Taken for a mug

[cadspark]

Last week on my way home called in to a see a woman who wanted a few little jobs doing. I was just there to have a quick look, 2 outside lights not working, one of two living room lights not working which she wanted replacing with some Argos jobbies her daughter had bought. I had my voltage indicator pen with me so just did a quick check which showed power to the outside lights and the light in living room so probably just bulbs had gone. Her daughter had bought wrong bulbs so I said I'll call sometime the following week and do the new fittings and also change the bulbs outside for her. Phoned her up and left her a message. She texted saying she coudn't wait and a friend had put the fittings up for her. The cheek of it.

Lesson learned and I shall not be fault finding when I'm just looking at a job from now on.

 

[ProDave]

Some you win, some you lose. No point being bitter.

but next time perhaps do the fault finding, so you know the extent of the job, but keep the "results" of your tests in your head.

 

[sprocketflup]

had a woman call me to her house yesterday who had no intention of giving me any work, she just wanted some free advice.

Note to self - call out charge

 

[Theorysparky]

i dont give advice anymore

on rewires i give quotes that are vague if i know they a getting other guys to price it up

only because i have had my detailed quotes passed to others 'can you beat this ! ' and then told i was too expensive

they dont appreciate my comments after that......

 

[Evans Electric]

Life gets tedious don't it :C

 

[nsbs]

This has happened to me loads of times, Dave

 

[ktguk]

had a woman call me to her house yesterday who had no intention of giving me any work, she just wanted some free advice.Note to self - call out charge

Keep the advice for yourself knowledge is power

 

[Revved Up Sparky]

She texted saying she coudn't wait and a friend had put the fittings up for her.

How competent is this friend I wonder ?, probably a rough DIY job and no certificate (MWC) to declare that it is safe.

(I know changing a light fitting is not necessarily a circuit modification but I always submit a MWC anyway for such jobs as it provides evidence of electrical safety and it gives you an opportunity to note any departures from BS7671- which could generate more work)