Advice on Finishing a job

[oharaf]

Right, firstly this is the only tiume i have reached this point.

I have been on this particular job since before christmas, a relatively straight forward bungalow with extension full re-wire.

Just to put you in the picture, arrived 16th Dec, shell built no stooth work, doorways, ceilings in. Great I thought. Then sat customer down and to be honest they did not really know what they wanted, so advised as much as i could. Originally 2 sparks on the job.

1 st fixed everything including burglar alarm, broke off for christmas about the 21st.

Came back 5th jan, most bthe house had been boarded and plastered!!!

Connected everything up as well as making loads of additions!!!! Finally got all circuits connected up yesterday (I know what you're thinking!!!)

Anyway got the alarm kit out to read through realising half the PIR's were missing plus a keypad.

Then began looking around the points, 4 cable ends are missing for PIR's, the door sensor lead has been stuffed by the plasterers trowel.

Re-running these cables will be a nightmare access is terrible.

To make things worse the customer had been paying a day rate but when it came to final fix they wanted a price, which I gave them.

I'm now 4 days over the time i alotted there is only the alarm to complete but I have had enough of it, i amn having to deal with other peoples screw ups, i cannot get into replace the door sensor cable!!!!

I have adjusted the bill so as not to include connecting the alarm, simply because it will be a waste of time!!!!

What I want help with is how am i going to tell the customer that I simply do not have the inclination to even attempt to install the alarm

I know this sounds totally lazy but you really have to have been on the job to realise just how bad things have been

 

[sparkwright]

Unfortunately, when it comes to plasterers you have to check everything.
You can leave a cable clipped to the very bottom of a joist so they can't board over it, only for them to board over it.

If the client is a reasonable type of person you should be able to explain the problems, and they should understand. After all, a damaged alarm cable as you have described says it all.

 

[electronicsuk]

Surely you wouldn't have quoted them for the final fix without a clause with words to the effect that adjustments to the price may be necessary due to circumstances outside of your control? If the plasterer has caused damage to your wiring then the customer should be able to claim back your extra charges in fixing these faults from the tradesman that caused them in the first place.

 

[EdwardCurrent]

Hello Oharaf .

Nightmare !

1)Personally I would try and get into a situation where you and the customer are as stress free as possible, then talk through what has happened (over a cuppa?), and then hit them with a rather large price for the alarm mentioning that they may need to get the original offender back to make good !
They may just want their EIC and rid of you ! (which is what you want ?)

2)Buy them a dog.

Regards
Ed.

 

[Chri5]

Tell the customer you can finish via surface routes and drops from the loft. If they expect hidden cabling, tell them to mark routes and accept further costs for your extra efforts and replastering the damage caused by having to 'attack' finished surfaces.

The PIR's shouldn't be difficult to wire via the loft space and drops down to positions near ceiling line.

 

[oharaf]

Surface running is a no no, and there is no loft so to speak of!!!

 

[Chri5]

Well then you need to explain the predictement to the customer. Cables can't 'magic' themselves behind surfaces !

What about wireless PIR's ?

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[chapeau]

On what date did you provide the fixed price to complete contracted work?

 

[oharaf]

Gave the price on 29th january, started on the 1st of Feb.

These people are in the construction industry, they know the score!!!

Anyway went and had a chat, they are getting the plasterer back to 'find' his screw ups.

Then myself and a colleague will go and complete.

I had suggested to them at the start to have a wireless system purely because of the nature of the works but they poo pooed it!!

Anyway, next wednesday should get it finished