Hi,
Please help. I dont know what to do.
I had a kitchen/reno co. put in a new kitchen. They are based in South West Sydney. They subcontracted the electrical work to a licensed electrician. We took out a contract with the kitchen/reno co. not with the electrician.
The contract states: "Kitchen full installation and 900mm appliance pack"...Lighting (assuming that they would cover the cost of additing in powerpoints/lights) or am I assuming too much?
Interestingly, the kitchen/reno co's owner is a former electrician so knows the rules.
There are a number of issues.
1. After a heated discussion, the kitchen/reno co. said that they would pay for defective workmanship but not for poor workmanship as it is "just an opinion". I had 3 powerpoints lowered and one lightswitch moved. Originally, the 3 powerpoints were 300mm from the bench. Most electricians put in powerpoints between 100-150mm measured from the bench. There were 2 double powerspoints were placed next to each other and they did not line up straight. I got a new electrican in to put in 1x4powerpoint in the wall and move the lightswitch. This, including the defective work cost $700. The bill has not been itemised. I want the reno/kitchen co. to pay for this work for not doing the job right in the first place.
Issue no 2.
In the new room, there are 9 down lights, it is soooo bright a dimmer switch was needed. I want the kitchen reno co. to take out 3 of the lights & replace the existing lights with low energy bulbs at their expense which is what I asked for. This means that they have to change the existing light fitting. They should pay for this as this is what was asked for. They said that they would only take out 3 lights & patch up the ceiling. The workmanship of the painter is extremely poor. What should I do here?
Issue no 3. In the kitchen a new ceiling was put in. 12 down lights (about 600watts) was put. There are 3 switches - one switch turns on 3 lights, another switch turns on 6 lights, and the other turns on the 3 lights. You cannot have all 12 lights on at the same time as its too bright. The diagram below shows the position of the lights:
Switch 1 turns on these grp of lights * * *
Switch 2 * *
turns on these group * *
of lights * *
Switch 3 turns on these group of light * * *
* = position of light & believe me, they look ridiculous
Again I want them to take out 7 lights so that only 5 exist and straighten the lights as they were not put in straight. Again, another ridiculous looking half a*rsed job.
Issue 4: our lovely full brick wall was butchered by an electrician who added in new lightswitch. He cut through brick and a * patch job wa s done. You can see a diagonal line about 30cm in leng.th and 2cm in width running from the cupboard to the powerpoint. The electrical wires ran up & down the wall & the wall did not need to be cut. I want the wall re-rendered & painted at the co's expense.
Has anyone had any experience with NSW Dept of Fair Trading?
Is it worth pursuing? If so, what things should I pursue/let go of?
As I'm writing this I have come up with a few strategies:
either to get the kitchen co. can take me to Dept of Fair Trading to get their money (as they said that they would not pay for poor workmanship & I do not pay for a poor job ) or shoud I take them to Dept of Fair Trading and list everything in the hope that I get something back?
How does Dept of F/T rule? Are they fair? Do they have statutory authority to push or is it all nice & soft & fluffy and not much else?
Or should I just push this co. harder and become known as their most difficult customer that they have every dealt with?
I really value your input as Im soooo stressed & am losing value sleep over this.