Dear Domestic customers....

[skatingsparks]

Dear domestic customer, despite the high crime rate in South Africa it is not fair to assume that we, qualified registered processional electricians are trying to rob you. Yes we accept there are some dodgy unqualified and unprofessional electricians out there but it is us, the qualified electricians are left scratching our heads wondering why when you don't question how Billy Bob the Builder can come in at half the price that that your licensed, registered electrical contractor does. You just go, OK. Then pay the price later.

Also I can't speak for all other electrical contractors but when I do a Compliance Certificate, I do it TO THE LETTER. On the day I test your property, I'll bet my own mother on the the fact that I have done the testing to the best of my ability. I'm sorry if that if you decide to plug in a dodgy toaster that your earth leakage trips. No your earth leakage is not faulty, its working exactly as it should. I'm sorry that if at the time of testing it wasn't raining and I wasn't aware that your old light fitting which you don't want to pay to replace starts letting water in causing problem trips. Next time we, electricians will ensure we thoroughly hose the house down before we do our tests.

Also APPLIANCES ARE NOT PART OF THE COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE, I'll say it again A P P L I A N C E S A R E N O T P A R T O F T H E C O C.

We cannot be held accountable for you also plugging in 4 heaters into one extension lead.

I personally don't do domestic COC any more, reason being you will always choose the R600 guy to come in and have a quick look around over me who will charge more and check it properly. Good luck with that. Also when I do a COC, I get a call a year later with someone screaming and shouting down the phone sayings its my fault that there Geyser/cooker/toaster/outside light is full of water is causing them no end of problems. Quite frankly, I don't need that shit, especially when I know the day I was there, everything I tested was right and its just not worth the headache.

Another thing, yes you have seen lots of DIY program and no, that does not make you project manager. I'm not even going to go into that one. Yes we will give you a price for a socket, if you decide to move it, or add another one(usually as an after thought after the painter is just putting his final coat on your nicely finished wall) it may cost a little more than the first one because we have to for example, go home and get our chasing gear out (again) go to the wholesalers and buy more conduit/recessed boxes etc and we may have to undo stuff we have already done to facilitate you spur of the moment decision to add another socket.

MOST ELECTRICIANS ARE REASONABLY PRICED ITS YOUR INDECISIVENESS WHICH IS EXPENSIVE.

Also electricians are reasonable people. We have an idea in our head how long it will take to, for example refit a house. In our minds we think maybe 3 months from start to finish. If your poor project management makes the job drag on for 10 months then don't expect us to be able to drop everything for you when 7 months after we thought the job would be finished you call in flap and expect us to drive 70km leaving 6 people standing on a shut down which has been planned for a month to come and fit your one socket. We can't do it and if do drop everything and come running at your call, be prepared to pay.

Finally if you don't believe what we are telling you, ask someone else. If you ask an expert his expert opinion, maybe you might want to listen. Its down to you to check weather or not your dealing with an expert. I'm happy to show you all my qualifications. I worked hard for them. I'm the dog bollocks at what I do. I'm not saying i know everything but I'm good enough at what i do to work out most things. Its called experience. Something you don't have when it come to project management.

And please finally, get drawings done on bigger projects. You give it all that "i'm not paying for drawing blah blah blah" It will save you money in the long run.

Enough, I have to go to work now.....

Thanks for listening