Electrical Contractor Vs Myself (please HELP!)

Lcowiie on 22/10/2014 - 09:18
Last edited 22/10/2014 - 09:20

TLDR: Electrician threatens to contact safety office if I don't let him change the mains switch (80A) into a circuit breaker mains switch, and if I don't let him install two new safety switches for the current power and light circuits. Different electrician says ok if installed before 2008 which I believe it was.

Okay so I had an electrician come out to quote me on something unrelated to the switchboard. He opens up the door of the switchboard and checks out the circuit breakers, switches and safety switches. Then starts going about how the main switch does not have a circuit breaker on it, and that the safety switch is overloaded with more than 3 circuits (without even looking at the wiring).

He gets his folder out then starts pointing out sections of the electrical code that says you must only have 3 circuits on one safety switch and those circuits cannot have both light and power.

He then says it will cost $500 to fix this because it is not to standard and threatens to call the safety office if I don't let him do the work on Monday (he came over on Saturday arvo). NOTE: I had just let him upgrade another switchboard for over 1 grand (now thinking it is a ripoff).

I called another electrician on Sunday and he told me that major electrical work done to a property before 2008 (I purchased rental property in 2010 and previous owner had it for 2 years and has told me that the electrical work was done before she purchased the property in 2008 - I have no paperwork for this electrical work as I didnt get it done) did not need to be upgraded to current standards because if that was the case everyone would be required to get an electrician out every 5 years when legislation changes… Anyway I asked him to come have a look at the switches today. He said it will only cost $110 call out & labour, and cost of safety switches ($65) and any additional circuit breaker for main switch if I want ($15).

What are your thoughts?

First electrician has sent me by email a notice of non-compliance of electrical installation and says my insurance etc will be void if he doesn't fix these issues. Also he will report the property to the safety office

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • ESEMCE on 22/10/2014 - 09:38
    +2

    1) first guys sounds like a knob..
    2) the second guys sounds good.
    3) It's definitely an improvement, even if you legally aren't required to have the job done.
    4) I'm not an electrician, but the second guy sounds correct to me.

    • cowiie on 22/10/2014 - 09:45

      Exactly what I think, he is coming over in 2 hours

  • iampoor on 22/10/2014 - 09:39
    +1

    Why don't you contact the safety office to confirm with them what needs to be done? If they say you have to do it, use a different electrician.

    If they say you don't need to do it, report the electrician that threatened you to them and to any relevant registration boards.

    • cowiie on 22/10/2014 - 09:46

      Good thinking, I believe their number is "Electrical Safety Enquiries 1300 650 662". Will give them a call now

  • pax on 22/10/2014 - 09:39

    For E1, point out the relevant regulations about work done before 2008 and challenge him to prove that the system as it is was done after 2008, as you have no cause to believe it was.

    Let him make the case to you, and if he can convince you, then you can always go with E2 unless E1 brings his price down.

    • cowiie on 22/10/2014 - 09:48

      I've never seen such an electrician in my life.

  • Cheeper on 22/10/2014 - 09:41
    +1

    Take up the second eleco's offer… it sounds a good deal.

  • cowiie on 22/10/2014 - 09:50

    And to think I paid over a grand for a switchboard upgrade with him. There is a fault with a light bulb that is tripping the safety switch when turned on at that property and he said he would have a look at it on Monday. Now its Wednesday and he hasn't checked it out yet (I believe because he is pissed off because I haven't called him back for the job). Isn't he suppose to fault test after a major switchboard upgrade?

    • iampoor on 22/10/2014 - 09:56

      If "Electrical Safety Enquiries" confirms that he was spouting BS, mention the fault to them as well.

      He sounds like he is just trying to rip you off. If his work is unsatisfactory then by all means force him to rectify it and if he refuses to, report him to whoever he is certified with and maybe lodge a claim with your local tribunal for recovery of the money you paid him.

      • cowiie on 22/10/2014 - 10:29
        +1

        Just called them and explained what the 2nd electrician told me. The lady on the phone agreed and said have the 2nd electrician come out and inspect, and I can report the 1st electrician to fair trading for unnecessary work if that was the case. She also asked me to have the first property looked at regarding the light fitting and if it was unsafe, they can pursue it.

        • iampoor on 22/10/2014 - 10:38

          Great outcome, hope you noted down the name of the lady you spoke to and the time of the call.

          You have two options now:

          1) Call the first electrician and tell him that his game is up - you have spoken to the safety board and they have confirmed you do not need the work and that you can report him to fair trading for unnecessary work and to the safety board for unsafe work. Tell him if he refunds you the amount he overcharged you and fixes the fault you will leave it at that and not report him.

          2) Report him to all the relevant people including his licensing body just because he needs to be stopped from doing this to other people in the future. It will be a longer process than the first option and you might not any money back but it will make you feel good. Another plus is that after you do all the reporting, you can call him up and gloat about it and ruin his day.

        • cowiie on 22/10/2014 - 10:45

          @iampoor:

          umm nope didn't remember her name :S What now?

          I like the second option.
          2nd electrician just called, will see him in 10 minutes. Will let you guys know how it went! Thanks

        • iampoor on 22/10/2014 - 10:49

          @cowiie: Its ok, I just like to keep it so that advice given can be traced back to the person in case things go pear shaped. People can and will get things wrong once in awhile but no big deal really, if in doubt just call again later and hope you speak to someone different.

          If you get the same lady again just say you have spoken to the second electrician and would like to start the complaint process and note down her name :p

          Slow day at work…following with interest! Hate dodgy tradies…gives the rest a bad name.

        • cowiie on 22/10/2014 - 12:34
          +2

          @iampoor: Okay so I have just gotten back, and here's what was said:
          -Assuming work was done by a qualified electrician to electrical safety standards 2007, the work does not need to be brought up to current 2012 standards.
          -By the looks of it, there is probably 6 circuits (light, power, aircon) hooked up to the safety switch, which was okay in the 2007 code. It was made max of 3 circuits in 2012 not because of safety concerns but to avoid nuisance tripping.
          -There is a fuse protecting the entire property on the pole outside
          -To make the house comply to current standards (not required) it would be to install another safety switch (3 circuits each), have the mains switch swapped for a circuit breaker, and install a new isolation link so energex can just stop power to the property at the meter instead of getting someone to unplug the fuse on the pole.

          He quoted me $250-300 for all of this which I believe is fair.

        • iampoor on 22/10/2014 - 12:53
          +3

          @cowiie: Sounds like the second electrician knows what he is doing and charges a fair price. I would give him a go if you chose to do the work.

          Time to go after the dodgy electrician!

  • [Deactivated] on 22/10/2014 - 11:33
    +3

    You really should not feel bad about naming the electrician here, right now. You would be doing people a favour by letting everyone know the name of the person who has attempted to extort/blackmail you.

    • cowiie on 22/10/2014 - 12:41
      +1

      I will consider this once everything has been sorted out

  • Mad Max on 22/10/2014 - 13:04
    +1

    Yes please let us know who the first electrician is. I am in Brisbane too and I certainly do not want to have anything to do with him. He should have just advised you on what he thought you should do and left it to you to decide (even if what he said was right, which it sounds like it was not). Not threaten to report you and bully you as he did.

    • iampoor on 22/10/2014 - 13:09
      +1

      I would see it more as blackmail since the threat to report the OP was contingent on him not getting the work for which he wanted to charge up to 100% more than the second electrician.

      I have also read a couple of threads on the homeone and whirlpool forums, the OP paid over $1,000 for a switchboard replacement which is also up to 100% more than the prices quoted on those forums.

      The first electrician should be stripped of his electrician's license, wrapped in tin foil and dumped in an open field during a thunderstorm.

  • backpaqer on 23/10/2014 - 10:30
    +3

    Day 1 training in electricians school…"Always bag the previous sparkies' work"

  • boccos on 23/10/2014 - 11:03

    Though not a electrician, I have been looking at this sort of thing recently. MCB's are Miniature Circuit Breakers and are primarily used at a certain Amperage, above which they will trigger off (overload). RCD's are Residual Current Detector Switches (wired slightly differently) and usually can do the same as the MCB's but have the added safety of triggering off if any power is detected leaking to earth, meaning when you poke that knife into the toaster and accidentally touch the element, within milli-seconds it will trigger and save your life.
    Usually, one RCD (or RCBO) per circuit and on everything that leaves the main circuit box, preferably. Had they made this compulsory before the Roof insulation Saga, we would not have lost anyone when they accidentally stapled the insulation through electrical cable.
    I checked our house and found that on one 20amp power circuit that there were over 33 double power points. That was the reason that at breakfast-time the switch sometimes tripped. When the toaster, Jug, microwave and Cappuccino machine were simultaneously on, there was an overload. Easily fixed by adding a separate circuit or increasing the RCD to 25amp. But you then need to be certain the wiring can handle the extra load if you choose the second option, otherwise you risk overheating/fire with prolonged use.
    If any electrician wishes to correct any of the above, please do so.

    • cowiie on 23/10/2014 - 17:33

      That is correct based on what the second electrician had told me. The circuit breaker is there to protect the wiring in your house.

      I'll tell you a little bit about what the 1st electrician said regarding this when he had a look at my circuit breaker.

      He looked at the lighting circuit CB and said that it should be protected by a 16A CB and not a 20A CB, because light circuits are wired in 1.5mm cable, hence this would have to be replaced and that would cost $150… The 2nd electrician actually opened up the switchboard and said the wiring was 2.5mm so no need to change the CB…

      Scam right there

  • Adz81 on 23/10/2014 - 17:43
    +1

    If not interested (or prepared to, and fair enough) in shaming the first sparky… feel free to sing the praises of the second sparky by name… Good tradesmen should be rewarded.

    • cowiie on 23/10/2014 - 17:50

      After I get the work completed will let you know the 2nd electrician!

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