Electrician doubling quote after project start: what do you think?

lb00

Hi all,

I have started some renovation works in my flat in London. Quite happy so far with the project manager, the tiler and the plumber. Not so much with the electrician which is why I am asking you for advice.

Before starting the works, I had them all come over to explain in detail what the works were involving to make sure I'd have no surprises later down the line. Electrician sees all that has to be done and does a quote for 1800£ (section 1 of what you see in the image below). Already some prices seemed a bit excessive to me but I needed to crack on and said all fine. My understanding is that his quote was for everything we discussed at the time of the visit.

Now after starting the first fix comes back to me through the project manager almost doubling his quote for the works from 1800 to 3000. Below is the breakdown he provided. What do you think?

I am going to go back to the project manager to ask for some clarifications but I am quite perplexed. I did ask for some additional bits as he came around for the first fix like moving some sockets, though I had assumed, wrongly I guess, minor things like this would be included in the overall given I am doing works worth 40k with them.

Any advice on how to best deal with this is greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

Section62

lb00 said:

...My understanding is that his quote was for everything we discussed at the time of the visit.

Now after starting the first fix comes back to me through the project manager almost doubling his quote for the works from 1800 to 3000. Below is the breakdown he provided. What do you think?

I am going to go back to the project manager to ask for some clarifications but I am quite perplexed. I did ask for some additional bits as he came around for the first fix like moving some sockets, though I had assumed, wrongly I guess, minor things like this would be included in the overall given I am doing works worth 40k with them.

So he quoted on what you said you wanted to start with, but increased the quote after you increased the scope of the project?  This is not surprising - the only question is whether the increase is appropriate for the amount of additional work.  Changing what you want done part way through a project is an expensive way of doing things.

The quote includes two 13A sockets in the "bathroom" - is that correct?

TELLIT01

The extra work isn't 'minor things' it's a pretty extensive list of additional work.  The cabling may have needed to be replaced to accommodate the move of sockets etc.  No single item on the list of additional work seems excessive. 

It's totally unreasonable to expect to add any work to an agreed contract without paying more for that work.

lb00

Perhaps I wasn't clear in my message above. It's only natural that if he does more work he is paid extra, that goes with no doubt.

The issue is: at the time of the visit I told him of the two sockets in the bathroom (I checked and they comply with regulations in terms of distance). So I expected it to be included in the first £1,800. Same with a number of other things I said that had to be done.
He quoted me £1,800 and in that I expected all those things I said on the visit to be included. 
Thanks

Northern_Wanderer

Do you have the original quote in writing? If so, does it include everything you mentioned on his first visit when he originally quoted you? Don't forget there will likely be VAT on top.

twopenny

As I read it the first part is what you were initially quoted for

"Electrician sees all that has to be done and does a quote for 1800£ (section 1 of what you see in the image below)."

That's a heck of a lot more work in Section 2,3,4.

Presumably he's had to move his other work around for the extra hours for purchasing and installing for you.

It doesn't look excessive to me.

ThisIsWeird

It don't 'alf add up, tobesure, but each individual price seems reasonable to me on its own. 
Moving or adding a socket involves sinking a back-box and chasing, surely? 

TELLIT01

As others have said, there is ambiguity between the OPs statement suggesting that only Section 1 was in the original quote and that other work was discussed.  Without sight of the original quote it's not possible to give a valid response.

Bookworm105

numbers on a bit of paper are meaningless

was this "quote" fixed price or not? yes or no?
what words are written regarding "variations", or "allowances", or "unknown costs" or "extra work"
is there a precise description of the works that were "quoted"