I did a job a few years ago and a customer refused to pay me. it wasn't a lot of money it was something like £150 but I never got the cash. So I went outside lifted cover to their mains water, turned it off and filled the hole with 2 cans of expanding foam.
I did a bathroom for my next door neighbour and for a really good price. New pipework, new bath, designer sink, xtractor fan, tiled everything. There were complications as the wall crumbled while trying to mount the sink. ..so new brickwork and plaster hence more time. He kept changing the job spec along the way too. I spent 200 quid extra and 3 more days there. Gave him the extra time for free and gave him receipts for all the extras. Said he was happy with the job and asked for a price on a loft conversion like mine. Then he stalled on paying and I knew what was coming. ... He refused to pay the 200 and said I could take the unused cement and plaster ! I said show me anything on those receipts that's not in your bathroom and I'll take it off the bill or tell me what you don't want and I'll remove it from your bathroom, but you can't keep it and not pay. You can't do that kind of thing anymore he said. Obviously done his homework on cheating tradesmen. I was applying for residency of my son at the time so kicking his head in wasn't an option. Lol He was one of those smarmy faced gits. Actually stood there and told me I wouldn't take hin to court as I wasn't paying tax. Talk about shitting on your own doorstep! I took him to court and won. Not ideal but I had no choice. There's no way I could see his smug grin every day and resist clocking him. Roll forward 5 years ...she's kicked him out to live with his mum and I bought the house off her for a song ! Been rented out ever since. Karma's a bitch. Lol Thanks for sharing. Keep yer chin up.
Years (30+) ago, I was in a Mining town - the Mining company was building houses for the staff - it was a remote location - One sparkie was wiring new houses, and every time, he would eyeball a run, say from a switch to a light fitting, and it might be 3 metres, well he would cut 5 metres off the drum, put in the 3 metres, cut off the excess, and coil it up and throw into his toolbag. After a couple of hundred houses, his contract was done, and the Company would deliver a 20ft container to your front yard, for you to pack up with your household goods (furniture etc), and they would ship it back. Well, there was a bit of a delay, and he ended up flying out before they picked up his container. Come the day, and a forklift goes to lift the container, and can't... So, they pop open the container to see why it was so heavy. Every evening, he would get back to his house, strip the insulation off what he had, coil it tightly, and store it in the house. Copper is about 560 lbs per cubic foot - 1166 cubic feet in a 20ft container - max gross weight on those is about 67000 lbs fortunately he had only half filled it, but by my calculations that would be about 140 tonnes of copper (or about 300,000 lbs - about 5 times the max limit for that size container. even at a few bucks per lb, it was a tidy sum - but he never saw it, it was taken out of the container, and his personal effects put back in - (at which point it could be lifted) - it got to his destination, and I believe he organized for it to be taken straight from the ship to a scrap metal merchant - I would have loved to see the look on his face when he opened it, and the copper was all gone... He wasn't charged, but he was blacklisted from working for a range of affiliated companies...
I've been doing solo work for about 3 years now and I've only had 1 guy who "refused" to pay me at the end of a job. He basically told me that he wanted to renegotiate pricing when I was 90% done. I obviously refused him because I had a contract for the work signed at this price. He still owed me $1500 and he asked me to leave. I called the city which I had a open permit on his house and told them what was happening and that I wouldn't be closing the permit or having inspection. His meter couldn't be reinstalled by the Utility company with inspection and no other contractor could open a new permit with my permit already open. He e-mail transferred me the money with a sob story for me to finish and his wife dealt with me till I was done after that. Permits work for the contractor as much as they do for the home owner.
You're a good bloke, a good tradesman and a honest guy, Tom. I guess what we have to remember is that there are some dreadful sparks and other tradesfolk out there who have stung customers. If a customer is keen to know what you've been up to/done etc. it's not unreasonable if they've had a bad experience before.
Strathpeffer Junction Can confirm. I was a customer that was ripped off by two shady plumbers and a general contractor; three separate occasions, who all took my money and abandoned the job site. I feel I can't trust any tradesman except the local guy who cuts trees. A sparky once told me he combats all the time the presumption of clients that he's crooked like the others.
Strathpeffer Junction best story of bad tradesman I’ve encountered was a flat that I do the maintenance for was left without running water or power. Now what had happened was this flat was above a shop, and this shop was being stripped out and completely redone, wiring and all. This issue was the power for the flat was fed from the fuse board in the shop and their water was also fed from pipework in the shop, but that didn’t stop the cowboys turning up to the rodeo. They ripped out all the pipe work and wiring and cashed it in for around £200, I think in the end it cost them like 5 to 7 grand hahaha quality
The flue is an AR (at risk) as it’s too close to the air vent, the flue possibly could do with a flue extension kit (plume kit) & the terminal needs to be 300mm or more away from an opening to avoid possible re entry, hope it helps 👍
In computer repairs if the customer refuses to pay we take the RAM out and tape it to the inside of the case, the computer wont turn on and its a sign to any other repair company it may be taken to than the customer wont pay them either. Also we can be done for stealing parts cos the parts are still there technicly
I've done computer and phone repairs and if they refuse to pay we just don't return the item. So long as you have some documents that you entered into an agreement to do works to it you can keep the item until its paid for, and if they still havent paid it off after a "resonable amount of time" or made no efforts to set up a payment plan, you can keep it and sell it. Its called a "Mechanics Lien". Its a bit different to installation work as you can't exactly "keep" a distro board in someones house, but anyone who repairs stuff off-site can basically do a mechanics lien - car mechanics, white appliances, computers etc...
And have more fussy 'requirements' to be met. Prying money out of a client is not my thing, which is why I chose to work with the contracting Spark (I did his low voltage stuff: Data, Tel, TV, Alarms) instead of on my own. +1 on average folk, just paying their bill for a job well done.
A relative works in some of the wealthiest towns in the US and has a real problem collecting as well. A recent trend is for families to hire big management companies to maintain their houses. This solves the collection problem for the individual contractor (for now) but costs more for the families and pays less to the contractors.
Going into second year of college in September and this is the only course I’ve actually stuck at. Got screwed over by an electrician made me turn down an apprenticeship with someone else because he said he was gonna give me one. He just used me for 7 weeks for like £20 a week just took the piss. Eventually I left seeing that he wasn’t going to give me an apprenticeship and went back to college and I’m glad I did. Really enjoying the electrical installation course. Only another 2-3years 😂 keep up the great vids.
Charlie Owen. Depends what the training format is buddy. Day release (as was) takes 3 years, that`s the best way to learn the trade. If you have no workplace and just go full time college then that`s different, but I would guess you still need work experience to achieve an electrician grading.
James King That`s a shame, sorry to hear it, unless you are going to something more lucrative and glamorous of course! Totally agree with you though on that, and I would say large construction sites are sh1t for apprentices and training anyway. Much better off with a small company, get the full range of all electrical work thrown at you, and stay with a close team of staff, rather than being passed around site like a bitch.
Can remember working for my old man yrs ago who has a building firm...I'm a bricklayer and a built a big single storey extension for him for a wealthy couple the guy was a top consultant at the local hospital so he had plenty of money.....all the way through they were good as gold the lady would make us drinks cook us bacon rolls etc.....they never had an issue with any of the work....untill the old man gave them the final bill which was nearly 30 grand!!! They refused to pay up and it took him I think just over 4 months to get the money out of them. It was nothing to do with the work they were just being twats.....forget cowboy builders there should be a tv show called cowboy clients.
C Jackson works both ways that though. I’ve had work done by people who have don’t a great job before and come back and right royally take the piss on another job. I’ve learned two things, only work with people you would have as friends and for anything more than the most trivial of jobs put everything in writing and agree stages payments upfront.
Chris B he did have stage payments they were fine until final payment...it was so big because of final part of build plus a massive amount of agreed extras....we hadn't took the piss or worked for them before!! The got a great a job done for an agreed competitive price. My old man is a sharp tool where buisness is concerned he has been in buisness many many years and had all the relevant signed contracts in place his firm has a brilliant reputation and it proceeds him. It was only due to getting legal process up and running that they finally paid up. If you do a good job for an agreed price and the clients happy you should get paid what your owed. Simple really...
Oh and I had a customer who paid me after about a year and that was because he wanted more work doing. I gave him a chance and again I got paid after 6 months. And I only got that money because I offered to replace an extractor for free. He transferred the money straight away. And he had a cheek saying that I'm taking the piss 🤨. Hes still been calling me last couple months. He's not gona see me again.
Dust masks are the future Tom. Not one of those crappy paper ones, but a real maintenance free 3M mask. They sell them in screwfix for £18 item number (13038) been using them for ages and go through about 4 a year. What price can you put on your health when you're self employed? When you're finished with the mask at the end of the day just look at the dust and crap around the filter that didn't go in your lungs! Stay safe fellow sparky 😷⚡☢
Jbeckvideo I lay around 600m/sq of loft insulation a day in new build lofts and the 3M masks are by far the best masks out there, lightweight durable easy to clean. Well worth it’s price 100 times over. Stay healthy
Another great video. I qualified many years ago on 16th Edition and still do bits from time to time in but was doing industrial and then moved to residential as self employed. Both are hard work, except the change a bulb type of work, but i don't think many appreciate the physicality of the job. I redirected into IT and specialised in data networking in large corporates and then application development. Being a sparks gives a great grounding for that move especially around legacy telephony platforms which are DC based with battery protection etc. I am far from keyboard warrior but i do smile at the word router... Tom uses the american version of the word which we would use to define a tool that cuts wood etc. The english version used to define the box BT etc install is the version we would use to define a route in a map so "root er" so to speak... i smile because it reminds me of Peter Seller pink panther films.... showing my age!! Great video as usual.
In Aus and NZ a root is what you give your misses if she'll let you climb up her, so whenever anybody says router as in rooter it cracks me up, especially when you get someone call you up saying their rooter is having issues. I'm English and say it the same as Tom.
Working for yourself can be very rewarding. Sometimes however it can be a full time job just trying to get payed. I will often ask for 3 stages of payment. 1 stage 1/3 of the cost of the works on initial start of the job to cover the cost of part of the materials. Not a deposit but on the end of the 1st couple of days work when I have turned up with materials and done so work. 2nd stage Another 3rd of the cost of the works For example after all 1st fix has been complete and you are starting 2nd fix. 3rd stage On completion of works and you have carried out all testing certification. The payment of final 3rd of cost of works plus any additional works costs that might have occurred as the works went on. Only when this has been payed do you issue them the certificate. Works for me most of the time, obviously you need to adjust it to the scale of job your doing. Have it written on your quote then everybody knows where they stand. Thanks for sharing your experience Tom your work is top quality. It's nice to compare your workmanship and the other UA-cam electricians like the Plymouth Sparky and cjr shop electrician to my own workmanship to help me improve where I need to. Thanks Tom
It's been a long time since a customer stiffed me, but I remember a customer not paying me extras I did wiring their house. I cancelled the order for the utility company's hookup to the house after they paid me. They had to wait another several days for the hook up which screwed their schedule. The wife left a nasty message in which I took great delight in. A year later they had the balls to call me for more work in which I told them to delete my number.
Glad to see you separate Data cables from mains power. As an IT tech and network engineer I see so many homes and businesses where they have been run together and cause problems and the customers never want to have it all ripped out and redone especially in places like hotels. Great to see another honest and skilled trader who cares about his work.
that flue is against regs firmly lol. needs to be more than 300mm away from vent or openable window, and yes needs plume extension kit etc to take it up and over.
We had one like that, had to take out some sockets we'd second fixed that day, guy accused us of theft (not theft, as he'd not paid for them). He was ranting and raving but nothing he could do.
Tom I remember hearing you say on a few videos back that you would buy an electric van , but honestly don’t go full ev. There’s a new transit custom coming out that will be a hybrid electric and by the sounds of things it’ll be on another level , be able to use the electric side in central London as you’re there for most of your jobs but maybe if you’ve a big job on elsewhere or you just are traveling elsewhere in the van you have the security that you know you can fill her up at the next petrol station down the road rather than worrying if you’re electric battery is dying and don’t know where the nearest charge point is. Your heart might be set on fully ev but I do think the transit hybrid would suit you a lot more. Keep up the informative videos Tom . Cheers😄
im still trying to figure out the best way of doing it. I have looked into the ford transit you are on about and it looks like the ideal solution as you say. but its not being released until 2020 from what i keep hearing.
Did a price job to replace a central heating programmer at customers request, I done it, fitted it, worked as intended. Customer refused to pay because it did not fix an apparent seperate issue with the boiler that was not pointed out to me at the beginning. That was just the beginning of my bad expeariances. Cut a long story short I now work in FM, had enough. Good to see you enjoy it and sticking it out. Great vids.
@@jackalek Facilities (building) maintenance work, working for a company, site based, on salary etc. No everyones cup of tea, but works best for me and I enjoy it more.
A flue should be at least 300mm from a window or opening. It doesn’t seem to be a problem in a non rented house. But it will not pass a gas inspection for a rented property. It’s crazy that if you own a house and even sell it, it will not be picked up. House surveys even the most detailed will not account for it as they will say they don’t cover gas/electrics 😳
Tom. Looking at the fitting of those plates - I like the idea - but as they are are fixed just on top of the joists - don't they raise the floor boards / cause them to rock ? Shouldn't they be rebated into the joist to make them flush ? What thickness are they ? I doubt they would provide much resistance to the original cut clasp floor board nails.
My installation manual for my Worcester says: flue must be 300mm above, below and either side of an opening door, air vent or opening window, 300mm to an internal or external corner, plus 200mm below eaves and 75 mm below gutters, pipes and drains. The dimension below eaves, gutters, pipes and drains can be reduced to 25mm, as long as the flue terminal is extended to clear any overhang. but maybe other makes / models / manufacturers may be different?
Pretty sure the flu distance is minimum 300mm from an opening window, maybe 600mm but can't remember. I have to say I use my multi tool on t & g boards because if there is anything below (cables pipes etc) you are much less likely to rip the shit out of it. That and the amount of rogue nails you find in boards, especially in some of the older properties I have been in. It is much cheaper to replace a multi tool blade than it is for the circular saw. :) The most difficult 'clients' to work for are friends and family. Forget the extra mile as it is usually more like 10!
The house we live in now has tongue and grove floorboards. Unfortunately who ever did the work wrecked them well and truly. The have cut them to short so the edge of the board doesn’t actually sit on a joist etc. Split them, replaced missing/damaged boards with cut outs from a biscuit tin. I have truly had a lot to correct because of them. I don’t know why the previous owner didn’t care about it. No doubt that Nagy Electrical Group would have done the job 1000x better! I sometimes wish I knew someone like Thomas down here as the tradesmen are piss poor. Thomas you work is setting the benchmark for others to aspire to.
300mm away from an openable window...thats the reg on flue next to windows..and always follow MI...from a Gas Engineer changing careers to Full time sparky....and I love ya videos..honest, and enjoyable..Well done brv
I'm an Australian plumber so i don't really know what your rules are but for us here, depending on the gases mJ/H input it needs to be 500mm from any openable windows
Enjoying your videos Tom. I've noticed you always fit your metal back boxes very close to each other. I find that it looks so much better if its kept about 2inchs apart. Yep I don't use those twin single boxes.
I’ve done the self employed route myself Tom, Your on call 24/7 & you don’t get paid if your on holiday or sick BUT I agree with you,it’s great & let’s be honest,you will never be rich working for a company as a Sparky, I’m in my 40’s now so I’m working as a maintenance sparky in the commercial/industrial sector & haven’t been self employed for a few years now. I agree that it doesn’t suit everybody & you can’t afford to be lazy too, Great vid,keep up the cracking work
yes thomas lad any openable window should be 300mm away from the flue.i designe central heating and im also a 17th edition old skool sparks doing it 35yrs and planned maintainence was sparks for sainsburys two yrs
12:36 in the netherlands such an exhaust is only legal on a straight up wall and with distance to openings. With the balcony/any overhang the exhaust should be x amount or more outside of the overhang edge. I have not seen if that had to be combined with regs on windows/openings in adjacent perpendicular walls. But it sure will have to be, it’s just a nice complicated little corner for the regs :)
Never had someone not pay, but have had many take their time, which can amount to the same thing when it comes to cashflow and progressing the business.
The distance should be 300mm from an openable window or a air brick, and I think a plume kit fitted or a flue supplied by manufacturer to overcome the soffet
I have a relative that is an electrician in the US and several (wealthy) clients per month don't pay the bill. Different ethos in the UK I suppose. . .
I used to work for a builders merchant, an a lot of builders told me that they would've loved to take work back out on those who didn't pay. They said it was against the law to do so, i.e. taking out a kitchen they had just fitted etc. As the items became theirs, and part of the house once fitted. And taking it back would be classed as theft. Some of them got people to sign to say that all items that had been fitted in the premises, by them were still owned by the installer until payment had been made in full. That way they could take stuff back if client didn't pay up.
Man i thought that this happed only here in Brazil, you go over the client's house do the best job possible and the guy don't pay you off,then you think to yourself i'll undo everythings i did,but you can not do this becouse the justice here it does not allow that,it says you have fill a complain in the nearest police station and then hire a good lawer and go throught a long process that can last even 5 years to a final solution. That's not fair to the worker.
I've been self employed 5 years now, You get a feel when something is 'wrong' about a job but it comes with experience whether it being not getting paid or weirdo customers etc. I rule with a rod of iron over payments now and I have a reputation for doing so, but it means I rarely get messed about. One thing that still bothers me is how customers make me feel guilty for having a holiday. I usually work 7 days a week and have holiday time to catch up with family. I don't take any more time off than someone who is in full time employment takes but the way people complain is unreal How do you and other tradespeople find this, and how do you handle it?
I'm an electrician too and I can fully relate to what you write. Customers somehow think they own you once you have a contract with them. God forbid you take a break for eating something or stretch your legs after drilling 30 holes into concrete. No, they somehow think that you have to function like a machine because they pay you.
Same here as a gardener, luckly it's not happened much, but sadly it has happened and I definitely agree you get that sort of feeling that they are not going to pay. :)
I'm not a plumber but coincidentally a friends father had a British gas cowboy installer who siliconed the window and trickle vents of the window and put the flue close to the window and several plumber friends shared images of the diagrams of the regs and it was 600mm from a window. When my friend reported it to BG, the area manager came out to see it and was massively apologetic, and had another plumber there straight away to make good on the situation, with action being taken against cowboy. Can't add the image unfortunately.
I'm in the process of setting myself up, for the moment, all the paperwork and shit to do ... Passing so many times at the bank to set up a series of loans for some expensive but required tools to have. Hardest thing for me so far is to get enough money behind me so that I won't be fucked if I can't find a job for a month of two. It's daunting really ... but I think it will be worth it once I start getting clients on a regular basis. Atm, I'm already working for myself doing little jobs that are allowed on "check emploi service" which is something we have for little jobs here in France in order to have everything declared and legal. But I will say it's true bliss to not be beholden to anyone else than myself, I can get there when I want (but still a reasonable time) and can get off when it get's too hot outside (I'm a painter). Love it and can't wait to be fully legal ^^
F***in love your channel. Thanks Tom! Not even a sparky etc but love the guts and bones of your stories..experiences and wisdom, it's universal. It's just mad. The fuseboard ultimatum was a raggo! move. hahaha
Re the safe plates: If cables are running less than 20mm below these, I would be inclined to "play safe" and run a bare wire connected to earth under the plates, in direct contact with them. Total safety would result if a nail or screw penetrated the cable underneath.
Do you certify or qualify your data cables? And do you use Cat5e or Cat6? I’ve done some Cat6 myself (I work in IT) and it was reported that the network connection dropped out and network data transfers were constantly fluctuating, and never going above 100mb/s, (all networking gear was rated for gigabit, and the PC claimed it had a 1Gb/s connection, the cable mapper didn’t show any issues, but when we stuck the fluke CableIQ on it to qualify it, it wasn’t even rated for 100mb/s. Narrowed it down to the outer sleeving being cut just a couple mm to far back causing cross talk. I definitely think it’s worth doing if you’re not doing it already any you can pick up the cableiQ for £1200 or if you want to certify the cables with no doubt the fluke DTXs go for about £6400. Its worth doing especially if you’re installing it in commercial premises. It’s not fun having to reterminate 30-40 ends. Loving the content by the way.
I wonder if would be possible to make a video or a short bit of infor about 3 phase supply and if its possible to get it in a demostic home. Thank you tim and keep up the great work you do
Question for you Tom or other English sparks, I noticed in your videos that you do track your boxes in but you use just a PVC cover over your cables now I know that T+E is mechanically protected but in Northern Ireland we use round Conduit into our boxes so that we can easily rewire or fish another cable down for spurring off if needed. Just wondering if your method is a standard in mainland Britain?
I install access control systems for a company in Texas. I was in an attic last week that got up 60°C! I had to have lost a good chunk of weight in sweat.
I know that feeling, as a carpenter people try to pull these strokes a dozen eggs with a small hole in the top planted around the house will leave a please fragrance for them for a long time 👍
I love being self employed, but the worst part is always the payment. People sometimes assume it's ok to pay you when they feel like it. Can you imagine leaving a restaurant and tell them you'll pay in a week or so! The boiler flu should clear the gutter, so the gas can escape... that was my understanding of the regs.
Yep, price is pretty crap when it`s still got the insulation on, plus VIR was tinned copper anyway. Still it pays for some fuel or parking, or razor blades and shaving foam!
I'm not 100% myself but i think your well within your right to pull out work you've done if a client does not pay as along as you don't damage anything else.
You think wrong, once something is installed in situ it cannot be removed as it's technically part of the building now. The law is specifically written like this to avoid a situation where (I.E) a main contractor refuses to pay a subcontractor and the subby starts pulling bits out of the clients building. It's a bit lame when there's only one contractor and it's the client directly not paying them but that is the law, if you want the money you can go to court but once something is screwed to the wall it's no longer yours to remove regardless of if you have been paid for it yet, it becomes part of "the work" your owed money for.
I value quality in workmanship and good trade people are a valuable resource and relationship to have. On the many instances I've hired someone in the trades, I've only ever not paid for work when it was shoddily done, incomplete, or dangerous.. which thankfully has been a rare occurrence. I've always paid for a job well done, and I wouldn't ever think of not paying for good work. Good work is to be rewarded, often with a thank you amount on the check above the asking price.
I owned a hot food takeaway and in my spare time went to college. I got p......ed off having to chase people to get paid. The last straw was when i rewired half the house of this accountant. He made me go every month to pick up a £ 100. He was that good an accountant he gave me £ 100 extra. Needless to say, i went back to the unsociable hours of the takeaway. At least i do not have to call an electrician.
I'm currently in a customer service position and waiting to see if I get accepted for an electrician apprenticeship. I thought I would never have to deal with customers ever again but I guess it's just part of life. Anyways I just wanted to say hi to a fellow electrician. I really like the videos, thank you.
Friend of mine is a bricklayer, who built some outer walls for a new house. Once a customer did not pay, so he went back at night with his co-worker and teared down the whole wall (house was not finished yet, as the customer also did not pay other craftsman as well)
Hi Thomas, did you do anything about masks, a few of us mentioned it last week, please take advise from an old guy who has breathed dust etc for many years.. Very best regards, Ray.
Hi Tom hope you're in the best of health. I enjoy watching your videos keep up the good work! I wanted some advice.. basically I've done my diploma level 1,2 and 3 in college while back and I'm 22 years of age I have some experience. I will be booking the 18th edition wiring regulation course soon. Basically I'm finding it hard to get properly started and I have sent my cv through to some companies but they just keep denying, when I try to apply through apprenticeships they wouldn't accept me cause I have my level 3 diploma.. also It's either lack of experience or you don't have the 17th edition wiring regulation certificate.. sometimes I feel like I wasted 3 years of my life on a course which led me to nothing.. and some of my college mates gave up on the path of being an electrian because they have the same problem as me. So if you could just advice me, what should be my next step.. What other qualification I need to get? I haven't done NVQ3+AM2 and the testing inspection.. How do I go about doing these qualification? They cost a lot of money 😔
I just wondered if they gave you any reason as to why they didn't want to pay, from what you've said it sounded like they were quite happy with having you working them until the day of payment.
Nice clip again tom n Dave. Is that the same house that we all did the pricing on?? I would like to come n work with u guys. I'm on massive commercial in London, chain gang metal munching. I used to do very similar domestic work / installs n repairs back in Oz before moving over here and I rather do miss it.
Having non paying customers is definitely a problem. That’s why here in Australia we have protections for both sides the business and consumer. So u can easily take them to a government organisation or court or tribunal to get your money back
The boiler should have been extended and clipped to expell beyond the roof line, that isn't a good install, at least for Scottish regs anyway. Your definetly right on it being dangerous.
Building an extension for a couple I had given them a price with stage payments. He had said he had re-mortgaged and had the funds. We hit the D.P.C. stage in the first week and I put in my invoice. We carried on working and had nearly hit the First Floor Joist level when a man from the bank came to value the house for a re-mortgage. I hadn't had a payment so I contacted the owner. In front of his wife he flat out said I had told him I would not charge V.A.T. (I hadn't and why would I, he worked for the Inland Revenue). I completed to F.F. joists put my invoice in then stopped the job until I got payment. I decided not to carry on working there (the only job I have ever not completed). The fact he lied about his re-mortgage and about the V.A.T. meant I couldn't trust him further.
The thing is if you have done a job and you know it is a good job then there is no reason for them not to pay. You were dead right to tell them that the fuse board was coming out if they didn't pay and I think you have every right to say something like that and in my opinion to do something like that if a customer is refusing to pay.
Interesting story about the cow whose hand just sprung out from a doorway holding a cheque out.......the front of some people I mean did that couple say why they werent going to pay anymore? I hope that cheque cleared because the couple sound like the sort of folk who would just write a cheque out to get you off the premises.........I became very wary and cynical about customers during my self employment years through non payers.......all smiles and chatty while the works being done then they start picking flies on the last day and rarely was it working class it was generally the well off.......oh and money doesnt change a person. Those that had it put on this middle to upper class front until they created friction at the end over payment upon which you saw their true common as muck colours. Just too many well off buggers thinking they can rip off a tradesman. I had some high flying lawyer in Penkridge with a jag and a porsche on the driveway try to evade paying me £2500. I took him to small claims in the end and he was ordered to cough up which was a great result. Him and his "mistress" wife or whatever she was were as nice as pie whn we were doing the work, polite, cups of tea, chatty etc but they showed themselves to be nothing more than well off potty mouths when they didnt want to pay us and we were ordered to "just get off their property" Dont let customers get away with it!
I thought it was further, but everything I'm seeing is saying 300mm from an openable window and 150 from a fixed window for gas. The guy who installed mine might have been quoting the oil regs which are double.
hi tom could you do some video of how you actually run the cables in the ring main and lighting circuits as some different sparks do it differently than others. just tying to find a quick way of doing things. cheers keep up the great videos
I had a customer from a different part of the world, he had 4 convenient shops and I had been his electrical contractor for 3 years. The last job I did for him he did not ask for a quote, just a call in which he asked us to change all the 600x600 florys in 1 of his shops to LED panels. So we did it, ordered the panels from our wholesaler and completed the work gave the bill via email and then nothing. I called him and asked for the payment and he said I was trying to rip him off! 800 for changing a whole shop lighting, 12 panels and labour is a snip. So I went to his other shop where he lived in a flat above and waited at the counter while I called him, no answer so I asked the shop attendant to call him and ask about the money he owed the electricians, she then started opening the till and counting cash. Lets just say within mins I had the money. Never again
I had that happen on a machine I was working on, I was told to disable it if they didn't give us a check,so I flipped an internal breaker when they weren't looking, it's behind a cover they can't get to, but my co worker didn't back down or bat an eye, and he finally gave us a check, then I had to turn around and go ,oh ,I forgot to do something and go flip the breaker back on
Those safe plates are weird. How you're supposed to screw the board at the same height again, with this somewhat thick plate on top? I would just use a steel pipe and stick it through the wholes, cut them up at the end and bent the ends over. This way they will stay in place. Then run the wire you need. :)
Regarding the flue location, take a look at page 16 of the Baxi 130 HE manual where there's a diagram with all the figures. The minimum distances are less than you'd expect. www.baxi.co.uk/-/media/websites/baxiuk/files/discontinued-products/combi-boilers/baxi-combi/baxi_combi_130_he_installation_and_service_manual.pdf
I did a job a few years ago and a customer refused to pay me. it wasn't a lot of money it was something like £150 but I never got the cash. So I went outside lifted cover to their mains water, turned it off and filled the hole with 2 cans of expanding foam.
Thomas Wood il remember that for next time.
LOL
brilliant
Thomas Wood well done
Great idea, good for you.
Thomas Wood 😂😂😂
Was it just me that thought he was casually sitting on a wall that was at roof level with a huge drop below him ? 😂
I did a bathroom for my next door neighbour and for a really good price. New pipework, new bath, designer sink, xtractor fan, tiled everything. There were complications as the wall crumbled while trying to mount the sink. ..so new brickwork and plaster hence more time. He kept changing the job spec along the way too. I spent 200 quid extra and 3 more days there. Gave him the extra time for free and gave him receipts for all the extras. Said he was happy with the job and asked for a price on a loft conversion like mine. Then he stalled on paying and I knew what was coming. ... He refused to pay the 200 and said I could take the unused cement and plaster ! I said show me anything on those receipts that's not in your bathroom and I'll take it off the bill or tell me what you don't want and I'll remove it from your bathroom, but you can't keep it and not pay. You can't do that kind of thing anymore he said. Obviously done his homework on cheating tradesmen. I was applying for residency of my son at the time so kicking his head in wasn't an option. Lol He was one of those smarmy faced gits. Actually stood there and told me I wouldn't take hin to court as I wasn't paying tax. Talk about shitting on your own doorstep! I took him to court and won. Not ideal but I had no choice. There's no way I could see his smug grin every day and resist clocking him. Roll forward 5 years ...she's kicked him out to live with his mum and I bought the house off her for a song ! Been rented out ever since. Karma's a bitch. Lol Thanks for sharing. Keep yer chin up.
did you not sue for like the extra things you did for him??
Years (30+) ago, I was in a Mining town - the Mining company was building houses for the staff - it was a remote location - One sparkie was wiring new houses, and every time, he would eyeball a run, say from a switch to a light fitting, and it might be 3 metres, well he would cut 5 metres off the drum, put in the 3 metres, cut off the excess, and coil it up and throw into his toolbag. After a couple of hundred houses, his contract was done, and the Company would deliver a 20ft container to your front yard, for you to pack up with your household goods (furniture etc), and they would ship it back. Well, there was a bit of a delay, and he ended up flying out before they picked up his container. Come the day, and a forklift goes to lift the container, and can't... So, they pop open the container to see why it was so heavy. Every evening, he would get back to his house, strip the insulation off what he had, coil it tightly, and store it in the house. Copper is about 560 lbs per cubic foot - 1166 cubic feet in a 20ft container - max gross weight on those is about 67000 lbs fortunately he had only half filled it, but by my calculations that would be about 140 tonnes of copper (or about 300,000 lbs - about 5 times the max limit for that size container. even at a few bucks per lb, it was a tidy sum - but he never saw it, it was taken out of the container, and his personal effects put back in - (at which point it could be lifted) - it got to his destination, and I believe he organized for it to be taken straight from the ship to a scrap metal merchant - I would have loved to see the look on his face when he opened it, and the copper was all gone... He wasn't charged, but he was blacklisted from working for a range of affiliated companies...
I've been doing solo work for about 3 years now and I've only had 1 guy who "refused" to pay me at the end of a job. He basically told me that he wanted to renegotiate pricing when I was 90% done. I obviously refused him because I had a contract for the work signed at this price. He still owed me $1500 and he asked me to leave. I called the city which I had a open permit on his house and told them what was happening and that I wouldn't be closing the permit or having inspection. His meter couldn't be reinstalled by the Utility company with inspection and no other contractor could open a new permit with my permit already open. He e-mail transferred me the money with a sob story for me to finish and his wife dealt with me till I was done after that. Permits work for the contractor as much as they do for the home owner.
glad you won in the end. awesome way to get your hard earned cash.
@Just being honest calm down son
You're a good bloke, a good tradesman and a honest guy, Tom. I guess what we have to remember is that there are some dreadful sparks and other tradesfolk out there who have stung customers. If a customer is keen to know what you've been up to/done etc. it's not unreasonable if they've had a bad experience before.
Strathpeffer Junction Can confirm.
I was a customer that was ripped off by two shady plumbers and a general contractor; three separate occasions, who all took my money and abandoned the job site.
I feel I can't trust any tradesman except the local guy who cuts trees.
A sparky once told me he combats all the time the presumption of clients that he's crooked like the others.
Well at least that is three fellas you can trust?
Strathpeffer Junction best story of bad tradesman I’ve encountered was a flat that I do the maintenance for was left without running water or power. Now what had happened was this flat was above a shop, and this shop was being stripped out and completely redone, wiring and all. This issue was the power for the flat was fed from the fuse board in the shop and their water was also fed from pipework in the shop, but that didn’t stop the cowboys turning up to the rodeo. They ripped out all the pipe work and wiring and cashed it in for around £200, I think in the end it cost them like 5 to 7 grand hahaha quality
The flue is an AR (at risk) as it’s too close to the air vent, the flue possibly could do with a flue extension kit (plume kit) & the terminal needs to be 300mm or more away from an opening to avoid possible re entry, hope it helps 👍
In computer repairs if the customer refuses to pay we take the RAM out and tape it to the inside of the case, the computer wont turn on and its a sign to any other repair company it may be taken to than the customer wont pay them either. Also we can be done for stealing parts cos the parts are still there technicly
What if costumer is not dumb enough to not know how to put it back?
@@Alteriukas
Anybody dumb enough to spend their money on computer repairs is dumb enough to not know how to put in RAM.
@@Alteriukas Then they are most likely smart enough to fix their own computer and not go to a repair store
@@Alteriukas Then you unplug the cooling fan for the processor too.
I've done computer and phone repairs and if they refuse to pay we just don't return the item. So long as you have some documents that you entered into an agreement to do works to it you can keep the item until its paid for, and if they still havent paid it off after a "resonable amount of time" or made no efforts to set up a payment plan, you can keep it and sell it. Its called a "Mechanics Lien". Its a bit different to installation work as you can't exactly "keep" a distro board in someones house, but anyone who repairs stuff off-site can basically do a mechanics lien - car mechanics, white appliances, computers etc...
As a carpet cleaner, my extractor can pump the dirt right back onto the floor haha.
Non paying customers... I found the richer they are the less likely to pay up... The poorer ones always pay... You meet some strange people. 🙄
Mark Sesum Northeast Humberside area.. Seems they are rich for a reason. Lol.
And have more fussy 'requirements' to be met. Prying money out of a client is not my thing, which is why I chose to work with the contracting Spark (I did his low voltage stuff: Data, Tel, TV, Alarms) instead of on my own.
+1 on average folk, just paying their bill for a job well done.
A relative works in some of the wealthiest towns in the US and has a real problem collecting as well. A recent trend is for families to hire big management companies to maintain their houses. This solves the collection problem for the individual contractor (for now) but costs more for the families and pays less to the contractors.
I agree me, the rich stay rich for a reason, always trying to cut the price or pay late etc in my experience.
You confused rich with posh. They feel too entitled to pay
Going into second year of college in September and this is the only course I’ve actually stuck at. Got screwed over by an electrician made me turn down an apprenticeship with someone else because he said he was gonna give me one. He just used me for 7 weeks for like £20 a week just took the piss. Eventually I left seeing that he wasn’t going to give me an apprenticeship and went back to college and I’m glad I did. Really enjoying the electrical installation course. Only another 2-3years 😂 keep up the great vids.
Starting mine in September bro.
Kieran Tyler interesting
Got my level 3 september
Charlie Owen. Depends what the training format is buddy. Day release (as was) takes 3 years, that`s the best way to learn the trade. If you have no workplace and just go full time college then that`s different, but I would guess you still need work experience to achieve an electrician grading.
James King That`s a shame, sorry to hear it, unless you are going to something more lucrative and glamorous of course! Totally agree with you though on that, and I would say large construction sites are sh1t for apprentices and training anyway. Much better off with a small company, get the full range of all electrical work thrown at you, and stay with a close team of staff, rather than being passed around site like a bitch.
Can remember working for my old man yrs ago who has a building firm...I'm a bricklayer and a built a big single storey extension for him for a wealthy couple the guy was a top consultant at the local hospital so he had plenty of money.....all the way through they were good as gold the lady would make us drinks cook us bacon rolls etc.....they never had an issue with any of the work....untill the old man gave them the final bill which was nearly 30 grand!!! They refused to pay up and it took him I think just over 4 months to get the money out of them. It was nothing to do with the work they were just being twats.....forget cowboy builders there should be a tv show called cowboy clients.
C Jackson works both ways that though. I’ve had work done by people who have don’t a great job before and come back and right royally take the piss on another job. I’ve learned two things, only work with people you would have as friends and for anything more than the most trivial of jobs put everything in writing and agree stages payments upfront.
It's called can't pay we'll take it away.
Chris B he did have stage payments they were fine until final payment...it was so big because of final part of build plus a massive amount of agreed extras....we hadn't took the piss or worked for them before!! The got a great a job done for an agreed competitive price. My old man is a sharp tool where buisness is concerned he has been in buisness many many years and had all the relevant signed contracts in place his firm has a brilliant reputation and it proceeds him. It was only due to getting legal process up and running that they finally paid up. If you do a good job for an agreed price and the clients happy you should get paid what your owed. Simple really...
My father was an electrician, had quite a few cunt clients.
@@TheTraditionalGolfer your old man sounds dodgy af
Oh and I had a customer who paid me after about a year and that was because he wanted more work doing. I gave him a chance and again I got paid after 6 months. And I only got that money because I offered to replace an extractor for free. He transferred the money straight away. And he had a cheek saying that I'm taking the piss 🤨. Hes still been calling me last couple months. He's not gona see me again.
I think you get paid because, through watching your vids, your work is spot on and you seem a nice bloke. And that's all you can ask for.
Dust masks are the future Tom. Not one of those crappy paper ones, but a real maintenance free 3M mask. They sell them in screwfix for £18 item number (13038) been using them for ages and go through about 4 a year. What price can you put on your health when you're self employed? When you're finished with the mask at the end of the day just look at the dust and crap around the filter that didn't go in your lungs! Stay safe fellow sparky 😷⚡☢
Jbeckvideo I lay around 600m/sq of loft insulation a day in new build lofts and the 3M masks are by far the best masks out there, lightweight durable easy to clean. Well worth it’s price 100 times over. Stay healthy
This aged well
Another great video. I qualified many years ago on 16th Edition and still do bits from time to time in but was doing industrial and then moved to residential as self employed. Both are hard work, except the change a bulb type of work, but i don't think many appreciate the physicality of the job. I redirected into IT and specialised in data networking in large corporates and then application development. Being a sparks gives a great grounding for that move especially around legacy telephony platforms which are DC based with battery protection etc. I am far from keyboard warrior but i do smile at the word router... Tom uses the american version of the word which we would use to define a tool that cuts wood etc. The english version used to define the box BT etc install is the version we would use to define a route in a map so "root er" so to speak... i smile because it reminds me of Peter Seller pink panther films.... showing my age!! Great video as usual.
In Aus and NZ a root is what you give your misses if she'll let you climb up her, so whenever anybody says router as in rooter it cracks me up, especially when you get someone call you up saying their rooter is having issues. I'm English and say it the same as Tom.
Working for yourself can be very rewarding. Sometimes however it can be a full time job just trying to get payed. I will often ask for 3 stages of payment.
1 stage
1/3 of the cost of the works on initial start of the job to cover the cost of part of the materials. Not a deposit but on the end of the 1st couple of days work when I have turned up with materials and done so work.
2nd stage
Another 3rd of the cost of the works
For example after all 1st fix has been complete and you are starting 2nd fix.
3rd stage
On completion of works and you have carried out all testing certification.
The payment of final 3rd of cost of works plus any additional works costs that might have occurred as the works went on. Only when this has been payed do you issue them the certificate. Works for me most of the time, obviously you need to adjust it to the scale of job your doing.
Have it written on your quote then everybody knows where they stand.
Thanks for sharing your experience Tom your work is top quality. It's nice to compare your workmanship and the other UA-cam electricians like the Plymouth Sparky and cjr shop electrician to my own workmanship to help me improve where I need to.
Thanks Tom
It's been a long time since a customer stiffed me, but I remember a customer not paying me extras I did wiring their house. I cancelled the order for the utility company's hookup to the house after they paid me. They had to wait another several days for the hook up which screwed their schedule. The wife left a nasty message in which I took great delight in. A year later they had the balls to call me for more work in which I told them to delete my number.
4:51 "You either pay your bill of your fuse board is coming out." Savage yet diplomatic.
Glad to see you separate Data cables from mains power. As an IT tech and network engineer I see so many homes and businesses where they have been run together and cause problems and the customers never want to have it all ripped out and redone especially in places like hotels. Great to see another honest and skilled trader who cares about his work.
that flue is against regs firmly lol. needs to be more than 300mm away from vent or openable window, and yes needs plume extension kit etc to take it up and over.
Can you do a video on what you need to start a business, what insurance you need and those sort of bits
We had one like that, had to take out some sockets we'd second fixed that day, guy accused us of theft (not theft, as he'd not paid for them). He was ranting and raving but nothing he could do.
Tom I remember hearing you say on a few videos back that you would buy an electric van , but honestly don’t go full ev. There’s a new transit custom coming out that will be a hybrid electric and by the sounds of things it’ll be on another level , be able to use the electric side in central London as you’re there for most of your jobs but maybe if you’ve a big job on elsewhere or you just are traveling elsewhere in the van you have the security that you know you can fill her up at the next petrol station down the road rather than worrying if you’re electric battery is dying and don’t know where the nearest charge point is. Your heart might be set on fully ev but I do think the transit hybrid would suit you a lot more. Keep up the informative videos Tom . Cheers😄
im still trying to figure out the best way of doing it. I have looked into the ford transit you are on about and it looks like the ideal solution as you say. but its not being released until 2020 from what i keep hearing.
Personally I didn't like being self employed. Too much hassle for me! Nice tip using those plates! Thanks a lot 🔨👍🏼
Did a price job to replace a central heating programmer at customers request, I done it, fitted it, worked as intended. Customer refused to pay because it did not fix an apparent seperate issue with the boiler that was not pointed out to me at the beginning. That was just the beginning of my bad expeariances. Cut a long story short I now work in FM, had enough. Good to see you enjoy it and sticking it out. Great vids.
MysteriousDrJ what is the FM you are referring to?
@@jackalek Facilities (building) maintenance work, working for a company, site based, on salary etc. No everyones cup of tea, but works best for me and I enjoy it more.
A flue should be at least 300mm from a window or opening. It doesn’t seem to be a problem in a non rented house. But it will not pass a gas inspection for a rented property. It’s crazy that if you own a house and even sell it, it will not be picked up. House surveys even the most detailed will not account for it as they will say they don’t cover gas/electrics 😳
Tom. Looking at the fitting of those plates - I like the idea - but as they are are fixed just on top of the joists - don't they raise the floor boards / cause them to rock ? Shouldn't they be rebated into the joist to make them flush ? What thickness are they ? I doubt they would provide much resistance to the original cut clasp floor board nails.
Here in North America the exhaust for any direct vent natural gas furnace or boiler has to be minimum 5 feet away from any fresh air Inlet to a home
My installation manual for my Worcester says: flue must be 300mm above, below and either side of an opening door, air vent or opening window, 300mm to an internal or external corner, plus 200mm below eaves and 75 mm below gutters, pipes and drains. The dimension below eaves, gutters, pipes and drains can be reduced to 25mm, as long as the flue terminal is extended to clear any overhang. but maybe other makes / models / manufacturers may be different?
Pretty sure the flu distance is minimum 300mm from an opening window, maybe 600mm but can't remember. I have to say I use my multi tool on t & g boards because if there is anything below (cables pipes etc) you are much less likely to rip the shit out of it. That and the amount of rogue nails you find in boards, especially in some of the older properties I have been in. It is much cheaper to replace a multi tool blade than it is for the circular saw. :) The most difficult 'clients' to work for are friends and family. Forget the extra mile as it is usually more like 10!
300
The house we live in now has tongue and grove floorboards. Unfortunately who ever did the work wrecked them well and truly.
The have cut them to short so the edge of the board doesn’t actually sit on a joist etc. Split them, replaced missing/damaged boards with cut outs from a biscuit tin. I have truly had a lot to correct because of them. I don’t know why the previous owner didn’t care about it.
No doubt that Nagy Electrical Group would have done the job 1000x better!
I sometimes wish I knew someone like Thomas down here as the tradesmen are piss poor. Thomas you work is setting the benchmark for others to aspire to.
300mm away from an openable window...thats the reg on flue next to windows..and always follow MI...from a Gas Engineer changing careers to Full time sparky....and I love ya videos..honest, and enjoyable..Well done brv
Click CT101C 20Amp 3 Pin Lighting Plug & Socket (Blue) thought these might be handy to know, probably seen them anyways, just find them handy Thomas
I just buy a wera screwdriver set(only)(after a saw your videos)and is super.
ovidiu roman wera stuff is superb
I'm an Australian plumber so i don't really know what your rules are but for us here, depending on the gases mJ/H input it needs to be 500mm from any openable windows
Enjoying your videos Tom. I've noticed you always fit your metal back boxes very close to each other. I find that it looks so much better if its kept about 2inchs apart. Yep I don't use those twin single boxes.
I’ve done the self employed route myself Tom,
Your on call 24/7 & you don’t get paid if your on holiday or sick BUT I agree with you,it’s great & let’s be honest,you will never be rich working for a company as a Sparky,
I’m in my 40’s now so I’m working as a maintenance sparky in the commercial/industrial sector & haven’t been self employed for a few years now.
I agree that it doesn’t suit everybody & you can’t afford to be lazy too,
Great vid,keep up the cracking work
yes thomas lad any openable window should be 300mm away from the flue.i designe central heating and im also a 17th edition old skool sparks doing it 35yrs and planned maintainence was sparks for sainsburys two yrs
12:36 in the netherlands such an exhaust is only legal on a straight up wall and with distance to openings.
With the balcony/any overhang the exhaust should be x amount or more outside of the overhang edge.
I have not seen if that had to be combined with regs on windows/openings in adjacent perpendicular walls.
But it sure will have to be, it’s just a nice complicated little corner for the regs :)
We call then nail plates in the US. Use them alot in new construction. Also on flue pipes as long as they are 4' away from window it's ok here.
Never had someone not pay, but have had many take their time, which can amount to the same thing when it comes to cashflow and progressing the business.
The distance should be 300mm from an openable window or a air brick, and I think a plume kit fitted or a flue supplied by manufacturer to overcome the soffet
I have a relative that is an electrician in the US and several (wealthy) clients per month don't pay the bill. Different ethos in the UK I suppose. . .
I used to work for a builders merchant, an a lot of builders told me that they would've loved to take work back out on those who didn't pay. They said it was against the law to do so, i.e. taking out a kitchen they had just fitted etc. As the items became theirs, and part of the house once fitted. And taking it back would be classed as theft. Some of them got people to sign to say that all items that had been fitted in the premises, by them were still owned by the installer until payment had been made in full. That way they could take stuff back if client didn't pay up.
Man i thought that this happed only here in Brazil, you go over the client's house do the best job possible and the guy don't pay you off,then you think to yourself i'll undo everythings i did,but you can not do this becouse the justice here it does not allow that,it says you have fill a complain in the nearest police station and then hire a good lawer and go throught a long process that can last even 5 years to a final solution. That's not fair to the worker.
I've been self employed 5 years now,
You get a feel when something is 'wrong' about a job but it comes with experience whether it being not getting paid or weirdo customers etc. I rule with a rod of iron over payments now and I have a reputation for doing so, but it means I rarely get messed about.
One thing that still bothers me is how customers make me feel guilty for having a holiday. I usually work 7 days a week and have holiday time to catch up with family. I don't take any more time off than someone who is in full time employment takes but the way people complain is unreal
How do you and other tradespeople find this, and how do you handle it?
I'm an electrician too and I can fully relate to what you write. Customers somehow think they own you once you have a contract with them. God forbid you take a break for eating something or stretch your legs after drilling 30 holes into concrete. No, they somehow think that you have to function like a machine because they pay you.
fue regs - got to be min 300mm from any opening, with vertical flue beyond any overhang.
Same here as a gardener, luckly it's not happened much, but sadly it has happened and I definitely agree you get that sort of feeling that they are not going to pay. :)
It does have to go upwards when there is an openable window as well as a air brick next to it mate, it should extend out then upward 😀
I'm not a plumber but coincidentally a friends father had a British gas cowboy installer who siliconed the window and trickle vents of the window and put the flue close to the window and several plumber friends shared images of the diagrams of the regs and it was 600mm from a window. When my friend reported it to BG, the area manager came out to see it and was massively apologetic, and had another plumber there straight away to make good on the situation, with action being taken against cowboy. Can't add the image unfortunately.
I'm in the process of setting myself up, for the moment, all the paperwork and shit to do ... Passing so many times at the bank to set up a series of loans for some expensive but required tools to have.
Hardest thing for me so far is to get enough money behind me so that I won't be fucked if I can't find a job for a month of two.
It's daunting really ... but I think it will be worth it once I start getting clients on a regular basis.
Atm, I'm already working for myself doing little jobs that are allowed on "check emploi service" which is something we have for little jobs here in France in order to have everything declared and legal.
But I will say it's true bliss to not be beholden to anyone else than myself, I can get there when I want (but still a reasonable time) and can get off when it get's too hot outside (I'm a painter).
Love it and can't wait to be fully legal ^^
Hi!!! Do you ever put your cable In plastic conduit and put into the 20mm knockouts in the bottom of the backbox.
In the state's we can perform a property lien, one of a few last resort methods to acquire payment .
Unfortunate things have to go that direction
F***in love your channel. Thanks Tom! Not even a sparky etc but love the guts and bones of your stories..experiences and wisdom, it's universal. It's just mad. The fuseboard ultimatum was a raggo! move. hahaha
Cheers pal! Thanks for the feedback!
Re the safe plates: If cables are running less than 20mm below these, I would be inclined to "play safe" and run a bare wire connected to earth under the plates, in direct contact with them. Total safety would result if a nail or screw penetrated the cable underneath.
Do you certify or qualify your data cables?
And do you use Cat5e or Cat6?
I’ve done some Cat6 myself (I work in IT) and it was reported that the network connection dropped out and network data transfers were constantly fluctuating, and never going above 100mb/s, (all networking gear was rated for gigabit, and the PC claimed it had a 1Gb/s connection, the cable mapper didn’t show any issues, but when we stuck the fluke CableIQ on it to qualify it, it wasn’t even rated for 100mb/s. Narrowed it down to the outer sleeving being cut just a couple mm to far back causing cross talk.
I definitely think it’s worth doing if you’re not doing it already any you can pick up the cableiQ for £1200 or if you want to certify the cables with no doubt the fluke DTXs go for about £6400. Its worth doing especially if you’re installing it in commercial premises. It’s not fun having to reterminate 30-40 ends.
Loving the content by the way.
I wonder if would be possible to make a video or a short bit of infor about 3 phase supply and if its possible to get it in a demostic home. Thank you tim and keep up the great work you do
Question for you Tom or other English sparks, I noticed in your videos that you do track your boxes in but you use just a PVC cover over your cables now I know that T+E is mechanically protected but in Northern Ireland we use round Conduit into our boxes so that we can easily rewire or fish another cable down for spurring off if needed. Just wondering if your method is a standard in mainland Britain?
I install access control systems for a company in Texas. I was in an attic last week that got up 60°C! I had to have lost a good chunk of weight in sweat.
Best thing is do as much for yourself as possible it may take you 10 times as long but its cheaper and you know you'll do a good job.
I know that feeling, as a carpenter people try to pull these strokes a dozen eggs with a small hole in the top planted around the house will leave a please fragrance for them for a long time 👍
I love being self employed, but the worst part is always the payment. People sometimes assume it's ok to pay you when they feel like it. Can you imagine leaving a restaurant and tell them you'll pay in a week or so! The boiler flu should clear the gutter, so the gas can escape... that was my understanding of the regs.
£32 towards the company Christmas doo this year👍
Yep, price is pretty crap when it`s still got the insulation on, plus VIR was tinned copper anyway. Still it pays for some fuel or parking, or razor blades and shaving foam!
shaving foam - cheeky bastard :-00000
I'm not 100% myself but i think your well within your right to pull out work you've done if a client does not pay as along as you don't damage anything else.
You think wrong, once something is installed in situ it cannot be removed as it's technically part of the building now. The law is specifically written like this to avoid a situation where (I.E) a main contractor refuses to pay a subcontractor and the subby starts pulling bits out of the clients building. It's a bit lame when there's only one contractor and it's the client directly not paying them but that is the law, if you want the money you can go to court but once something is screwed to the wall it's no longer yours to remove regardless of if you have been paid for it yet, it becomes part of "the work" your owed money for.
I value quality in workmanship and good trade people are a valuable resource and relationship to have. On the many instances I've hired someone in the trades, I've only ever not paid for work when it was shoddily done, incomplete, or dangerous.. which thankfully has been a rare occurrence. I've always paid for a job well done, and I wouldn't ever think of not paying for good work. Good work is to be rewarded, often with a thank you amount on the check above the asking price.
I owned a hot food takeaway and in my spare time went to college. I got p......ed off having to chase people to get paid. The last straw was when i rewired half the house of this accountant. He made me go every month to pick up a £ 100. He was that good an accountant he gave me £ 100 extra. Needless to say, i went back to the unsociable hours of the takeaway. At least i do not have to call an electrician.
I'm currently in a customer service position and waiting to see if I get accepted for an electrician apprenticeship. I thought I would never have to deal with customers ever again but I guess it's just part of life. Anyways I just wanted to say hi to a fellow electrician. I really like the videos, thank you.
Class video once again mate, keep them coming 👍 keep up the good work
Friend of mine is a bricklayer, who built some outer walls for a new house. Once a customer did not pay, so he went back at night with his co-worker and teared down the whole wall (house was not finished yet, as the customer also did not pay other craftsman as well)
The bricks are expensive, for a pallet around 300 400£ lets hope the fucker lost a lot of money
If it's been 6 years without a client that's tried it on, then you are a very lucky man
Hi Thomas, did you do anything about masks, a few of us mentioned it last week, please take advise from an old guy who has breathed dust etc for many years..
Very best regards, Ray.
yeah i did. ITS sent me some in the mail ;-) I'll thank them in the next video and discuss it ;-)
Here in BC Canada as long as your have the contract just start the job and file with small claims. Hassle yes but...
Hi Tom hope you're in the best of health. I enjoy watching your videos keep up the good work! I wanted some advice.. basically I've done my diploma level 1,2 and 3 in college while back and I'm 22 years of age I have some experience. I will be booking the 18th edition wiring regulation course soon. Basically I'm finding it hard to get properly started and I have sent my cv through to some companies but they just keep denying, when I try to apply through apprenticeships they wouldn't accept me cause I have my level 3 diploma.. also It's either lack of experience or you don't have the 17th edition wiring regulation certificate.. sometimes I feel like I wasted 3 years of my life on a course which led me to nothing.. and some of my college mates gave up on the path of being an electrian because they have the same problem as me.
So if you could just advice me, what should be my next step.. What other qualification I need to get? I haven't done NVQ3+AM2 and the testing inspection.. How do I go about doing these qualification? They cost a lot of money 😔
I just wondered if they gave you any reason as to why they didn't want to pay, from what you've said it sounded like they were quite happy with having you working them until the day of payment.
Nice clip again tom n Dave. Is that the same house that we all did the pricing on?? I would like to come n work with u guys. I'm on massive commercial in London, chain gang metal munching. I used to do very similar domestic work / installs n repairs back in Oz before moving over here and I rather do miss it.
Having non paying customers is definitely a problem. That’s why here in Australia we have protections for both sides the business and consumer. So u can easily take them to a government organisation or court or tribunal to get your money back
The boiler should have been extended and clipped to expell beyond the roof line, that isn't a good install, at least for Scottish regs anyway.
Your definetly right on it being dangerous.
Building an extension for a couple I had given them a price with stage payments. He had said he had re-mortgaged and had the funds. We hit the D.P.C. stage in the first week and I put in my invoice. We carried on working and had nearly hit the First Floor Joist level when a man from the bank came to value the house for a re-mortgage. I hadn't had a payment so I contacted the owner. In front of his wife he flat out said I had told him I would not charge V.A.T. (I hadn't and why would I, he worked for the Inland Revenue). I completed to F.F. joists put my invoice in then stopped the job until I got payment. I decided not to carry on working there (the only job I have ever not completed). The fact he lied about his re-mortgage and about the V.A.T. meant I couldn't trust him further.
Like how you say “twelve and a half” for 12.5 plasterboard. Shows you’re knocking on a bit!
Fractions give a definite answer, conversion to decimal form often leads to approximations ( ? how many decimal places, rounding up/down etc).
The thing is if you have done a job and you know it is a good job then there is no reason for them not to pay. You were dead right to tell them that the fuse board was coming out if they didn't pay and I think you have every right to say something like that and in my opinion to do something like that if a customer is refusing to pay.
Im not even in the industry but I love your videos ❤️
Always trust your gut/instincts with people. If your hair stands up on end or they seem greasy just walk away. We have those instincts for a reason.
Do a proper quote with two signed documents on what your going to do and and what you expect of them at the end.ie payment on completion
Interesting story about the cow whose hand just sprung out from a doorway holding a cheque out.......the front of some people I mean did that couple say why they werent going to pay anymore? I hope that cheque cleared because the couple sound like the sort of folk who would just write a cheque out to get you off the premises.........I became very wary and cynical about customers during my self employment years through non payers.......all smiles and chatty while the works being done then they start picking flies on the last day and rarely was it working class it was generally the well off.......oh and money doesnt change a person. Those that had it put on this middle to upper class front until they created friction at the end over payment upon which you saw their true common as muck colours. Just too many well off buggers thinking they can rip off a tradesman. I had some high flying lawyer in Penkridge with a jag and a porsche on the driveway try to evade paying me £2500. I took him to small claims in the end and he was ordered to cough up which was a great result. Him and his "mistress" wife or whatever she was were as nice as pie whn we were doing the work, polite, cups of tea, chatty etc but they showed themselves to be nothing more than well off potty mouths when they didnt want to pay us and we were ordered to "just get off their property" Dont let customers get away with it!
I thought it was further, but everything I'm seeing is saying 300mm from an openable window and 150 from a fixed window for gas. The guy who installed mine might have been quoting the oil regs which are double.
hi tom could you do some video of how you actually run the cables in the ring main and lighting circuits as some different sparks do it differently than others. just tying to find a quick way of doing things. cheers keep up the great videos
Hi Tom, what are you doing about connecting the data points into the router? Are you crimping and rj45 on or doing a box to box connection?
I had a customer from a different part of the world, he had 4 convenient shops and I had been his electrical contractor for 3 years. The last job I did for him he did not ask for a quote, just a call in which he asked us to change all the 600x600 florys in 1 of his shops to LED panels. So we did it, ordered the panels from our wholesaler and completed the work gave the bill via email and then nothing. I called him and asked for the payment and he said I was trying to rip him off! 800 for changing a whole shop lighting, 12 panels and labour is a snip. So I went to his other shop where he lived in a flat above and waited at the counter while I called him, no answer so I asked the shop attendant to call him and ask about the money he owed the electricians, she then started opening the till and counting cash. Lets just say within mins I had the money. Never again
Depending on what’s owed, you can always send a little firm round to them to have a word!
How would you go about rewiring the flat below if the cables are in the floor of the flat above?
The wall u was sat on looked asif you where really high up then u jump down 😂
Like those safe plates good idea.
Those with huge amounts of money in my opinion are the most difficult to deal with.... Getting payment is unreal hardship
I had that happen on a machine I was working on, I was told to disable it if they didn't give us a check,so I flipped an internal breaker when they weren't looking, it's behind a cover they can't get to, but my co worker didn't back down or bat an eye, and he finally gave us a check, then I had to turn around and go ,oh ,I forgot to do something and go flip the breaker back on
Maybe try looking into using contracts so that way you have a back up for people not wanting to pay
Those safe plates are weird. How you're supposed to screw the board at the same height again, with this somewhat thick plate on top?
I would just use a steel pipe and stick it through the wholes, cut them up at the end and bent the ends over. This way they will stay in place.
Then run the wire you need. :)
As usual boy’s great video 👍🏻 No coffee ☕️ today 🤔
In Australia we just drop them down a mine shaft... No money but a great deal of satisfaction when the screaming stops...
Regarding the flue location, take a look at page 16 of the Baxi 130 HE manual where there's a diagram with all the figures. The minimum distances are less than you'd expect. www.baxi.co.uk/-/media/websites/baxiuk/files/discontinued-products/combi-boilers/baxi-combi/baxi_combi_130_he_installation_and_service_manual.pdf
Have you ever drilled through a wall puting the back boxes in??