OPINIONS PLEASE! SORRY IT'S LONG-WINDED!
I had an electrician round this morning (won't mention his name).
Was supposed to be here at 9 and at 9.30 I texted to see if he was still coming, and he replied that he'd be here about an hour later.
Nice of him to let me know.
Not a good start.
I've have had him to do work before and he was good.
I needed a fluorescent tube replacing under a wall unit in the kitchen. As the other two fluorescent tubes have been in situ for a few years, I said I would have them all replaced so they all lasted a long time. For some reason he brought another guy with him, which was unnecessary, and he always did the work alone before. They went to get the required items. Didn't take long for the work to be done. I also had an oven light replaced and a screw put into the bathroom light fitting, which had come loose. So nothing major. The tube that wasn't working flickered if it was turned on, which apparently means the control gear inside the fitting was faulty.
Anyway I should have asked how much beforehand, but as nothing major, just replacement of oven light and 3 fluorescent tubes, and fitting a screw in the bathroom light fixture, I didn't really think of it. Anyway, I nearly passed out when he said I had to pay £170!
I had some money kept for any work I needed doing, but it wasn't enough and I had to raid my purse to make up the amount.I said it was much more than I expected. He said everything has gone up. (That old chestnut! Blame inflation, Covid, whatever) But I do realise things have got more expensive.
After he had gone I was stressing about it and I texted him and said I’ve just had a look at the lights. I only wanted new fluorescent tubes, not a whole new system! I didn’t need this extra expense, especially on top of Christmas.
You should have asked me. I was shocked at the cost.
HIM :
I’m sorry, you did say to change them all, it’s hard to get hold of them tubes now days and they will prob cost around the same about the same
ME:
I don’t know why you didn’t ask me. you could have rung me from the shop and explained how much they would have cost and I would have said just replace the tube that’s blown. (There seem to be loads of fluorescent tubes £5-£10! from what I saw on the internet.)
HIM:
Ok, it’s was just the tube as it was flickering, it would have been the control gear inside the fitting, that’s why we ask if you want to change them all so they match. (I said I wanted to change all 3 TUBES so they all lasted a long time).
No mention was made about replacing the entire fitting for THREE lights.
HIM:
Ok, well between us we have miss communicated, what you like to do about this?
HIM:
I’ll come back and give you £70 back. So you are just paying for the materials.
He came back a couple of hours later and gave me the money back, but I've still paid £100 for what I considered a small job. I wish I had just left things as they are.
He said after this don't contact me about any more electrical work. I said well I wouldn't would I? I'm still fuming.
Don't know how you do a poll of am I being unreasonable!