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Electrical

Is my electrician being honest with me about time taken on a job?

Anonymous user 16/03/2024 - 2.46 PM

Hi, I'm a new homeowner so I need some advice about whether my electrician is taking advantage of my naivety or not! I had an electrician come for 1 day last week to do the following jobs: 1. PME connection complete 2. Install new back door light - chase in from kitchen socket and add light switch 3. Install new hallway light fitting - I saw them do this in 15 minutes before I left home at 8.40am 4. Install new kitchen light ceiling fitting - simple fixture with spotlights 5. Install new double sockets in living room and conservatory (on shared wall) 6. Install new ceiling light fixture in storage cupboard and plaster over any walls opened up It was him and his trainee electrician son for the day, and when quoted he said they'd 'see how far they got in a day'. They got through jobs 1-4 though the old back door light was left wired in but removed from the outside wall (so left on the ground). When I got home about 3.40pm they had started completed job 5 but not 6. They said they'd had trouble locating the wiring under the floor boards. They'd lifted some boards in the living room and opened up a backplate in the conservatory but they've left it as a gap in the wall for now. Does this sound normal for a day's work or am I being taken for a ride? Can installing a new socket really take that long and aren't there detectors to make the job of finding wires much quicker instead of spending time pulling up boards? I need to decide quite soon if I carry on with them to complete the jobs or if I give it to someone else.

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6 Answers

Wired Electrical

Rating: 5 out of 5
Ottery St Mary
This is exactly why I don’t do day rate, people watching the clock and me being penalised for working quickly and efficiently. The thought of being ditched because I didn’t have a metal detector too is laughable, if you didn’t want to pay the money you should’ve done it all yourself as you mention how everything is simple enough! When you decide to ask someone else maybe tell them about your experience with the honest guy and they can dodge a bullet. Unbelievable
Answered4 May 2022
6

DEACON ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Rating: 5 out of 5
Grimsby
We are electricians not magicians. If you think it’s easy you should have had a go yourself. Day rate… honestly I won’t do it.
Answered4 May 2022
3

Anonymous user

I can assure you, having been in this trade for 19 years plus, it is not as simple as you are tryng to make out. Cable locators do not help in this situation and it is very common to need to lift carpets and floor boards. It is hard work doing electrical installation and yes it is reasonable from what you have described so far. Customers think 'its only one socket' but to get the thing installed can be very time consuming. Just relax and let them do their job.
Answered4 May 2022
2

Upstream Electrical Services

Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Smethwick
You cant really put a time on how long it takes to do those things without another electrician being there and doing them. It all depends on their experience and how the house is currently setup. The fact that theyre nearly finished though you may aswel continue with them and if you're not happy bring it up after.
Answered4 May 2022
1

Anonymous user

Sorry for the late reply but on paper they are either desperately slow or swinging the lead . I cannot see a day's work there . Probably a morning . Many thanks Trevor
Answered4 May 2022
0

Lightning Electric Services

Rating: 5 out of 5
Nottingham
Not many electricians charge day rates anymore for this exact reason. Customer expectations are too high for what they think should be done in the time we have. I charger for each individual job/installation as a set price and will give the customer an indication of how long it might take. Maybe give this guy a break and in future agreed on a set price for the works without putting a time frame on it.
Answered5 May 2022
0