont pay a penny as he has put you and family in potentially harms way.