Electrical Services
ELECTRICIANS IN COVENTRY · WHICH? TRUSTED TRADER
Terms and Conditions (small print)
Terminology (click to expand)
Services means the electrical services that we are providing to the client as specified in the quotation.
We, us, our and ourselves means LB Electrical Services.
Client, you and your mean the person(s) or company to whom we are providing electrical services.
First-fix means the installation, routing and preparation of cables, and the positioning and securing of accessory mounting boxes.
Second fix means the connection of conductors to accessories such as sockets, switches, light fittings and switchgear such as consumer units. Second fix also includes the testing commissioning and certification of the installation.
Conditions
a) By accepting a quotation, whether verbally or in writing, the client thereby confirms to have read and understood our terms and conditions. The client also confirms to have accepted our terms and conditions and agrees to be bound by them.
b) Any contract or agreement to carry-out electrical installation work made between the client and us shall be subject to these terms and conditions. Any revised terms and conditions put forward by the client shall not apply.
c) All other terms and conditions which might be implied by conduct or from a previous contract, or by trade custom are excluded.
d) No amendment or change shall be made to any of these conditions by the client.
e) We reserve the right to change these terms and conditions at any time without prior notice.
f) These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law and are subject to the jurisdiction of the English Courts.
Quotations
A quotation is a fixed-price proposal that will not change, but which covers only the work as specified by the schedule of works as listed within the quotation. They are provided free of charge.
(a) With the sole exception of Electrical Installation Condition Reports, we will not issue quotations to clients without having first arranged to visit the client’s home, business premises or trade premises and made an assessment of the client’s electrical installation as per the requirements of BS 7671:2018, and confirmed that the installation is in a safe condition for the work to proceed.
(b) Quotations are made on the assumption that the work requested by the client is reasonably capable of being carried-out and that the client’s electrical installation is in a safe condition and free from any known defects. If, however, during inspection or testing of the client’s installation, or during the course of work being carried-out on the installation this is found in our professional opinion to not be the case, we will advise you to this effect as soon as is reasonably practicable. We may then offer you a new quotation on revised terms, withdraw our interest carrying-out the work, or cancel the contract with immediate effect with reference to the conditions outlined in section 16(b). No addition or alteration will be made to, and no repair work will be undertaken on rubber insulated (VIR) or lead-covered cables.
(c) Quotations are valid for 30 days only. If a quotation is not accepted within this period, and should any change occur thereafter that results in an increase in the cost of materials and/or labour, or for any other cost that we have to pay or incur for delivering the contract, the original quotation shall be annulled and a fresh quotation issued to the client.
(d) When a quotation for electrical installation work is accepted by the client, either in writing or verbally, an agreement is then established between the client and LB Electrical Services. This agreement will constitute a legally binding contract between both parties.
Basis of Quotations and Estimates
(a) Quotations are based on work being carried-out during our normal working hours of 08:30 - 17:30 Monday to Friday. Work that is carried-out during evenings and weekends or on bank holidays at the client’s specific request will be charged for at a rate higher than our usual hourly rate.
(b) Variations to quotations or additional work added by the client after a quotation has been accepted shall be charged separately on a time and materials basis.
(c) Associated work required from other trades such as plasterers, plumber, joiners and carpet-fitters, along with any charges for associated electrical work carried-out by electricity supply companies, distribution network organisations, or by local authorities do not form part of any quotation and are the responsibility of the client.
(d) While all reasonable care will always be taken as is possible so as to preserve the integrity of walls, ceilings and existing decor, our quotations, however, do not include incidental redecoration costs, or for any other works such as remedial plastering, unless specifically agreed beforehand, resulting from the proper execution of the work.
(e) Estimates are a guide price and provide only an indication of what the likely cost of the proposed electrical installation works will be. Under no circumstances whatsoever will estimates form the basis of a formal contract between LB Electrical Services and the client.
(f) Free quotations are offered on the basis of the premises address being located within 10 miles of Coventry, outside this area, the minimum fee applies.
(g) Free quotations are offered on the understanding that no actual work will be carried out other than basic visual inspection of the existing installation to confirm the suitability or otherwise of the installation in terms of us adding to or altering the installation, and for us to determine what services the client wishes to have done and the best way for us to provide such services. Fault finding is NOT included and will be charged at the applicable hourly rate.
Cancellation
(a) After we have visited a client in their home or business premises to survey work, we will subsequently send a written quotation to them at a later date. Quotations are almost always sent via e-mail. Should the client then decide to accept the quotation and proceed with the work the client will be entering into an on-premises contract. This means that we are under no legal obligation to offer the client the same pre-contract information or offer any cancellation rights. As all of our business is conducted via on-premises contracts, it is therefore of paramount importance that clients understand the fundamental difference between on-premises contracts and off-premises contracts.
(b) You have the right to cancel work and not have to pay anything only if you have not entered a contract with us. A contract is formed when either you or we make an offer that the other party accepts. A contract will be created if you have accepted, either in writing or verbally, a quotation from us, signed an agreement with us, arranged a starting date with us, verbally asked us to proceed with the work, and/or paid a deposit.
(c) If for any reason the client cancels the work prior to commencement we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee of up to 25% of the quotation value and seek compensation for any loss of earnings caused by the cancellation. This will apply when we have reserved part of our job schedule to carry-out your work and cannot allocate another job for the same period.
(d) We will begin work only if you have accepted our quotation and agreed a contract with us. Should you decide to cancel after work has commenced, we may ask you to pay a cancellation fee of up to 50% of the quotation value and seek compensation for any loss of earnings caused by the cancellation. This will apply when we have reserved part of our schedule to carry-out your work and cannot allocate another job to the same slot. The client will be invoiced for all labour costs up until the time of cancellation plus any materials used and/or installed or fitted that cannot be removed without the items being damaged. The customer will also be invoiced for the return cost of any items that have been delivered to us, but which have not yet been installed.
Terms of Payment
(a) Unless otherwise specifically agreed with you by us in writing, we will raise an invoice for immediate payment upon completion of the work. Invoices are final and non-negotiable. No discount will be offered or given under any circumstances. Should we agree to defer payment, payment must then be received within seven days of the date shown on the invoice. Payment may be made by bank transfer, card or cash.
(b) Payment is required on any outstanding invoices prior to the continuation of any further works for the same client.
(c) Where the contract period exceeds four weeks, invoices may be submitted on a weekly basis for the total value of work carried-out to date minus any previous payments made by the client. The net amount due to date shall be received from the client within seven days. Failure by the client to make payment as aforesaid shall entitle LB Electrical Services to suspend all work in progress.
(d) Should an invoice remain unpaid after seven days we will send the client no more than two reminders. If an invoice remains outstanding after twenty-one days, we will issue a final demand for payment. If an invoice remains outstanding after thirty days we will then take immediate action to obtain payment without further reference to the client. Action will entail one of the following remedies:
- commencing proceedings in the appropriate Court for recovery of the debt.
- passing the debt to a recovery agency for collection.
- making a statutory demand for payment.
The client will be liable for all legal costs that we incur in such instances.
Where the client is a commercial business, or is acting in the course of business, and proceedings are raised against the client for non-payment, we reserve our legal right to include interest and statutory compensation as per the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. Said interest, and any Court outlays, Sheriff Officer's fees and associated disbursements in relation to debt recovery proceedings will be sought in addition to the principal debt owed by the client.
(e) New clients may be asked to make an advance payment so to secure contractual commitments with LB Electrical Services. Subject to the conditions listed in paragraph 5(b) being satisfied, any advance payment made will be fully refunded by LB Electrical Services within seven days of the client exercising their statutory right to cancel.
(f) All goods supplied shall remain the property of LB Electrical Services until all sums due have been paid in full.
Pricing
(a) There is a minimum fee of £50, which covers the first hour's labour, for work done in normal operating hours.
(b) The normal hourly rate of £35/hr (£60/hr for electrician and assistant) applies for work done between 08:00 and 17:30, Monday to Friday. All work done between the hours of 17:30 and 08:00, Monday to Friday will be charged at 1.5 times the normal hourly rate.
Work done on Saturdays will be charged at 1.5 times the normal hourly rate.
Work done on Sundays and bank holidays will be charged at twice the normal hourly rate.
(c) Some services may be priced on a per item basis, or price-per-point basis, which will be agreed between me and the client before carrying out such services.
Consequential Loss or Damage
(a) We undertake to use reasonable skill and care while carrying-out the work and to use materials and accessories that are of suitable quality and which conform to British Standards. We shall install electrical accessories and fixed-equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. We also undertake to comply with the requirements for electrical installations as defined by BS 7671, and with any applicable requirements relating to English Building Standards legislation.
(b) Responsibility for the removal of items of furniture and the emptying of meter cupboards so to facilitate access to electrical switchgear, equipment and accessories shall lie exclusively with the client. While we will exercise all reasonable care in carrying-out all work, we accept no liability whatsoever for any damage caused to furniture, fixtures and fittings which have had to be moved by us in order to carry-out the works specified in the contract, or for any damage caused to carpets, laminate floorings and/or linoleum thereof.
Should a carpet need to be lifted, we will endeavour to avoid causing any damage to the carpet and will try our best to refit to an acceptable standard. However, the client should consider employing a specialist carpet-fitter so to attain a professional reinstatement. When carpets, floor-coverings and floorboards need to be lifted, this will be carried-out on the clear understanding that LB Electrical Services accept no liability for any damage caused. Without prejudice to the aforesaid non-liability we will nevertheless maintain an adequate level of public liability insurance.
(c) We accept no responsibility for electrical accessories supplied by the client such as light fittings or decorative switches and sockets which prove to be damaged, faulty, or unsafe to install.
(d) Our responsibility to the client shall be limited to the fulfilment of the contract in a proper and professional manner. We shall not be liable for any consequential loss or damage arising out of the execution of the contract unless this is due to negligence on our part.
(e) Where projects involve separate works carried-out by third-party trades such as plumbers, plasterers, joiners and decorators, any damage caused to the electrical installation by a third-party trade shall remain the responsibility of the client. The cost of repair work must be paid by the client prior to commencement of the second fix. Recovery of any such costs from any third-party shall be the client's responsibility.
Warranty and Guarantee
(a) Without prejudice to the client's statutory rights, LB Electrical Services shall pass to the client the benefit of guarantees that we receive in respect of materials supplied to us along with any documentation required to validate these guarantees.
(b) We undertake to repair or, if necessary, replace free of charge, any materials or workmanship found to be defective subject to defects being notified to us within twelve months of the completion date of the work. The repair or replacement of any defective workmanship or materials must be carried-out exclusively by LB Electrical Services. Our warranty shall not apply if repairs or replacements are made by another electrical contractor.
(c) No warranty or guarantee will apply to any items that have been purchased and supplied by the client with the intention of having the items installed at a later date by LB Electrical Services.
(d) Liability for defective work and/or defective materials is limited to the invoice value thereof. We accept no responsibility for any other loss or damage except as is required of us by law.
Termination of Contract
In addition to the conditions outlined in sections 3(b), 16(b) and 17, we may terminate the contract should you fail to comply with your obligations within seven days of having been notified by us of the relevant failure. We may also terminate the contract immediately if you are the subject of a petition for a bankruptcy order or if you become insolvent or enter into any composition, scheme or arrangement with your creditors. If you are a corporation, limited company or other legal entity, we may also terminate the contract immediately if a receiver, including an administrative receiver, is appointed over any of your assets, or if an application is made to appoint an administrator for you. If you are in partnership, we may terminate the contract immediately if the partnership is dissolved. We may also terminate the contract if any proceedings relating to your insolvency are commenced in any country.
Should the contract be terminated for any aforementioned reason, you will remain liable to us for any sums which you have not yet paid in respect of all work completed up to date of termination and for any other breaches of the contract.
Complaints and Disputes
We want our clients to be happy with the electrical services that we provide, and we will make every effort to resolve complaints in a professional and courteous manner. Complaints should be made in the first instance to the proprietor of LB Electrical Services in person, by telephone, via e-mail or in writing. Please provide as much detail as possible as to the nature of your complaint and include photographs or drawings if relevant. Complaints will be formally acknowledged within two days. We will confirm when the client can expect a reply. This will be within five days. Having carefully considered the complaint, we will then offer suggestions for resolution. If the client feels that the problem has not been satisfactorily resolved, they may request that the complaint be referred to NICEIC for arbitration.
Any disputes regarding the standard of electrical installation work carried-out by us that cannot be settled amicably will be referred to NICEIC and dealt with under the terms of the complaints procedure of NICEIC’s code of practice.
Where we cannot resolve any complaints using our own complaints procedure, as a Which? Trusted trader we use Dispute Resolution Ombudsman for dispute resolution. In the unlikely event of a complaint arising and you wish to refer the complaint to them please contact 0333 241 3209 or via their website.
Building Control Notification (Part P)
Certain types of electrical installation work carried-out in dwellings may require Building Control notification. LB Electrical Services is registered to self-certify under the Competent Persons Scheme operated by the NICEIC. This permits us to 'sign-off' on electrical installation work we carry-out where a notification is required. The cost of such notification is included and absorbed by us.
Waste Removal
LB Electrical Services are not registered or licensed for the transportation of controlled waste. Controlled waste is any kind of household, commercial industrial or agricultural waste, including any waste from a house, shop, office, factory or any other trade or business premises. Removal of waste from clients' homes, trade premises, or business premises is the client's responsibility.
Asbestos
The presence of asbestos presents a serious health risk to both ourselves and clients alike. Should asbestos be discovered while work is being carried-out, we will cease work immediately and undertake a risk-assessment so to determine whether it is safe to continue working and to establish whether the involvement of a licensed asbestos contractor is necessary. If we are forced to cease work in progress because of the presence of asbestos, the client will have the option of either postponing the work in progress, and inviting us to resume at a later date after the asbestos has been removed, or to cancel the work altogether. In the event of the work in progress being cancelled by the client, we will raise an invoice on a time and materials basis for all work completed prior to cancellation.
Dangerous Installations
(a) BS 7671 regulation 132.16 requires that prior to any work commencing, an assessment be made of an existing installation which is to be added to or altered. We will, as far is reasonably possible, determine the condition of a client’s electrical installation prior to the commencement of work. However, this is not always possible to achieve in advance. There are occasions when unsafe wiring is discovered only after floorboards have been lifted, insulation removed in lofts and accessories such as switches and sockets removed.
(b) We reserve the right to cease work immediately in the event of defective or dangerous wiring being discovered while work is in progress. In such circumstances we will try to reach agreement with the client whereby all defects are remedied in advance of the work specified in the contract being resumed. Any such remedial works will be charged for separately. If agreement cannot be reached, we will cancel the contract with immediate effect and issue a Dangerous Electrical Installation Notice so to satisfy the duties imposed upon us by the Electricity At Work Regulations 1989. The client will be required to sign the notice so to provide confirmation that they have been made fully aware of the danger(s) present within their installation. NICEIC will then be notified that a Dangerous Electrical Installation Notice has been issued.
Consumer Unit Changeovers and Upgrades
There will often be occasions when the nature of the work being carried-out will require the installation of a replacement consumer unit that incorporates residual current devices (RCD) or Residual Current Breakers with over-current protection (RCBOs). We will always tell you in advance if this is the case and will include this work within our quotation. We strongly advise that the client have an Electrical Installation Condition Report undertaken prior to the installation of a consumer unit upgrade. The client reserves the right to decline our advice.
In such cases, we will then undertake only the minimum essential tests that we are required to carry-out so to identify any existing faults and/or unsafe wiring present within the installation. Should any condition that would present an immediate or potential danger be discovered, or would cause unwanted tripping of an RCD, the client will be advised that remedial works will be necessary so to improve safety. Any such remedial works will be quoted for and charged separately.
Should the client be unwilling to accept the costs of any such remedial works, the client may then request that work ceases immediately. In this instance, we will charge only for the time that was spent carrying-out the minimum essential tests subject to there being a minimum charge of £50.00. The client may decline to have remedial works carried-out and request us to proceed with the installation of the replacement consumer unit nevertheless.
In this instance, we will then carry-out a risk assessment for the purpose of advising the client as to the level of risk that would exist upon completion of the proposed consumer unit upgrade. We will proceed with the upgrade only if no immediate or potentially dangerous conditions have been identified by our risk-assessment.
If, however, any immediate or potentially dangerous conditions have been identified, we will not proceed with the upgrade unless the client agrees to have all defects corrected or agrees that the affected circuits are left disconnected from the replacement consumer unit. The client will then be invoiced for the total amount of hours we have worked subject to there being a minimum charge of £50.00.
Electrical Installation Condition Reports
(a) Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR) for domestic dwellings are priced on a flat-fee basis, dependent upon the size of the property.
(b) Properties that have outbuildings containing electrical wiring such as garages, sheds and summer houses will incur an additional charge of £30.00 per outbuilding.
(c) Portable appliances that require to be tested for the purposes of private lettings will incur a separate charge of £3.00 per item.
(d) Prices for Electrical Installation Condition Reports carried-out in non-domestic premises such as retail outlets, offices, workshops and industrial units are quoted for on an individual basis.
(e) An Electrical Installation Condition Report is not an ‘electrical safety certificate’. It is a report on the condition of an electrical installation as it was found to be at the time the installation was inspected and tested. The purpose of an EICR is to determine the condition of an electrical installation for its continued use. Our fee is in respect of the work we do during the inspection and testing of the client’s installation and is payable by the client regardless of the outcome.
(f) If an EICR is issued with an unsatisfactory rating, this outcome will not entitle the client to withhold payment or become entitled to any reduction in price thereof.
Certificates
We will issue one or more of the following certificates within thirty days following the completion of any certifiable electrical installation work that we have undertaken:
- Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate / Multiple Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate
- Electrical Installation Certificate
- Fire Alarm Installation, Design And Commissioning Certificate (along with any other additional certificates relating to work that we have carried-out on fire-detection installations).
- Emergency Lighting Completion Certificate For Small/Large Installations (along with any other additional certificates relating to work that we have carried-out on emergency lighting installations).
- Portable Appliance Test Certificate
We reserve the right to withhold certificates in respect of work we have completed, but for which the client has not yet paid.
Client Participation
There are occasions when clients request that they be permitted to 'lend a hand' in projects either to gain knowledge, or to secure a discounted price. We are always happy to allow clients to undertake manual tasks such as digging trenches, cutting chases in walls and lifting flooring. However, for safety and insurance reasons we will not under any circumstances permit clients to install or connect switchgear or any electrical accessories.
LB Electrical Services is committed to training adult trainees to help them become professional electricians. An adult apprentice will often be on site.