Electrical contractor work redo process and costs

[Thys LOW Elektries]

Good day, a client phoned me with electrical problems at their "new home" Half of the house is a rebuild and the other half is new.
The building contractor used an electrical contractor; the cost of the electrical work was included in the building cost.
A lot of electrical work was not completed, plugs and lights were not done according to plan, and a quick COC was given for the house. A number of problems arose after the work was carried out and finally, the client chased the contractor off his property.
I was asked to fix the plugs and lights not working but the wiring is a mess. Surfix termination without protection, bridged circuits, aircon on a plug circuit and so the list goes on.
Can the client send my bill and the work done to the contractor for repayment?
Can the contractor refuse to hand the COC over due to outstanding payment?
Is it wise to fix the faults without the owner having a valid COC?

If I take before and after pictures when fixing this mess will it be sufficient if the previous contractor gets difficult?

Any advice would be welcome.

[Dave A]

Can the contractor refuse to hand the COC over due to outstanding payment?

As I understand it, DoEL says you can't withhold the COC for electrical work done due to outstanding payment. The logic is the electrical contractor must issue a COC for the work they have done per the Electrical Installation Regulations - i.e. a statutory legislation matter. Non-payment is a contractual issue where you are expected to commence civil litigation to collect the debt.

On your other questions, I suggest you consider what your views might be if you were in the position of the original electrical contractor.

[GCE]

Sounds more like a contractual dispute

At the end of the day the owner is responsible for his electrical installation as per OHSA so I suppose he needs to make the call

As Dave points out be careful of the clients intentions or previous history

With that said I have had a similar situation but on a new townhouse/estate complex - The first client that approached was a regular and well known - We assisted with a list of faults , visual , without opening anything and got to 45 faults , basic school boy errors - They passed onto developer and electrician who queried some of the faults like ELU on geyser and 25amp CB on plug circuits - Would appear that contractor last bought or read edition 1,8 of SANS
Contractor fixed up mess and we did a check again and repaired on owners instruction - It then got further inspections from the balance of units

[Thys LOW Elektries]

I decided not to get involved or give advice, the last thing I need is to be drag into the dispute they have because I said this, or I said that.
I just wanted to help, but this fight they have to fight on their own.

[Derlyn]

A wise decision. This is a perfect example of knowing when to CUT THE LINE.

I was taught years ago when to cut the line.

When you are out at sea on a skiboat with 3 other anglers, fishing light tackle and you hook into something really big, the following happens.
The other anglers have to immediately pull in their lines so as not to cause any obstruction.
Now it's you and this monster, on your own.
After a fight of 10 to 15 minutes you will know approximately how long it's going to take to land whatever you have hooked into.

You now have choices to make.

Fight this thing for another 2 to 3 hours and pissing off the other anglers who don't have their lines in the water and are getting agitated, remembering that the closer
to the boat you get this monster, the bigger the chances are of losing it, or CUT THE LINE now so that everyone can carry on enjoying themselves.

The wise thing would be to CUT THE LINE so that everyone can carry on fishing and enjoy themselves.

Once again, I think it was a wise move.

[Sparks]

Exactly my view. Especially with all the inverters lately contractors have been holding homeowners to ransom demanding ridiculous fees for COCs. A contractor is obligated by law to certify his work at no extra cost above what was quoted to do the work.