Looking for opinions on an electrician's bill (R2422)

[Crzwaco]

Wow R800 for call out and 1 hour that is extreme here its more in the line of R150-300 for the call out.

[StaggerLee]

Did he reissue a compliance certificate? Sounds a bit excessive otherwise.

Nope he did not.

[czc]

Wow R800 for call out and 1 hour that is extreme here its more in the line of R150-300 for the call out.

The plumber here charges R650 for a call out.

[HavocXphere]

Afaik new building regulations apply to buildings / modifications after the date of announcement. Old houses are required to comply with the regulations in force at the time of the construction.

The above is based on my limited knowledge of these matters though so it might be entirely wrong.

Personally I'd find a reputable source on the above and then have a heart to heart talk with the electrician about the total on the bill given the above and the methods employed in arriving at said total.

Wow R800 for call out and 1 hour that is extreme here its more in the line of R150-300 for the call out.

That seems wildly low for a call out. I know a relative's elec co would not be able to work based on that. Sure they roll with unusually hardcore gear & people but still...petrol & vehicle maintenance is expensive for everyone.

[Tsar]

I worked in the trade before and people are ripoff artists in most trades. A lot of them will take you for a ride.

[Crzwaco]

The plumber here charges R650 for a call out.

Afaik new building regulations apply to buildings / modifications after the date of announcement. Old houses are required to comply with the regulations in force at the time of the construction.

The above is based on my limited knowledge of these matters though so it might be entirely wrong.

Personally I'd find a reputable source on the above and then have a heart to heart talk with the electrician about the total on the bill given the above and the methods employed in arriving at said total.


That seems wildly low for a call out. I know a relative's elec co would not be able to work based on that. Sure they roll with unusually hardcore gear & people but still...petrol & vehicle maintenance is expensive for everyone.

Well at least something is better here in Kimberley But then again its just a callout nothing else.

Yeah pluming is a whole diffrent thing normally about R450-800

[Neo]

The fact that the guy did work without telling you, in advance, what it will cost you is against CPA. What he's doing is ripping you off and now you're sitting with bill-shock because he didn't explain it to you properly. CPA buddy - the law is on your side, you don't have to pay this until it's cleared up.

[TBlaar]

I had the EXACT same work done, and by bill was R1000. The switches do go for around R600, but then my electrician had one on him(they should kind of have spares ). He cannot charge you for going out to buy one, and then for a second call out...

I would burn him at the stake!

[StaggerLee]

Thanks for all the extra info guys. I have had a look at the itemization now:

Call out: R577.50
Traveling: R240.00
Material: R921.37
Labour: R385.00
VAT: 297.34

Total: R2421.21

So the total cost of the first hours' labour with the call-out is not what they said it would cost. And they did charge me for traveling as well, over and above the call-out. I don't think it's fair. I'm going to double-check the cost of a new earth-leakage switch at home and compare it with the one that he gave me, but so far, from the price-list, it looks like I have been heavily over-charged for that part. I'll let you all know what happens tomorrow.

[Roomys]

Thanks for all the extra info guys. I have had a look at the itemization now:

Call out: R577.50
Traveling: R240.00
Material: R921.37
Labour: R385.00
VAT: 297.34

Total: R2421.21

So the total cost of the first hours' labour with the call-out is not what they said it would cost. And they did charge me for traveling as well, over and above the call-out. I don't think it's fair. I'm going to double-check the cost of a new earth-leakage switch at home and compare it with the one that he gave me, but so far, from the price-list, it looks like I have been heavily over-charged for that part. I'll let you all know what happens tomorrow.

I think i still stand by what i posted earlier in this thread. The oke spent his time to go and get the part you needed. The consumables he used amount to a certain cost. Whether or not it reflects the costs he put on paper might make a difference. I again state that most of the your nearly R3k bill will come from his expertise / time.