Duff electrical work done on my house

moneyistooshorttomention

I've had in an electrician from the scheme and it hasnt worked out/they havent finished the job and I don't know what to do.

I've got back onto the Scheme and found the "Get In Touch" webpage and it was a bit "odd" at the section to fill in for my phone number. So I've tried and re-tried to fill that section in and put my phone number there for them to phone me and discuss what to do next.

It doesnt "work". It won't go through to the Scheme and I can't find a phone number online for me to ring them and ask what to do next about the problems encountered. I'm stuck.

Any suggestions?

DaftyDuck

Have you paid them for the "completed" job?

How far have they got, and what have they not done (that they were meant to)? Have you tried contacting your electrician directly by phone?

I've just tried the Get In Touch page, and it works fine for me. Did the "I am not a robot" captcha bit appear and work on your computer?

I know you have frequently had IT problems, and your pages aren't always refreshed... Which browser are you using...clear cookies and try again...

You do manage to have such problems, Money.... Unfortunately, at the end of it all, Local Heroes is no more than most of the other self-recommendation sites, only this one is run by Centrica, of British Gas fame. Not one I'd have high hopes of, sadly.

moneyistooshorttomention

DaftyDuck wrote: »

Have you paid them for the "completed" job?

How far have they got, and what have they not done (that they were meant to)? Have you tried contacting your electrician directly by phone?

I've just tried the Get In Touch page, and it works fine for me. Did the "I am not a robot" captcha bit appear and work on your computer?

I know you have frequently had IT problems, and your pages aren't always refreshed... Which browser are you using...clear cookies and try again...

You do manage to have such problems, Money.... Unfortunately, at the end of it all, Local Heroes is no more than most of the other self-recommendation sites, only this one is run by Centrica, of British Gas fame. Not one I'd have high hopes of, sadly.

Just gone back and had yet another go - to check. Yep...I have done the captcha thing. Firefox browser (which seems to be a pretty decent browser imo).

Have found a "backdoor" sorta route to contact Local Heroes - so am crossing fingers at the moment that that will work.

Right now - am thinking my best bet might be to see if a mutually acceptable solution might be the way to go between "local hero" and myself as to what is fair for me to pay him for what-has-been-done-to-date and I'll pay that/leave no reviews anywhere/etc and have had A.N. Other Electrician recommended to me here by a local friend that I think has similar standards to myself afaik and am hoping Duff Electrician No. 2 and I can agree on the price for the fact he's done some work/is refusing to do the rest (for a reason to do with him personally) and I can "move on" and try again (damn it).

Draws discreet veil over the fact that I just bought one of my "once in a blue moon" lottery tickets and fingers crossed for enough money to sell this house/buy another one instead:rotfl:. No - you don't get a prize for guessing where.....:D

DaftyDuck

Money, I don't know the full details, but don't go down that route, of offering ANY direct payment to the electrician.

I haven't looked in any detail at Local Heroes but, from what was written in the Press about them when they set up, your contract and payment is NOT with the bod who turns up, but with Local Heroes directly. Pay the bod directly for anything, and you'll have absolutely no comeback to anyone on what has happened, AND Local Heores (PLC or whatever) may still bill you for the work....

If he hasn't completed the work, LH will source an electrician to finish the job, and give you the warranty for the work. How the payment is split is their problem, not yours.

I really, really wouldn't make (or accept) an offer directly from said bod.... Have you paid or offered anything yet?

What work did he do, was what he did completed, and what did he not do? It is really relevant to giving you good advice....

DaftyDuck

Oh, at the risk of getting the rest of your kitchen flung at me from Wales, if you do get through on the LH chat page, or by phone, stick quietly to the facts, do not go off on a rant, however much you want to...

It never, ever, ever, ever works as well as polite reasoned and accurate description!

moneyistooshorttomention

Just been left a phone message by Local Heroes to phone them and they didnt give me a phone number/it didnt come up on 1471/I cant find one anywhere. Duh!

Does anyone have this phone number I'm to phone them on - but they didnt give me?

Heedtheadvice

Wow! Only coming to this thread of late.

I take my hat off to you, Dafty. I would have run out of patience with Money long ago......

My impression, and it only is that, following reading just these posts, is that you are probably right Dafty.

It is very easy to have a difference of expectations or a misunderstanding when getting work done. One reason why professionals make contracts. To tie things down and know what quotes are based upon.

When one is not a professional, does not understand the needs, does not define written requirements, then that is the start of potentially things not being what was wanted. Not necessarily done poorly but differently from a misunderstanding.

It seems several tradespersons have not met Money's expectations. It also seems that there is a knowledge 'hole'.
Independent advice has not been sought at the outset.

It can be that some trades treat women differently. If you get that feeling steer well clear.

Seek true independent advice (Which? Trusted Traders, people in your area -not just one!), Do not rush headlong into the next phase of work if errors in the previous phase could have a knock on affect.
If non of this works for you call in a professional (in advance of the work) to work on your behalf!

Given the reported number of problems it would seem, as quality and standard of work is paramount, it would be money well spent....and might even have save money!

Heedtheadvice

Contact? Through a little common sense and telephone directory online....
Local Heroes, part of British Gas in Windsor, a phone number for that address 0843 504 3420

No guarantee, but worth a try.

moneyistooshorttomention

Have managed to have a phonecall with Local Heroes - who were very very surprised to find one of their people had done a job for me. I hadnt ever used this LH Scheme before now and wasnt clear how it functioned. I knew original contact had been made by me via their Scheme and assumed he'd put it through the Scheme.

So Scheme were asking me exactly what he'd done and had I expected to pay him in cash. Told by me I'd assumed he had told them we were going ahead and I've been assuming I'll pay him by cheque.

I've told them details of what work he did and the agreed charge for it and why it's "come to a halt". Currently at they are going to contact him and come back to me about it.

Yes I can see exactly why he made a personal remark he did about himself that caused me to think he must be trustworthy:o. I plead guilty to naivety:o:o. Yes one would think I'd know better at my age.....whoops...

DaftyDuck

I would, if possible, only deal with Local Hero contact for now. From what you PM'd me, I suspect that might be for the best.

Sounds like he was moonlighting, breaking LH terms, and may not have done a particularly good job of it. At a guess, LH will find another leccy to finish the job, and check what has been done is correct!