Mucked about by builder and lack of electrical safety cert
Discussion
(Yes, we have learned a lesson here about paying prior to a job being done but oh well!)
We've recently had a new kitchen fitted.
Despite me ripping out the old one, this took just under 4 weeks for a fairly mid range, flat pack job in a 3 bed semi...... (we had no sink, cooker, hob nor washing machine for roughly 2-3 of those weeks).
We also had a new consumer unit/fuse board fitted at the same time.
The work was undertaken by a kitchen fitter who subbed out the electrical work to an electrician.
The overall standard of the work is fine and we don't have an issue with it. Yet we are now left with a "snagging list" and haven't received the (paid for) electrical safety certificate.
I have no doubt the electrician is qualified (we originally didn't want to spring for the new board but he refused the work due to the age of the old one if a new one wasn't fitted). We were there the whole time and he spent a fair time testing every circuit after finishing.
The fitter has allegedly had family issues he had to deal with, which due to the difficult nature of them we were (in hindsight far too) obliging with. Again, stupidly we made the final payment on the last day (paid in installments throughout).
We now have a list of about 6 things that need sorting out (draws catching and other adjustments).
It's been about a month now and despite promising to come back on specific days several times this has not materialised.
Can someone please advise of the best course of action here? I effectively want to give a final (formal) warning in writing that if he doesn't turn up by end of next week (as he confirmed over email last week) we will be going down a formal/legal route. Is trading standards or small claims better to mention in the letter? Even costs aside I feel this needs to be raised with TS if it's not completed.
All of the communications we have from him are either via text or email so I have a (deliberate) paper trail.
We've recently had a new kitchen fitted.
Despite me ripping out the old one, this took just under 4 weeks for a fairly mid range, flat pack job in a 3 bed semi...... (we had no sink, cooker, hob nor washing machine for roughly 2-3 of those weeks).
We also had a new consumer unit/fuse board fitted at the same time.
The work was undertaken by a kitchen fitter who subbed out the electrical work to an electrician.
The overall standard of the work is fine and we don't have an issue with it. Yet we are now left with a "snagging list" and haven't received the (paid for) electrical safety certificate.
I have no doubt the electrician is qualified (we originally didn't want to spring for the new board but he refused the work due to the age of the old one if a new one wasn't fitted). We were there the whole time and he spent a fair time testing every circuit after finishing.
The fitter has allegedly had family issues he had to deal with, which due to the difficult nature of them we were (in hindsight far too) obliging with. Again, stupidly we made the final payment on the last day (paid in installments throughout).
We now have a list of about 6 things that need sorting out (draws catching and other adjustments).
It's been about a month now and despite promising to come back on specific days several times this has not materialised.
Can someone please advise of the best course of action here? I effectively want to give a final (formal) warning in writing that if he doesn't turn up by end of next week (as he confirmed over email last week) we will be going down a formal/legal route. Is trading standards or small claims better to mention in the letter? Even costs aside I feel this needs to be raised with TS if it's not completed.
All of the communications we have from him are either via text or email so I have a (deliberate) paper trail.
Biker9090 said:
(Yes, we have learned a lesson here about paying prior to a job being done but oh well!)
We've recently had a new kitchen fitted.
Despite me ripping out the old one, this took just under 4 weeks for a fairly mid range, flat pack job in a 3 bed semi...... (we had no sink, cooker, hob nor washing machine for roughly 2-3 of those weeks).
We also had a new consumer unit/fuse board fitted at the same time.
The work was undertaken by a kitchen fitter who subbed out the electrical work to an electrician.
The overall standard of the work is fine and we don't have an issue with it. Yet we are now left with a "snagging list" and haven't received the (paid for) electrical safety certificate.
I have no doubt the electrician is qualified (we originally didn't want to spring for the new board but he refused the work due to the age of the old one if a new one wasn't fitted). We were there the whole time and he spent a fair time testing every circuit after finishing.
The fitter has allegedly had family issues he had to deal with, which due to the difficult nature of them we were (in hindsight far too) obliging with. Again, stupidly we made the final payment on the last day (paid in installments throughout).
We now have a list of about 6 things that need sorting out (draws catching and other adjustments).
It's been about a month now and despite promising to come back on specific days several times this has not materialised.
Can someone please advise of the best course of action here? I effectively want to give a final (formal) warning in writing that if he doesn't turn up by end of next week (as he confirmed over email last week) we will be going down a formal/legal route. Is trading standards or small claims better to mention in the letter? Even costs aside I feel this needs to be raised with TS if it's not completed.
All of the communications we have from him are either via text or email so I have a (deliberate) paper trail.
I would be inclined to play nice for as long as possible and then stretch yourself to be nice for a bit more. After that as soon as you get impatient your done with him and are just going after the money as he won’t come back. Keep trying and keep playing nice and understanding. We've recently had a new kitchen fitted.
Despite me ripping out the old one, this took just under 4 weeks for a fairly mid range, flat pack job in a 3 bed semi...... (we had no sink, cooker, hob nor washing machine for roughly 2-3 of those weeks).
We also had a new consumer unit/fuse board fitted at the same time.
The work was undertaken by a kitchen fitter who subbed out the electrical work to an electrician.
The overall standard of the work is fine and we don't have an issue with it. Yet we are now left with a "snagging list" and haven't received the (paid for) electrical safety certificate.
I have no doubt the electrician is qualified (we originally didn't want to spring for the new board but he refused the work due to the age of the old one if a new one wasn't fitted). We were there the whole time and he spent a fair time testing every circuit after finishing.
The fitter has allegedly had family issues he had to deal with, which due to the difficult nature of them we were (in hindsight far too) obliging with. Again, stupidly we made the final payment on the last day (paid in installments throughout).
We now have a list of about 6 things that need sorting out (draws catching and other adjustments).
It's been about a month now and despite promising to come back on specific days several times this has not materialised.
Can someone please advise of the best course of action here? I effectively want to give a final (formal) warning in writing that if he doesn't turn up by end of next week (as he confirmed over email last week) we will be going down a formal/legal route. Is trading standards or small claims better to mention in the letter? Even costs aside I feel this needs to be raised with TS if it's not completed.
All of the communications we have from him are either via text or email so I have a (deliberate) paper trail.
You’ve already learnt the lesson although tbf you did it right by paying instalments.
Letter listing issues and give 14 days to contact you to arrange date to fix.
Letter asking them to contact you within 14 days to arrange fix. If they fail to do so then you will obtain two quotes to fix items and arrange for the work to be done and then bill them.
Have work done, pay them. Letter to old builder detailing costs.
Letter before action to old builder.
MCOL
Check if you have legal cover on your home insurance before you do any of this.
Letter asking them to contact you within 14 days to arrange fix. If they fail to do so then you will obtain two quotes to fix items and arrange for the work to be done and then bill them.
Have work done, pay them. Letter to old builder detailing costs.
Letter before action to old builder.
MCOL
Check if you have legal cover on your home insurance before you do any of this.
There are no revelations going to come here. The options are what has been said.
1 Keep asking with any old mix you care of carrot and stick.
2 Get someone else to do both things (snagging and elec cert) and shoulder the cost.
3 As per 2 but try legal action to recover
4 Find the errant individual and use carrot and/or stick in person.
1 Keep asking with any old mix you care of carrot and stick.
2 Get someone else to do both things (snagging and elec cert) and shoulder the cost.
3 As per 2 but try legal action to recover
4 Find the errant individual and use carrot and/or stick in person.
Biker9090 said:
I am struggling to see at what point those replying with "play nice" would give this up? Roughly a month has gone by now (in addition to the actual work) and we're no farther forward!
A month is nothing in the grand scheme. Once you engage in do this or else it’s slippery road to nowhere but grief. The vast majority of trades who treat you the way you have been treated will just go to ground completely and unless it’s a big name business you’ll be fighting for a long time and most likely won’t get anything you deserve. You’ve given away your only real leverage which was money. Now that’s gone you’ll be lucky to get anything by either being nice or fighting.
Sir Bagalot said:
Letter listing issues and give 14 days to contact you to arrange date to fix.
Letter asking them to contact you within 14 days to arrange fix. If they fail to do so then you will obtain two quotes to fix items and arrange for the work to be done and then bill them.
Have work done, pay them. Letter to old builder detailing costs.
Letter before action to old builder.
MCOL
Check if you have legal cover on your home insurance before you do any of this.
Letter asking them to contact you within 14 days to arrange fix. If they fail to do so then you will obtain two quotes to fix items and arrange for the work to be done and then bill them.
Have work done, pay them. Letter to old builder detailing costs.
Letter before action to old builder.
MCOL
Check if you have legal cover on your home insurance before you do any of this.
this
Peterpetrole said:
Sir Bagalot said:
Letter listing issues and give 14 days to contact you to arrange date to fix.
Letter asking them to contact you within 14 days to arrange fix. If they fail to do so then you will obtain two quotes to fix items and arrange for the work to be done and then bill them.
Have work done, pay them. Letter to old builder detailing costs.
Letter before action to old builder.
MCOL
Check if you have legal cover on your home insurance before you do any of this.
Letter asking them to contact you within 14 days to arrange fix. If they fail to do so then you will obtain two quotes to fix items and arrange for the work to be done and then bill them.
Have work done, pay them. Letter to old builder detailing costs.
Letter before action to old builder.
MCOL
Check if you have legal cover on your home insurance before you do any of this.
this
Currently going through a claim with the help of our home insurance legal cover for a piss poor roof repair where they left all the old mortar from the ridge tiles under the tiles which has caused the felt to sag, tear and deposit said rubble on the loft floor!
The key though is whether the electrician will actually have the money to pay a claim.
Paulm4 said:
Has the Spark been paid by the fitter? As the main contractor it would be the responsibility of the fitter to pay the Electrician so I would ask the Spark if he has been paid as that might be why he is withholding the paperwork.
This, the certificate is the electricians’s leverage for pay. I would contact him direct and ask whats going on.
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