Charged £975 for 2 security lights???

[studentspark]

Pimlico Plumbers?

My Auntie recently had some work done (not by the above) Insurance job

Took an hour, van parked outside for most of the day, spent most of the time tidying his van,

 

[HERTS P&D]

That's because the van's have got trackers on them, they can prove they were there all day.

Andy

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

It's the electricians that need to learn a lesson here not the customer. Refuse to pay it and make them a reasonable offer (£250).

You're wrong there, these weren't sparkies (although they may be qualified), they're just rip off blokes.

If I spent a day on me own fitting 2 outdoor lights as you've described, I'd go n shoot meself, let alone give you an ott bill.

Don't forget you have to deduct 1 1/2 hrs for when they were sat in the van, 1/2 hour for the mate to go and sign on, as it would be 1 sparky and his mate. Top limit should be for the pair of cheeky chimps 75 sobs an hour (at robbin' bar stewards london rates).

Obviously they'll be giving you the certificates when you pay them (not "drop em off later")?

 

[333rocky333]

Pilico, clearly state there rates, you talk to clients up town and they will tell you how hard it is too get a contractor.
You are paying for the reliability that many companies wont provide.
They are extortionate but there usually working for proffesional people who dont want to sit in waiting half a day, or for companies where downtime is costly and wage costs of staff sitting around can be high.
They cant sit around waiting for someone who may or may not turn up.
For scheduled jobs taking more time im sure there hourly rates work out a lot less than there proactive response rates same as our company

Insurance jobs can be like that, your sometimes allowed an hour on site to have a look, report back then sit around waiting for authorization from the insurers to continue, if you proceed off your own back then the company dont get paid, they woud rather you sit and wait which can be frustrting

 

[RF Lighting]

It's the electricians that need to learn a lesson here not the customer. Refuse to pay it and make them a reasonable offer (£250).

You're wrong there, these weren't sparkies (although they may be qualified), they're just rip off blokes.

You know that to be a fact do you?

If I spent a day on me own fitting 2 outdoor lights as you've described, I'd go n shoot meself, let alone give you an ott bill.

Have you seen the job? How do you know that the quoted labour period is unreasonable? Just because the OP says so?

How many times have you been told by a customer that something will only take 5 minutes when they haven't got a clue what's involved?

Don't forget you have to deduct 1 1/2 hrs for when they were sat in the van,

Who says they were sat in the van?

1/2 hour for the mate to go and sign on,

Now you're just being ridiculous and removing any shred of credibility that you post might have had.

as it would be 1 sparky and his mate. Top limit should be for the pair of cheeky chimps 75 sobs an hour (at robbin' bar stewards london rates).

Who sets their hourly rate?

Obviously they'll be giving you the certificates when you pay them (not "drop em off later")?

Why wouldn't they?

 

[17thman]

£200 plus vat for LED flood http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_In...oodlights/index.html?source=msn&kw=9287240688

to the OP, did you agree price before work started?

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

Hit wrong fish button

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

It's the electricians that need to learn a lesson here not the customer. Refuse to pay it and make them a reasonable offer (£250).

You're wrong there, these weren't sparkies (although they may be qualified), they're just rip off blokes.

You know that to be a fact do you?

Yup. Hadn't got a clue what they were up to, counting the sobs!

If I spent a day on me own fitting 2 outdoor lights as you've described, I'd go n shoot meself, let alone give you an ott bill.

Have you seen the job? How do you know that the quoted labour period is unreasonable? Just because the OP says so?

Well, you have to sometimes believe folks!

How many times have you been told by a customer that something will only take 5 minutes when they haven't got a clue what's involved?

Loads, but I always tell them "this 5 min job is more likely to be 5 hours." Saying that, because you can't get another 3 hours in elsewhere due to various reasons, do you bill the "just over half day" customer a full day? Sheez! I'm glad to get afternoon off.

Don't forget you have to deduct 1 1/2 hrs for when they were sat in the van,

Who says they were sat in the van?

Bloody obvious aint it the time they took to replace 2 ferkin lights??

1/2 hour for the mate to go and sign on,

Now you're just being ridiculous and removing any shred of credibility that you post might have had.

Well I'm pleased to know that you think this is a fair price for replacing two lights.

as it would be 1 sparky and his mate. Top limit should be for the pair of cheeky chimps 75 sobs an hour (at robbin' bar stewards london rates).

Who sets their hourly rate?

They look at the reg number and multiply by a 100. Simples!!

Obviously they'll be giving you the certificates when you pay them (not "drop em off later")?

Why wouldn't they?

Because they're Johnny come lately. Ooops!! Was it you??

 

[EFLImpudence]

Total £283.00 parts
Total £517.00 labour
__________________
Total £800.00 Some coincidence

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

Although I did say top whacks.

At the absolute top whack for labour, 2 1/2 hours, with 2 blokes. I know if you're on yer own you can spend half a day just going up n down stairs.
RF Lighting
If you think this is a fair price, can you tell me is Leeds that dear to live in? Then tell me why?

Edited for (burp), repeating.

 

[333rocky333]

Whos to say the time dont include going to and from the yard to get a ladder, not all people drive round carrying an extension ladder

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

Whos to say the time dont include going to and from the yard to get a ladder, not all people drive round carrying an extension ladder

Wish my customers would fall for the "Damn!! I came in the car! No tools! But you can pay me for when I go home and come back!!

Feks sake man!! Organisation! It's a piece of pish!!

 

[JohnW2]

Whos to say the time dont include going to and from the yard to get a ladder, not all people drive round carrying an extension ladder

Now that would be a rip-off (unless, I suppose, they're dwarfs) - most of my indoor light fittings are at least 2.8m off the floor! A large box to stand on might be more appropriate than an extension ladder

Kind Regards, John

 

[cajar]

It's quite shocking that for some of the sparks on here, the mantra that "whatever the electrician asks for he must receive" is so sacrosanct, that they will defend any bill no matter how ridiculous. I mean honestly.... a grand to replace two lights?

No guys, sometimes your brethen are playing it up, and the customer is allowed to exercise reasonable judgement in deciding if the price is fair. In this case not. RF you even say the customer should pay but learn his lesson next time, but then go on to defend the price. Either it's reasonable or its not.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Don't know where you are or what the going rate is in your area, but it does sound a little on the high side. As otheres have said, unless you agreed on a quote before the work commenced, then there's probably not a lot you can do apart from pay the bill and learn the lesson.

If the whoever arranged for the work to be done did not have a formal quote which outlined what these people would charge then the Supply of Goods & Services Act says that the price has to be reasonable, and if it's not they can take them to court to recover the difference.

Of course no written quote cuts both ways - they could just swear blind that the electricians told them it would be £200, pay that and challenge them to sue.