Shoemaker:

There is not a single answer to all the issues you raise and unless your name is Robert "Shoemaker" Maxwell and have access to other people's money, no answer which will give you much comfort. I hope that you are big enough to accept a response mainly for the benefit of others.

The tradesman's behaviour is typical of that featured on BBC Watchdog "Rogue Traders". If you are familiar with the programme you will know that obtaining monetary redress is almost impossible.

The fundamental problem is that an "emergency electrician" has been used for a problem (bedroom lights) which arguably is "not an emergency". There is a big premium to be paid for "emergency" response - even when it is tardy, or perhaps that should be especially when it is tardy. A better solution would have been to contact a local electrical contractor registered with a body such as NICEIC.

I can't specifically address the £242 without knowledge of the itemised breakdown, but given that the lights presumably were previously working, probably the remedy didn't *require* a junction box unless the fault was inaccesible (something which can't be completely excluded), and anyway for an emergency electrician not to have a junction box in the van is just an excuse to charge for a trip to the merchants at "emergency" rates. An expensive junction box.

Had you used an accredited contractor the failure to replace the ceiling light covers could have been taken up with the contractor under threat of reference to the accrediting organisation (NICEIC typically).

The "missing earth" would not have been provided (or charged for I hope) unless you asked for the work to be done. Similarly if you want "certification" you need to pay for a Periodic Inspection Report or PIR. Neither is work which should be entrusted to an emergency electrician.

The "lights flickering" is just possibly related to the original fault. Do you know any competent DIYers who could help with tracing the cable which causes the lights to flicker?

Hi can anybody provide advise on the following. We had a problem with our house lighting in that 3 lights in 2 x bedrooms and 1 on landing weren't working. Having checked old fusebox nothing had blown. Call a company who said that they could get an electrician as they had 1 in the area within 35 minutes and as was close to my area I agreed the stated £35 per half hour. They said they would email terms and conditions to allow sign-off of work done etc which never arrived. My inlaws were at the house so again was fine. After 3 calls I was told that the electrician was actually coming from Maidstone in Kent. He eventually arrived 3 hours after my initial call. I came home to be told that he had charged £242 inc VAT to fix a new junction box in the loft which included going to get a junction box as he didn't have one with him. It also had an Emergency Call-out charge that at no time had I been advised about !!! He took 45 minutes to get the box?

On inspection by myself, the loft hatch had been broken in that it appears he had pulled the door rather than pushed.The 3 light fittings had the ceiling fitting covering the wires not attached. He had left his torch in the loft also. I wanted to see if he fitted the Junction box and could not find anything visible unless under the loft boarding. He advised that there was no earth for the electric but appears not to have done anything about it.The lights flicker when moving an electrical wire in the loft also.

I've probably rambled too much but I'm incensed by this. He provided an invoice but no actual certificate for work carried out also. I've left a message on their answerphone to call back about this. Please can I get advise about. I If I'm covered by paying by Credit Card. What can I force them to fix at their cost. Can I reclaim costs for replacing loft hatch etc ? Was it illegal for him not to leave a certificate for his work on electrical equipment ??