Invalid electrical certificate

**AndyD** · 02-Jun-10, 09:16 PM

Ask the reputable electrician to justify the 40K quote. It does sound high for remedial work but without knowing the details of the work involved it wouldn't be fair to comment.

If the original electrician went bankrupt and relocated then you've got very little chance of holding him legally responsible and getting financial compensation.

I'm not a legal expert but maybe if the electrical problems are classed as latent defects then you might be able to take the old owners to task. You should comb through some of the threads in the electrical contracting forum here, there are others with similar problems to yourself.

**Dave A** · 06-Jun-10, 07:38 AM

Not a good situation

Suing people who don't have money could well be throwing good money after bad. And to sue the seller you're going to have to prove he/she was aware of the problems - not easy without telling evidence.

Originally posted by wordfish

We contact the electrician who issued the certificate - and this is where it starts getting interesting as he's now bankcrupt and moved to Port Elizabeth, but he'll get his mate to sort it out...

his mate arrives in a bakkie that isn't roadworthy and inspires absolutely no confidence that he can sort out the problems, so we tell him to leave

That may well have been your best shot to improve your situation right there. I hear you about not having confidence in the guy, but at least then you would have had two fish on the line at worst.

I do tend to wonder about people that claim they are bankrupt in these situations, though. It would have to be a pretty good mate who would sort out the problems for charity - especially if there was a fair sized material bill involved.

**murdock** · 15-Jun-10, 10:30 PM

the eca has a R15000 workmanship guarentee...find out if the contractor was registered with them at the time and if so put in a claim.

good luck...a word of advice...if you are buying a second hand car you get your own mechanic to check it..why on earth do people let the seller have the house inspected...

**Sparks** · 05-Jul-10, 08:03 AM

Why indeed? I would suggest too that the purchaser approach a lawyer regarding sueing the original seller for supplying a COC issued by a suspect individual. He was required to provide a valid COC by law.

**bret owen beets** · 09-Jul-10, 01:02 PM

first of all if he signed the cetificate of he is responsible (or has taken it upon himself to say that the installation is correct to regulations.as he is an accredited electrician. as long as you havent done any changes to the installation. you can report him and if he,s at fault/neglect he will loose he,s licence. (wont catch the next guy,or get someone hurt) call department of labour 0828777223/0828777502 they deal with these problems.

**AndyD** · 10-Jul-10, 12:58 AM

Hi bret owen beets,

How is the dept of labour able to deal with this problem? Do they have the expertise, teeth or even mandate to take on these cases?

**Dave A** · 10-Jul-10, 09:49 AM

Originally posted by AndyD

Do they have the expertise, teeth or even mandate to take on these cases?

That's the broader problem with regulation that most people miss - it may have the power to punish the transgressor, but that's something quite different from providing relief for the party that has been predjudiced.

Will the department ensure that Wordfish's intallation is brought up to standard without cost to Wordfish?

Invalid electrical certificate

Invalid electrical certificate

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