Electrician Charges
Discussion
TA14 said:
Matt_N said:
In theory, but how many 'heating engineers' actually have said degree?
It's an often abused title and that's what gets people's backs up.
Ah, that's a different question. At a wild guess I'd say 80% of heating engineers and 2% of 'heating engineers' - we did have a good heating engineer in the office who for various reasons (inc health - cancer) gave up the office job and fitted the odd boiler from time to time. His customers got a very complete solution.It's an often abused title and that's what gets people's backs up.
LookAtMyCat said:
It's shocking that so little people seem to know the difference between a plumber and a heating/gas engineer. There's an absolutely massive difference. And yes, also twice the wages; rightly so.
Twice the wages? I don't think that'd be fair, unless you'd go down the line of just charging twice the amount for the days when you're certification means you're doing something a 'plumber' cant? Obviously it doesn't work like that, most charge an extra % per day. Not 100% though.
TA14 said:
Steve H said:
It sounds like he did but there was "additional work" added on and they were still done in a couple of hours for a £400 bill (mostly labour).
Agreed. The OP seems to have resented paying for the survey (one day at the house, one day writing up, taking on responsibility for a large expensive house) at £342. Then one way or the other the electrician wanted about £400 to do the work left after the OP had done some but again the OP didn't like it. I suppose that the OP views it as being ripped off for having a big expensive house with flash cars but the electrician will view it as fair reward for someone there half a day (with travelling etc.) and the liability if something goes wrong.What I do resent is having a particular ambiguous item quoted on the high side and then having a relatively quick and simple remedy that is actually not related to the split/joined MAIN bonding substituted into the invoice as that item.
I would not have minded if the time/effort for the work had amounted to roughly the same, but many PHers are saying that amount for that work is very much on the high side.
This, for me, validated my suspicions and I have raised the concern with the company.
oilydan said:
I do not resent paying for the initial survey, it was near enough a full day, very thorough and there is quite a bit to go through with many issues.
What I do resent is having a particular ambiguous item quoted on the high side and then having a relatively quick and simple remedy that is actually not related to the split/joined MAIN bonding substituted into the invoice as that item.
I would not have minded if the time/effort for the work had amounted to roughly the same, but many PHers are saying that amount for that work is very much on the high side.
This, for me, validated my suspicions and I have raised the concern with the company.
It's not clear what the earth bonding issue was supposed to be; It's permissible to have 1 main bonding conductor to several services (gas/water/oil etc) but it should be an unbroken conductor, ie the wire wraps around the terminal screw on each clamp rather than snipped + joined. If it is cut + joined then this should be a permanent connection- crimp or solder.What I do resent is having a particular ambiguous item quoted on the high side and then having a relatively quick and simple remedy that is actually not related to the split/joined MAIN bonding substituted into the invoice as that item.
I would not have minded if the time/effort for the work had amounted to roughly the same, but many PHers are saying that amount for that work is very much on the high side.
This, for me, validated my suspicions and I have raised the concern with the company.
hairyben said:
oilydan said:
I do not resent paying for the initial survey, it was near enough a full day, very thorough and there is quite a bit to go through with many issues.
What I do resent is having a particular ambiguous item quoted on the high side and then having a relatively quick and simple remedy that is actually not related to the split/joined MAIN bonding substituted into the invoice as that item.
I would not have minded if the time/effort for the work had amounted to roughly the same, but many PHers are saying that amount for that work is very much on the high side.
This, for me, validated my suspicions and I have raised the concern with the company.
It's not clear what the earth bonding issue was supposed to be; It's permissible to have 1 main bonding conductor to several services (gas/water/oil etc) but it should be an unbroken conductor, ie the wire wraps around the terminal screw on each clamp rather than snipped + joined. If it is cut + joined then this should be a permanent connection- crimp or solder.What I do resent is having a particular ambiguous item quoted on the high side and then having a relatively quick and simple remedy that is actually not related to the split/joined MAIN bonding substituted into the invoice as that item.
I would not have minded if the time/effort for the work had amounted to roughly the same, but many PHers are saying that amount for that work is very much on the high side.
This, for me, validated my suspicions and I have raised the concern with the company.
The remedial action required from the inspection noted the main bonding, whereas the actual work under this item seems to be the boiler line bonding. I think it is this ambiguity that has caused them to mess up the invoicing; they thought the problem was one thing, actually carried out work for an item that was missed on the inspection but substituted it into the invoice at over 3oo quid.
The problem for them is that they also had to do the Aga bonding which is exactly the same cable run and have only charged about 50 quid for that one.
oilydan said:
That's interesting; the engineer told me it had to be 2 separate lines.
The remedial action required from the inspection noted the main bonding, whereas the actual work under this item seems to be the boiler line bonding. I think it is this ambiguity that has caused them to mess up the invoicing; they thought the problem was one thing, actually carried out work for an item that was missed on the inspection but substituted it into the invoice at over 3oo quid.
The problem for them is that they also had to do the Aga bonding which is exactly the same cable run and have only charged about 50 quid for that one.
It's considered better practice in some quarters but it's certainly not a fail.The remedial action required from the inspection noted the main bonding, whereas the actual work under this item seems to be the boiler line bonding. I think it is this ambiguity that has caused them to mess up the invoicing; they thought the problem was one thing, actually carried out work for an item that was missed on the inspection but substituted it into the invoice at over 3oo quid.
The problem for them is that they also had to do the Aga bonding which is exactly the same cable run and have only charged about 50 quid for that one.
jason61c said:
TA14 said:
Matt_N said:
In theory, but how many 'heating engineers' actually have said degree?
It's an often abused title and that's what gets people's backs up.
Ah, that's a different question. At a wild guess I'd say 80% of heating engineers and 2% of 'heating engineers' - we did have a good heating engineer in the office who for various reasons (inc health - cancer) gave up the office job and fitted the odd boiler from time to time. His customers got a very complete solution.It's an often abused title and that's what gets people's backs up.
ks term. I'm a plumber and proud of the title. I'm also qualified to work on natural gas, LPG, oil, unvented cylinders, solar thermal systems, ground source heat pumps and can sign off minor electrical work. But it doesn't make me an engineer. I'm a heating technician if you must put a title on it!But heating engineer seems to be a recognised profession, as such I've put it on my business card as it's a term people look for when they want their boiler worked on.
I've certainly never made anywhere near £500 in one day!
I dont know why people do PIRs or EICR to give it its new fangled name, ball aches the lot of em. I reluctantly have just done one for a friend of a friend, had to be done ASAP as sale is near completion and the buyers have asked for one at the last minute so pulled of a job and went the next day. Straight away it was obvious he had done it all himself, what an abortion. I told him apart from the fact its the buyer who usually commissions such reports not the seller, it was not worth doing, however he was adamant, and to just go easy on it - yea right.
Anyway charged him £100 and spent drinking time Friday night typing it up. Now they want a quote to put everything right so I told them about £2000+, she then puts the phone down on me. Now they have been back in touch and want a quote for just a few hundred so they can knock it off the price of the house. Obviously it all my fault the electrics are shagged and I should do them this favour to put things right.
Next time I'm just going to go to the pub.
Anyway charged him £100 and spent drinking time Friday night typing it up. Now they want a quote to put everything right so I told them about £2000+, she then puts the phone down on me. Now they have been back in touch and want a quote for just a few hundred so they can knock it off the price of the house. Obviously it all my fault the electrics are shagged and I should do them this favour to put things right.
Next time I'm just going to go to the pub.
stuart313 said:
I dont know why people do PIRs or EICR to give it its new fangled name, ball aches the lot of em. I reluctantly have just done one for a friend of a friend, had to be done ASAP as sale is near completion and the buyers have asked for one at the last minute so pulled of a job and went the next day. Straight away it was obvious he had done it all himself, what an abortion. I told him apart from the fact its the buyer who usually commissions such reports not the seller, it was not worth doing, however he was adamant, and to just go easy on it - yea right.
Anyway charged him £100 and spent drinking time Friday night typing it up. Now they want a quote to put everything right so I told them about £2000+, she then puts the phone down on me. Now they have been back in touch and want a quote for just a few hundred so they can knock it off the price of the house. Obviously it all my fault the electrics are shagged and I should do them this favour to put things right.
Next time I'm just going to go to the pub.
Hmmm, tricky one.Anyway charged him £100 and spent drinking time Friday night typing it up. Now they want a quote to put everything right so I told them about £2000+, she then puts the phone down on me. Now they have been back in touch and want a quote for just a few hundred so they can knock it off the price of the house. Obviously it all my fault the electrics are shagged and I should do them this favour to put things right.
Next time I'm just going to go to the pub.
Reading threads like this really makes my pi@@ boil.
I am a time served Electrician. It takes a 4 year apprenticeship to qualify, and many more years in the trade to gain sufficient experience to 'really know your game'.
Taking that into account, people expect you to come around, spend half a day crawling around your loft, chasing walls etc for beer money.
Ask yourself this: Can you justify what you earn?
Luckily I have spent my 27 years in the game away from domestic work.
In my honest opinion Electricians (good ones) are not paid their worth.
Rant over.
I am a time served Electrician. It takes a 4 year apprenticeship to qualify, and many more years in the trade to gain sufficient experience to 'really know your game'.
Taking that into account, people expect you to come around, spend half a day crawling around your loft, chasing walls etc for beer money.
Ask yourself this: Can you justify what you earn?
Luckily I have spent my 27 years in the game away from domestic work.
In my honest opinion Electricians (good ones) are not paid their worth.
Rant over.
unclemark123 said:
Reading threads like this really makes my pi@@ boil.
I am a time served Electrician. It takes a 4 year apprenticeship to qualify, and many more years in the trade to gain sufficient experience to 'really know your game'.
Taking that into account, people expect you to come around, spend half a day crawling around your loft, chasing walls etc for beer money.
Ask yourself this: Can you justify what you earn?
Luckily I have spent my 27 years in the game away from domestic work.
In my honest opinion Electricians (good ones) are not paid their worth.
Rant over.
well you have a good choice of car so must be doing ok I too am time served + many extras, been in lofts been under ground worked on 12v - 33kv switching fault finding, design confined space the list goes on well over 40yrs hands on as well as the theory and tech side, list goes on I too have a tvr and a few more of the like !! and I never charged £500 a day lol now semi retired AAAAAhhh bristooooo lol I am a time served Electrician. It takes a 4 year apprenticeship to qualify, and many more years in the trade to gain sufficient experience to 'really know your game'.
Taking that into account, people expect you to come around, spend half a day crawling around your loft, chasing walls etc for beer money.
Ask yourself this: Can you justify what you earn?
Luckily I have spent my 27 years in the game away from domestic work.
In my honest opinion Electricians (good ones) are not paid their worth.
Rant over.
unclemark123 said:
Taking that into account, people expect you to come around, spend half a day crawling around your loft, chasing walls etc for beer money.
Most people have no concept of what it costs to run a business. If you properly analysed what you do, chances are lots of it wouldn't make sense from a financial point of view.unclemark123 said:
Reading threads like this really makes my pi@@ boil.
I am a time served Electrician. It takes a 4 year apprenticeship to qualify, and many more years in the trade to gain sufficient experience to 'really know your game'.
Taking that into account, people expect you to come around, spend half a day crawling around your loft, chasing walls etc for beer money.
Ask yourself this: Can you justify what you earn?
Luckily I have spent my 27 years in the game away from domestic work.
In my honest opinion Electricians (good ones) are not paid their worth.
Rant over.
With respect, you're only worth what you're worth in comparison to other people. If you could do twice as much as someone charging £250/day, you're worth £500! If you do the same amount, why should you be paid any more? I am a time served Electrician. It takes a 4 year apprenticeship to qualify, and many more years in the trade to gain sufficient experience to 'really know your game'.
Taking that into account, people expect you to come around, spend half a day crawling around your loft, chasing walls etc for beer money.
Ask yourself this: Can you justify what you earn?
Luckily I have spent my 27 years in the game away from domestic work.
In my honest opinion Electricians (good ones) are not paid their worth.
Rant over.
Buyers want to have you as cheap as possible, and sellers (ie you!) want to charge as much as possible! Somewhere in the middle lies most people's wages. In my experience of trades, thats about £150-£250/day depending on the work, size of company, hassle factor, quality of work etc.
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