customer from hell

[Garythenab]

Got a problem on a CCu change I'm doing.
There was s fault on one of the circuits which I didn't connect back. When I explained the problem with the customer she went mental and demanded it went back; which I obviously did not.

These were her excuses why it should have gone back:
It worked before you started fiddling
You can leave the earth out I've lived in houses with no earth
I've lived in houses 500 years old this house and its wiring is new to me.

When I still refused she threatened to take me to court to sue me lol.

In all seriousness I'm thinking of walking away. What should I do?

 

[MTI]

tuff one mate - did the faults not show up on periodic before board change?

 

[chrish_1977]

Terms an conditions, all signed before you started the work and was she aware there was a problem as you went, sounds more like poor communication or half a story

 

[Tidy Max]

What was the fault? What testing did you do prior to accepting the job?

 

[sg160187]

As long as you leave it safe I can't see how it would stand up in court. Take pictures of your work just incase though.

I would offer to rectify or rewire the problematic circuit on an extras rate if it was not part of the agreed works.

Just remember that it only takes 1 miserable old lady with a big mouth to ruin a lot of potential future work for you. Word of mouth trumps all and mud sticks.

 

[telectrix]

if it's a minor fault, fix it. if it's major, negotiation time.

 

[Garythenab]

When I first viewed the job I went round the property with her husband. They had just bought it.

I explained everything to him he was happy and wanted an estimate as he understood that these problems can be found and would cost extra

 

[mtfpuk2011]

or get the the bord your registration is with involved

 

[Silly Sausage]

When I first viewed the job I went round the property with her husband. They had just bought it.

I explained everything to him he was happy and wanted an estimate as he understood that these problems can be found and would cost extra

Sounds like you need to wait until the man of the house comes home! :smilielol5:

 

[Garythenab]

I'm hoping I can just pull another length of cable through as its in a void not far from the ccu. But she wanted it connected there and then.

No testing went on before the job. When I went to look at it they were preparing to head back to there old place for a few days. But all the ins and outs were explained before I gave them an estimate

 

[Guitarist]

When I first viewed the job I went round the property with her husband. They had just bought it.

I explained everything to him he was happy and wanted an estimate as he understood that these problems can be found and would cost extra

I would suggest that you talk to the husband then. I always do a spread of tests on all circuits prior to quoting for a board change, that way there are few surprises.
I'm assuming that you are Part P registered as you have completed a board change, so what have your scheme provider advised?

 

[Garythenab]

He was there yesterday spoke to him after and he was fine, but his wife's behaviour was disgusting and I refuse to spoken to like that by anyone.

 

[Garythenab]

I haven't spoken to elecsa about it yet. Will give them a call tommorow

 

[telectrix]

give it a couple of days to let the PMT settle down.

 

[MTI]

my thoughts too. also on comment below - dropping a cable down cavity loosely will mean its not supported throughout its run and therefore will be a non conformance on install cert. hope you manage to work something out. id assume he will want a fixed price to sort it at this stage which will be a hard one if its a nightmare to sort

 

[Garythenab]

The price won't be a problem for him. It was a useful socket for her which is why I think she was upset, still no justification in expecting me to put something dangerous back into operation and then trying to threaten to sue me when I refused to put it back as it was

 

[telectrix]

can't she charge her vibrator in a different socket?

 

[Garythenab]

^^^haha you ledgend ^^€

 

[Ducksy]

Did you test the dildo and make sure its class 2? Because if its class 1 it could have a live-earth fault.

On a serious note I think it's time you had a T&C on the quotes you give your customer saying something like. (If a fault is found which can be potentially dangerous circuit will be left isolated).

 

[tony mc]

What was the fault ?