Better to be a Taxi driver!!!!

[MBEINST]

Gents

I am considering being a taxi driver its much less hassle and probably pays better!

In the short time that I have been doing this job it has become readily apparent that Joe Public will think nothing of paying upwards of 10 grand for a new kitchen but mention £300 to upgrade consumer unit to provide RCD protection for additions to kitchen and the job is off.

Latest senario:

I have a fairly elderly couple both very pleasant and well meaning. They would like me to install a new kitchen along with a couple of extra socket outlets added to the existing ring and a FCU for the washer. I am happy to do this but informed them that the current bakerlite consumer unit with re-wireable fuses and no rcd protection will need to be replaced. £300 to change consumer unit and fully test and then notify through ELECSA. I will then do the kitchen sockets, etc included in the price for fitting the kitchen.

Unfortunately they have had a quote from another kitchen fitter who will undercut my price and do the kitchen sockets, etc and apparently no need to touch the consumer unit.

It now appears that I will lose the job!

Incidentally I am a fully qualified spark 2391, etc. I am only fitting kitchens because of the abundance of electricians in my area and the shortage of work.

Taxi driving here I come!

 

[atm84]

Know where you are coming from. A few years ago I was doing some bits and bobs for local guy that I knew, a couple of extra sockets, lights etc. I mentioned that he needed the oil and water bonding. He said not to bother as it had been like that for the last 20 years and caused no harm. Arrggghhhh when will joe public start to listen to QUALIFIED sparks

 

[Farmelectrics]

I'm hearing more and more sparks feeling the same way

 

[Octopus]

Print off the FAQ's from the ESC website and hand them to the client...

This was bound to happen once the Part P rules for kitchens were relaxed......

 

[vaughant]

Thing is guys electrical work is such a vast field it's not impossible to diversify into something a bit different.
i do agree that sometimes and for some people a different career path is the answer.
Didnt work for me when I started my own garage specialising in body repairs,then you see how tight people really are,£55000 jag xk8 cabriolet and the old boy had caught the wing,bought a can of spray paint and had a go himself.
Cue an additional £300's worth of repairs as the whole area then required sanding back to avoid paint rreactions.
he never took the work on,just left it looking hideous and no doubt lost about £3000 when he p/x'd it a few years down the line.