House Rewire - have I been taken for a ride?

AndreaKay

Hasbeen said:

AndreaKay said: "No. He has simply replaced the existing sockets which are at around 16cm from the ground. I didn't know there was a correct height requirement."

Op if old house? additional sockets can be put in to match existing heights. But as I said if I was paying for a complete rewire. I  would be looking for all to be installed at latest regulations as per new builds. Heights, minimum amounts, etc. there's never enough sockets these days. Especially at £3600 !! £2750 is not 50%?
But that would be serious upheaval with possibly lifting floors. new socket openings in walls, running new cables, plastering, new decorations etc usually done at renovation time to upgrade property. If you are happy with all that has been done? then its the cost that has to be discussed and what you agreed to?

It's a 1930's house. I actually only wanted one extra socket put in, which he is going to do next week. I paid him an extra £1000 as he said he needed it early. Maybe I'm just a bit of a mug!

ka7e

SW England - paid £4200 for total rewire.

All sockets raised to new height and many added (repairing plasterwork was extra).

All light switches lowered to new heights.This involved chasing in new cables (repairing plasterwork was extra).

New wiring to central ceiling lights.

New heavy-duty cabling for kitchen appliances and 2 showers. Appliances and showers installed

2 Hard-wired smoke detectors installed.

2 extractor fans supplied and installed in bathrooms.

2 electric heaters installed.

LED light fittings supplied and installed in bathrooms.

2 multi-light fittings installed.

New consumer unit supplied and re-sited.

BT master socket moved next to a plug socket and wires concealed.

External light replaced.

Wireless thermostat supplied and installed.

It was quite disruptive work and the dust from chasing cables was worse than I expected!

AndreaKay

ka7e said:

SW England - paid £4200 for total rewire.

All sockets raised to new height and many added (repairing plasterwork was extra).

All light switches lowered to new heights.This involved chasing in new cables (repairing plasterwork was extra).

New wiring to central ceiling lights.

New heavy-duty cabling for kitchen appliances and 2 showers. Appliances and showers installed

2 Hard-wired smoke detectors installed.

2 extractor fans supplied and installed in bathrooms.

2 electric heaters installed.

LED light fittings supplied and installed in bathrooms.

2 multi-light fittings installed.

New consumer unit supplied and re-sited.

BT master socket moved next to a plug socket and wires concealed.

External light replaced.

Wireless thermostat supplied and installed.

It was quite disruptive work and the dust from chasing cables was worse than I expected!

Yes, that sounds like £4200 amount of work. I genuinely think I am not getting value for money. I'll have a chat to him and see what he says. Thanks for everyone's input!

Corum_uk

Doesn't sound like a full rewire to me.
We are in the south west and paid £3,300 in 2017 to have our 3 bed semi done, which was a very cheap quote at the time
It involved taking up carpets, chasing out walls, ripping up floorboards clearing out furniture etc.
I had to move out for over a week whilst this was going on. Dust everywhere for months and lots of plastering to fix the walls and ceilings (had downlights in most rooms)
As it was a full rewire, all sockets had to be higher up on the wall than the old ones to comply with building regs.
I note that in your quote although its says new electrical rewire it doesn't mention anything about the wiring itself.

baldelectrician

Is the electrician registered with a scheme?
Did he give you a quote with the required 14 day cooling off period?
Can you take photos and post here- specially the consumer unit and that area- blank out meter serial number with paint app or similar?
It may be prudent to get someone in to carry out a electrical visual report or an EICR
Has the gas meter been earthed (called protective bonding)?

AndreaKay

baldelectrician said:

Is the electrician
Did he give you a quote with the required
Can you take photos and post here- specially the consumer unit and that area- blank out meter serial number with paint app or similar?
It may be prudent to get someone in to carry out a electrical visual report or an EICR
Has the gas meter been earthed (called protective bonding)?

The drama continues.

He can't come back to finish off till Monday now, he says.

I doubt he is registered. I'm an idiot and didn't even check. He gave me a quote quite some time ago, when I had the money I then asked him to come and do it, so well past a 14 day cooling off period.

In the meantime, I have found an old friend whose husband is an electrician. They live far away, but he asked me to unscrew a switch and take a photo of the wiring, which I did. He has confirmed that no rewiring has been done. I've just had light fittings and switches replaced - and the consumer unit.

My friends husband is wondering why there is a certificate on the unit, seeing as how this was fitted BEFORE the 'rewiring' was done.

I've been had, basically. I am kicking myself for being so naive.

AndreaKay

Corum_uk said:

Doesn't sound like a full rewire to me.
We are in the south west and paid £3,300 in 2017 to have our 3 bed semi done, which was a very cheap quote at the time
It involved taking up carpets, chasing out walls, ripping up floorboards clearing out furniture etc.
I had to move out for over a week whilst this was going on. Dust everywhere for months and lots of plastering to fix the walls and ceilings (had downlights in most rooms)
As it was a full rewire, all sockets had to be higher up on the wall than the old ones to comply with building regs.
I note that in your quote although its says new electrical rewire it doesn't mention anything about the wiring itself.

I would have thought that a new electrical rewire must surely include the wiring itself?

Risteard

baldelectrician said:

Has the gas meter been earthed (called protective bonding)?

Earthing is not called bonding.

Main protective bonding is NOT Earthing. It is equipotential bonding.

Corum_uk

Indeed.
I,ve just had a look at my quote for comparison and it clearly states "install new electrical wiring for all circuits" and "all wiring to be recessed into the wall".
I can imagine you must be quite upset but just have the conversation with the guy and explain calmly that you were expecting and will need new cabling as part of your full rewire.
Beyond that maybe try and get some legal advice.
Last resort could be the small claims court and applying for a CCJ.