electrician call out fee

Amleto

Amleto

Amleto

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Joined
13 Feb 2003
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I have a problem with bathroom lights/switch tripping the upstairs lights. I had an electrician over - the same one who had just upgraded the consumer unit. He spent a few minutes in the loft looking at the down lighter wiring, but didn't actually do* anything.

We discussed that it was probably down to the 120v transformer, and that removing it and changing to LEDs would probably be the way forward. He gave a quote and said that if we went forward with the work then he wouldn't charge a call-out fee for this visit. At the time I was inclined to accept, but just needed to find some time for it. However I have since had another quote for less than half price :eek: so will be going with that instead.

My main question/quandry is: is a call out fee actually due to the first electrician? He basically only gave a quote in the first place...

*He didn't fix anything or change anything. He may have taken some meter readings/checked connections, but was out of sight.
 
You called him out to look at a problem, he looked and provided a solution no?

That's a bit different to you calling him and saying I want this this and this done can you come and give me a quote.
 
Depends where you live but i would guess call out including 1st hours labour between £30-£50, more if weekend or at night etc + extra for any parts or excessive travel time.

Ps. Cause of tripping is either -1. bad transformer 2. melted wiring too close to light/bulb. 3. arching switch 4. large transformer inrush current, unlikely for bathroom and would happen from when installed.

Change pullcord, check wiring not melted and replace transformers, 60w tranny will be say £7 each + £1 lampholders each, if say only 4 lights just an hours work

Or change to LED will be say £28 per LED fitting for Aurora m10's and approx 15 mins per fitting assuming holes are same size and don't need recutting etc

pps. Could also be extractor fan, do you have a fan isolation switch for the fan? try turning off and see if trips stop
 
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tom_e said:
You called him out to look at a problem, he looked and provided a solution no?
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No, he provided a quote.

HardwareGeek, thanks for the info! We don't have any extractor fans.

For the 6 downlighters in the main bath, plus 4x in the en-suite, plus 2x pull cords the initial quote was £560. The second quote was £290 inc VAT.
 
Amleto said:
No, he provided a quote.

HardwareGeek, thanks for the info! We don't have any extractor fans.

For the 6 downlighters in the main bath, plus 4x in the en-suite, plus 2x pull cords the initial quote was £560. The second quote was £290 inc VAT.
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I would check what brand LED downlights are being used for the cheaper quote and what guarantee you will get for that price as the last ones i installed were £28 each for your £290 quote for 10 just covers parts cost maybe cheap LEDs are being used etc - would avoid unless they are a good brand and have good warranty on them.

ps. Might be quoting for LED bulbs not purpose designed fittings etc
 
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"1, to replace down lighters in main bathroom with ip rated led in white 4no"

does ip rated mean suitably fire proof?
 
This it's why we charge for a visit at the time of the visit. When we are asked to go out and look at someone's fault, we are doing diagnostic work. Which is what you've had the guy do for you, and it's only proper and fair that you pay for that work, why wouldn't you?

He found the fault and then quoted for a repair, you then chose (and rightly so) to get a second quote. But you have used the first guys diagnosis to gain that quote, which again you should pay for m8.
 
hmm. The quote had to be adjusted because he mis-counted the lights in the bathroom (and I said I'd supply the LEDs). He is charging £22 per light, excluding the LED. He was charging ~£8.60 per LED.

I notice that ledhut do fire rated downlight fittings for ~£13. I suppose they're not any good?
 
FlyingFish said:
This it's why we charge for a visit at the time of the visit. When we are asked to go out and look at someone's fault, we are doing diagnostic work. Which is what you've had the guy do for you, and it's only proper and fair that you pay for that work, why wouldn't you?

He found the fault and then quoted for a repair, you then chose (and rightly so) to get a second quote. But you have used the first guys diagnosis to gain that quote, which again you should pay for m8.
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He found the fault and then quoted for a repair - Nope, he didn't find any fault. I may have been too kind in my OP.

I can see what you're saying. But at the same time if I was paying for diagnostics I would want a cause found. All that was offered was 'I can't see anything wrong, it's probably the transformer so change everything to LEDs'.
 
But he still came out and gave his professional opinion based on his experience, skills, qualifications etc, that you then used to get a quote for what HE recommended.

Unless you're telling me that he went out and you told him what needed replacing and you asked him to quote for that?
 
If someone turns up to fix a fault, they don't fix it, and they don't know what is wrong, but after 15 minutes suggest replacing 'everything', do you think that is worth a call out fee?
 
Amleto said:
If someone turns up to fix a fault, they don't fix it, and they don't know what is wrong, but after 15 minutes suggest replacing 'everything', do you think that is worth a call out fee?
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Perhaps if you had stated things that way to start with in your first post my response would be different. But either way I wasn't there m8, I was only offering an opinion based on what you posted first off. And if you was so sure yourself (like you seem to be now) you wouldn't be asking the question here?
 
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