Bathroom pull light switch

MouldyOldDough

Our bathroom pull light switch has died overnight and needs replacing - I am unable to do this myself due to mobility problems (I can't climb ladders (even step ladders !))

If I post the job on rated people (for example) - how much will I be expected to pay for the job ?

shiraz99

I wouldn't expect to pay more than £100 for a job like that.

grumbler

IMO, this is a 'callout time' job, i.e. you pay only for callout and for the materials.

I think a local handyman will do this for £50.

The switch costs no more than £5.

MouldyOldDough

grumbler said:

IMO, this is a 'callout time' job, i.e. you pay only for callout and for the materials.

I think a local handyman will to this for £50.

The switch costs no more than £5.

grumbler said:

IMO, this is a 'callout time' job, i.e. you pay only for callout and for the materials.

I think a local handyman will to this for £50.

The switch costs no more than £5.

But - doesnt the handyman have to be electrically qualifed to do any electrical work ?

Our normal handyman wont touch it...

Gavin83

MouldyOldDough said:

grumbler said:

IMO, this is a 'callout time' job, i.e. you pay only for callout and for the materials.

I think a local handyman will to this for £50.

The switch costs no more than £5.

grumbler said:

IMO, this is a 'callout time' job, i.e. you pay only for callout and for the materials.

I think a local handyman will to this for £50.

The switch costs no more than £5.

But - doesnt the handyman have to be electrically qualifed to do any electrical work ?

Our normal handyman wont touch it...

Nope, depending on what 'qualified' means. They'll obviously need to know what they're doing but it's not a notifiable job. Anyone can do it. It's also not a difficult job, probably one of the easier electrical jobs to do. Admittedly I've not (yet) changed a pull cord but I've changed a number of regular light switches. It's a 10 min job. 

FreeBear

MouldyOldDough said: But - doesnt the handyman have to be electrically qualifed to do any electrical work ?

Our normal handyman wont touch it...

A like for like replacement, no qualifications required. It only needs a "competent" person to do the work. And it is only two bits of wire (plus an earth). Hardly difficult to get wrong, and certainly not worth the extortionate rates some electricians will want to charge.

Ebe_Scrooge

Do you have any friends/neighbours/family members who could help out?  Replacing a switch is a very simple job for anyone with the most basic electrical DIY knowledge.  If you do decide to call out an electrician, they will have to charge you at the very least their standard callout fee (remember, whenever you pay a professional, you're not just paying for the time it actually takes to do the job, they have to charge enough to cover their travelling time, overheads, etc. and still make a profit).

MouldyOldDough

Got an electrician coming this afternoon £35

macman

MouldyOldDough said:

grumbler said:

IMO, this is a 'callout time' job, i.e. you pay only for callout and for the materials.

I think a local handyman will to this for £50.

The switch costs no more than £5.

grumbler said:

IMO, this is a 'callout time' job, i.e. you pay only for callout and for the materials.

I think a local handyman will to this for £50.

The switch costs no more than £5.

But - doesnt the handyman have to be electrically qualifed to do any electrical work ?

Our normal handyman wont touch it...

No, it's a straightforward replacement, not an addition. They have to be competent, not qualified. It's no more complex than wiring a plug. 

Risteard

MouldyOldDough said:

Got an electrician coming this afternoon £35

Hardly an Electrician - more likely a chancer at that price. This is traditionally a deprived area and that wouldn't even nearly cover me travelling to a customer's address.

GDB2222

Risteard said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Got an electrician coming this afternoon £35

Hardly an Electrician - more likely a chancer at that price. This is traditionally a deprived area and that wouldn't even nearly cover me travelling to a customer's address.

£35 does seem very, very reasonable, to the point of being too good to be true. But, you really can't be certain it's not a qualified electrician. For example, it could be a neighbour doing the OP a favour when he gets home, and if it's a neighbour there'd be no travelling time.