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Trades etiquette: urgent electric problem

11 replies

Treaclemine · 15/02/2023 12:07

I've a kitchen light that isn't working, and I want it looked at and possibly replaced.
When I moved in, there was an electrician who had done work in the house, and I used him for most of the work, which I couldn't fault. He went over and beyond putting right the electrical work which had not been done by a professional, but I became uncomfortable with him, mosty to do with the way he spoke, pushing at boundaries - not very far, but not pleasant.
One of the things I had him do was install some lights I bought at B&Q. These turned out to be faulty, tripping the consumer unit when I turned them off at the wall. B&Q denied anything to do with them. The electrician worked round this, splitting the circuit off from the rest of the house, and all was well. This was about 12 years ago.
I got another electrician, who fitted my solar panels and changed the lights in my bathroom. When the bathroom light switch went, I tried calling him, but his business had obviously closed down, and I used someone I got from Checkatrade. Excellent work, and used the company again.
Now the kitchen light has gone haywire again after that decade of working normally, ie fluorescent tube died and was replaced twice, as they do. Only this time, it has blown the circuit again.
I've emailed electrician 3, with account of the light's history, and they have referred me back to electrician 1, as he would know the history. Apart from doubting it, after this amount of time, I don't really want him in the house again. Partly because of not liking his manner, but also because it is embarrassing my having had work done by A.N.Other. He also does heating and immersion heaters, and I have someone I was recommended for that, who does my annual gas inspections and so on. He will realise this.
So what do I do? Email electrician 3 back, explaining that for non-electrical reasons I don't want electrician 1 back and see if I can persuade him to come? Search again for another electrician? (Do John Lewis fit the lamps they sell - I think I need a different one, anyway?) Drag my cousin up from Hove, it being far too far for that? (He did my niece's place in Streatham, finding that the person she bought from had been drawing electricity from the neighbour.)
Not explaining why I don't want No 1 in leaves it open to speculation which could go as far as my sister's instincts about the builder her builder subcontracted to in Gloucestershire, and I certainly wouldn't want ideas like that sticking to him.
Did I mention I had trouble tracking down electrician 3 when I needed one back then? The area isn't overflowing with electricians.
I have two lights in the kitchen, so can manage. but half of it is pretty gloomy after sunset.

OP posts:
MishaBukvic · 15/02/2023 12:16

IMHO,
Search for a different electrician. But don't tell them the history at enquiry stage, it may put them off.
Find a new electrician, get him booked in, and when he arrives in site, you can explain the history.

billyt · 15/02/2023 12:17

I'll reply based on being an Electrician although not what I do anymore.

I wouldn't bother contacting the first Electrician. Any spark worth his while will sort your problem, domestic wiring is one of the simplest installations there are.

If you want 3 to come back then contact him again. Just say you'd rather not deal with 1 anymore.

I wouldn't give your reasoning a second thought.

Eddielizzard · 15/02/2023 12:20

Ask your cousin and get the kitchen lights replaced. You'll carry on having problems in the future and it's not worth the complexity. Don't use electrician 1 again, you'll regret it.

GasPanic · 15/02/2023 12:43

The reason 3 told you to contact 1 was probably because they have too much work on, rather than they couldn't actually do the work.

I would talk to 3 and say 1 isn't available can you come. Don't expect to get a good price for the work though.

Alternatively find someone different.

Treaclemine · 15/02/2023 13:06

Thank you, for stopping me getting into panic mode! I think I'll leave my cousin for a bit - it's a long way from Brighton and that would be several domestic wiring jobs worth of time. But I'll ask round the locals before getting back to 3. I did think that he might regard working on someone else's work something not to be done.

OP posts:
Treaclemine · 15/02/2023 13:12

And I think I'll check a bit myself. Disconnect circuit and look inside the wall switch. If there's anything glaringly obvious, I could deal with it. i.e. loose wire needing to be screwed in again. I wouldn't go further than that. But when I had put the new tube in, absolutely nothing happened in response to the wall switch.

OP posts:
Headstones250 · 15/02/2023 13:42

You're massively overthinking this.

Electrician 1 was good but you didn't like him and that was 12 years ago anyway so there's every chance he's not working in your area any more anyway and even if he was, he must have done thousands of jobs since and wouldn't remember the specifics of your job.

Electrician 3 probably didn't want the job.
Maybe he's just busy or maybe all your backstory put him off.

Find a new electrician & just say "My kitchen light's not working and I need someone to come and fix it please!

Treaclemine · 15/02/2023 14:56

Nobody local has a good electrician. Had a long chat with a neighbour, about all sorts of things, but that was the outcome. No 1 is still about, but I agree, no way is he going to remember the situation, unless it was so bad he's been dining out on it ever since.

OP posts:
hannahcolobus · 16/02/2023 08:53

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Sparks240v · 08/03/2023 09:52

As mentioned, a straight-forward problem.; no need for the back story. I'm sure there is, or was, a female electrician in Brighton trading as "She's Electric" or similar. Failing that, take a look at the NAPIT or NIC websites. These are our professional bodies so anybody listed will be checked and qualified. Check a Trade are OK but their fees are crippling expensive and that goes onto a client's bill. I'm surprised more young women don't train up into the trades. The most egalitarian field I've ever worked in.

hannahcolobus · 23/03/2023 12:51

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