Electrical advice

ams12

Having recently purchased my first home, i had an issue with a internal light and found a recommendation for an electrician via local facebook groups. Upon his visit he advised of the works and also pointed out the consumer unit in place is a fire risk and my insurance company could refuse to pay out in the event of a fire. In my complete naivety i requested for this work to take place and he agreed to provide an installation certificate once completed. He sends a tradesperson around who completes the work but leaves me feeling dissatisfied with the service (using my tools and steps to complete the job, leaving a trail of mess and wires everywhere and bashing my home furnitures and fixings).  I made payment and provided some honest feedback about my experience with his tradesperson.

I followed up around a month after the work requesting my electrical installation certificate. He informs me it’s on the way and should be with me shortly. I then follow up again a few weeks later and he informs me he will not be providing a certificate as his tradesmen was unhappy with my feedback. He then goes on to blame me for being dissatisfied with the work and that’s the reason i won’t be getting an installation certificate. I told him this is not acceptable and he needs to provide a solution.

He eventually visits the property and agrees to conduct an ECIR via a 3rd party company as remediation to not providing an installation certificate. The 3rd party company completes the inspection and has requested the payment from the original electrician, who then informs me i should pay for it and he is just arranging this. At no point throughout this process has he raised the fact he’s expecting me to pay for it. I’m furious at this point and have outright refused to pay for something that should have been provided originally by his company. He has now also turned around and said it’s my responsibility for this work to be compliant with Part P.

To be clear i have not made any comment’s about the electrician other than providing feedback about the service. The company owner has now made lots of false accusations and lies about comments i’ve supposedly made.

I'm not sure where this leaves me now as the more i research, i’m finding building control should be informed for a consumer unit change and i can be at risk of receiving a fine for not informing them. I’m also finding checks i should have completed on any electrical contractors doing work.

Can anybody offer any advice on what i should do next? i’m at a loss and feel completely lost on how to resolve this situation. 

Bendy_House

Legal Protection on your house insurance?

Trading standards at your LA?

FreeBear

ams12 said: He has now also turned around and said it’s my responsibility for this work to be compliant with Part P.

You will have neither the knowledge nor training to ensure the work is Part P compliant - That is why you contracted the work out to him. If he is NICEIC registered or with another approved body, I would be reporting his conduct to them.

Yes, you are ultimately responsible for notifying Building Control - You either do it directly, or get a contractor that can self certify and liaise with BC.

How did you pay for this work ?

fenwick458

only way I can see you getting anywhere with this is small claims court

ams12 said:

i requested for this work to take place and he agreed to provide an installation certificate once completed. 

how did he agree to this, if you have it in writing (for example on a written quote) then you are halfway there...

the other half would be ensuring they actually notify the job and you get a part P certificate, although if you have the installation cert and they are registered contractor then you approach the electricians competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT etc) and that should force them to notify it and you'll get your part P cert

ams12

FreeBear said:

ams12 said: He has now also turned around and said it’s my responsibility for this work to be compliant with Part P.

You will have neither the knowledge nor training to ensure the work is Part P compliant - That is why you contracted the work out to him. If he is NICEIC registered or with another approved body, I would be reporting his conduct to them.

Yes, you are ultimately responsible for notifying Building Control - You either do it directly, or get a contractor that can self certify and liaise with BC.

How did you pay for this work ?

I had no idea i had to notify building control neither was i advised. I will look to see who the contractor is registered with and contact my local TS office. I paid for this work via Bank Transfer.fenwick458 said:

only way I can see you getting anywhere with this is small claims court

ams12 said:

i requested for this work to take place and he agreed to provide an installation certificate once completed. 

how did he agree to this, if you have it in writing (for example on a written quote) then you are halfway there...

the other half would be ensuring they actually notify the job and you get a part P certificate, although if you have the installation cert and they are registered contractor then you approach the electricians competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT etc) and that should force them to notify it and you'll get your part P cert

I suspect this would be the case and for the amount i paid i don't feel it would be worth pursing it further and i suspect the original electrician knows this.

I have email confirmation from him he'll be providing an installation certificate after the install. I suspect they're not part of this scheme or notified the job in the first place.

I feel the cleanest way to move forward would be to find another electrician whose compliant and can do the notification to building control to install a new cu and provide the necessary certification. 

Thanks all for your comments.

Mistral001

Firstly it is your responsibility for getting Building Control Approval and yours alone.  In saying that not having Building Control Approval will not usually affect your insurance.  

The behaviour of the contractor will not be looked upon well by the civil courts.  In fact by not giving you a certificate because you gave a negative feedback will be regarded dimly by Trading Standards and they have powers to use the criminal courts.