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- 13 Apr 2005
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12 months ago I asked an electrician [3 man company] for an hourly rate to do the elecrical work on my new build, I agreed the rate he quoted and a few weeks later he came and did the 1st fix.
The bill was there in 3 days and I was suprised at the larger than expected amount, but as the labour and materiels were not costed separately [just a total] and he seemed to have done a good job I sent a cheque by return post.
After some delay [12 months] he returned on October 26th to 2nd fix, [2 men and an apprentice] this time, I supplied the materiels.
The boss and the boy called again on November 8th [on the way back from another job] to connect the tails in the meter box and change the incoming MCB, that the supply company had fitted, to a 100 amp DP unit, they were on site for an hour. this included his electrical test.
Again the bill came in a few days, this time, as it was all labour I knew what rate he had charged me, it was just less than 20% more than he had quoted me, he also charged the same rate for the "boy" the boss had also left the site to go to another job for 2 hours.
His invoice for the 2nd fix was dated November 1st but did not arrive until after his visit to fix the tails.
When I saw the rate he had charged me I telephoned him to challenge it, he eventually agreed to reduce his rate by 10%, as I had no wish to fall out with him, I reluctantly agreed to this but stipulated that he must first return to fix some problems, these he did not dispute, and he eventually came personally on January 5th and rectified the problems.
Today January 9th I received another invoice from him, for connecting the tails, doing the test and issuing a certificate, that eqates to seven hours labour, this figure also includes the issue of the certificate, is this normally charged as a seperate item or should it be included as part of the job.??
He also says, the certificate will only be issued on payment of the invoice/s
I feel he is now taking the p*ss and feel like starting from the beginning and insisting he itemises all invoices, sticks to his original rate,reduces the rate for the "boy" and explains how he has charged me 7 hours for an hours work, I do not think he can charge me travelling time for the fitting of the tails as he only called on his way back from another job [ the same one that he left my site to visit during the 2nd fix] therefore I have already paid his travelling time once.
Sorry for the long post would like fair comments please.
The bill was there in 3 days and I was suprised at the larger than expected amount, but as the labour and materiels were not costed separately [just a total] and he seemed to have done a good job I sent a cheque by return post.
After some delay [12 months] he returned on October 26th to 2nd fix, [2 men and an apprentice] this time, I supplied the materiels.
The boss and the boy called again on November 8th [on the way back from another job] to connect the tails in the meter box and change the incoming MCB, that the supply company had fitted, to a 100 amp DP unit, they were on site for an hour. this included his electrical test.
Again the bill came in a few days, this time, as it was all labour I knew what rate he had charged me, it was just less than 20% more than he had quoted me, he also charged the same rate for the "boy" the boss had also left the site to go to another job for 2 hours.
His invoice for the 2nd fix was dated November 1st but did not arrive until after his visit to fix the tails.
When I saw the rate he had charged me I telephoned him to challenge it, he eventually agreed to reduce his rate by 10%, as I had no wish to fall out with him, I reluctantly agreed to this but stipulated that he must first return to fix some problems, these he did not dispute, and he eventually came personally on January 5th and rectified the problems.
Today January 9th I received another invoice from him, for connecting the tails, doing the test and issuing a certificate, that eqates to seven hours labour, this figure also includes the issue of the certificate, is this normally charged as a seperate item or should it be included as part of the job.??
He also says, the certificate will only be issued on payment of the invoice/s
I feel he is now taking the p*ss and feel like starting from the beginning and insisting he itemises all invoices, sticks to his original rate,reduces the rate for the "boy" and explains how he has charged me 7 hours for an hours work, I do not think he can charge me travelling time for the fitting of the tails as he only called on his way back from another job [ the same one that he left my site to visit during the 2nd fix] therefore I have already paid his travelling time once.
Sorry for the long post would like fair comments please.
