Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 May 07, 2022 12:14 am Hi, we are renovating our kitchen and wanting to install some new lights, a range hood, some new LED's and power points. We found a licensed sparky through Hi pages with 5 star references who said his rate was $70 per hour or $550 per day. Anyway, we hired him and he came in finally after 3 last minute cancellations and completed what he called a "lighting rough in". He left after 2 hours. The next day he sent us the bill - $800. I asked for a breakdown. He responded with: "The quote I gave is for the five stages Lighting rough in Power rough in Changeover of all switching Cut out Fit off Materials were 250 total One drum of lighting cable One drum of power cable One drum of fig 8 for led Whether it takes me 2 hrs or 11 hrs the price for rough of lighting is 550 Upon the completion of each stage payment needs to be made before commencing next stage " So from this it sounds like he is asking $550 for 2 hours work!! The initial quote stated $70 p/h or $550 per day. What should I do about this? Cheers. Is my sparky trying to rip me off? 2May 07, 2022 8:39 pm Don’t pay him, each drum is 100m, he probably used 10m tops of each cable. Pay him $70x 2 and $100 for cable, which is generous. Consider it lucky he billed you for 2 hours work and not at the end. Let him know how you calculated the bill based on his quote, take photos and block his number. He is obviously intending to charge you a total of about $4000 for a $500 job. There should be 2 stages, rough in everything and the kitchen company will bring things through cabinets etc, then fit off. Each is not a full day for sparky. A whole house rough in is 2 days. I assume he was able to do other jobs on the same day, and you don’t live 3hrs from the nearest town. Re: Is my sparky trying to rip me off? 3May 09, 2022 2:04 am Cheers for that, I think you're bang on! And I will do as you say. Re: Is my sparky trying to rip me off? 4May 09, 2022 10:41 am Didn't you get a quote? 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Is my sparky trying to rip me off? 5May 09, 2022 1:57 pm Yes, I did get a quote that stated specifically that each stage could cost $550 (8 hr day rate ), but if less hours were worked then the bill would be reduced according to hours worked at the hourly rate ($70 p/h). I emailed my bill complaint 3 days ago - still no reply... Re: Is my sparky trying to rip me off? 7May 09, 2022 7:05 pm princeplanet Yes, I did get a quote that stated specifically that each stage could cost $550 (8 hr day rate ), but if less hours were worked then the bill would be reduced according to hours worked at the hourly rate ($70 p/h). I emailed my bill complaint 3 days ago - still no reply... I would be really interested in hearing more about your total scope of work and what the lump sum price is to be able to judge whether or not you are getting overcharged cheers Simeon Architectural Homes & Duplexes - specialising in custom designing homes to your budget Get a Free Onsite Consultation Today or send a PM for information, questions or advice. Re: Is my sparky trying to rip me off? 8May 10, 2022 1:47 pm Haha, well, after I questioned his invoice, he finally replied that the original quote was sent by "admin" that is no longer associated with the business!. In other words, the quote said "$70 p/h" , but the new terms are suddenly "$550" per "stage" - even if said "stage" only requires 2 hours work. I found this shonk on Hi Pages, shouldn't I need report him to someone? Re: Is my sparky trying to rip me off? 9May 10, 2022 2:35 pm you have a written quote. that's as good as gold from a legal perspective. pay as per quote and move on.get somone else to complete the job Dark matter scientist, can breathe underwater, mind reader and can freeze matter just by willing it. Trust me, its in my sig. I had a similar issue with my fridge not too long ago. It wasn't the same model, but the symptoms were pretty much the same: the compressor would start and then stop… 3 9338 1 3475 |