ᐅ Electrical Billing – What Is the Standard Approach?

Created on: 13 Sep 2019 21:18
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drno1234
Dear Forum,

We are currently building a house through a construction company. The building specifications state there will be 4 sockets per room. Since this is not sufficient for us, we have chosen to add extra sockets in some places. Price according to the electrician: 90€ for a single socket, 120€ for a double socket.

I would like to explain our issue using the following example:
For one room, we selected
- 1x single socket
- 3x double sockets
According to our understanding, we should pay the extra cost compared to the building specification as follows:
3x surcharge from single to double socket = 3x(120€ - 90€) = 90€.

However, the electrician calculates the cost as follows:
- 2x double sockets cover the 4 sockets per room specified in the building description
- in addition, extra costs apply for 1x double socket + 1x single socket = 120€ + 90€ = 210€.

=> The electrician is charging more than twice what we expected—solely due to a different calculation method.

My question to the forum is:
Is the electrician using a common calculation method, or is this a case of overcharging?
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HilfeHilfe
14 Sep 2019 06:38
Talk to the electrician first. Installing extra outlets afterward always turns out to be more complicated and expensive, even though it’s not rocket science. But an electrician won’t come just to install a few outlets. You need this outlet cutter tool. Shortly after construction, the employee took about 50€ cash. Later, my friend helped me.
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drno1234
14 Sep 2019 07:42
First of all, thank you for the responses.
However, my question was NOT about whether the price per can is reasonable (that is a separate issue) – I wanted to know if the described calculation method is common practice or if it might be fraudulent.
opalau14 Sep 2019 07:52
ypg schrieb:

What does it mean for you?
Nothing else is mentioned. Direct costs should be cheaper.

Maybe I misunderstand, but to me, direct costs are those agreed on directly with the electrician. And these prices are exactly that. So I don’t see how it could be cheaper.

To clarify why he charges so unfairly, a direct conversation is probably the best approach.
M4rvin14 Sep 2019 07:56
It’s clear to everyone that the prices are exaggerated. But, as you said, I also find the calculation questionable. You pay a €30 (about $33) surcharge to turn a single conduit box into a double one. A single conduit box costs more because it includes the cable installation and circuit breaker. Very questionable.
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ypg
14 Sep 2019 09:05
drno1234 schrieb:

or whether this is a scam

This is not a scam. He is being transparent about it. He wants to make more profit, earn more, charge more with this method – nothing more than that.
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benutzer 1004
14 Sep 2019 09:08
What exactly is stated in the construction service description? For example, with us it says 2* single, 1* double, and so on.