Allowances (where applicable)

Some contractors who are coordinating a significant build (such as an extension or new build property) will provide an allowance to the customer in respect of the electrics needed.

 This will usually reflect the basic electrics required in a room. For example, an extension to create a utility might need, as a minium, a centre light in the ceiling and a number of sockets for powering appliances. Therefore the allowances for this room could be one centre light with a white switch and two white double sockets. 

However, we often find that customers require a higher specification of electrics to reflect the quality of the overall project. In the example above, this might mean that the clients choose three down-lights in the

ceiling rather than a centre light and

might have an extra double socket and require the outlets to be in a chrome finish rather than white.

The result of this is that the client has some of the allowances (eg the two double sockets) but doesn’t have other things (eg the centre light) and then has additonal items (eg the down-lights, additional double socket and the enhanced outlets).

We found that trying to document this was resulting in significant confusion with the understanding of our quotations and invoices as customers were seeing items they weren’t having being included and then removed from the quotation.

Since 2016, we have used a different approach to simplify this. We now take the allowances list provided by the builder and work out the monetary value of this. In our quotations we cost the items that the client has actually selected and then deduct the monetary value of the allowances provided from the overall cost. This way the quotation and invoice clearly follow the customer choices and not the builder allowances.

For example, in the utility example above, the cost of the builder allowances of a centre light and two double sockets might be £150.00 plus VAT, whereas, the cost of the items actually required by the customer may be £340.00 plus VAT – in this case they would ultimately be billed  for £190.00 representing the net cost of the extras they have selected. The quotation and invoice will list (item by item) the electrics the customer is actually  having and provide a total cost.  We will then deduct the value of the builder allowances to leave a net cost payable by the customer which we refer to as the “client extras” (ie everything over and above what the builder is paying for).

* The figures shown above are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the actual cost of the work carried-out.

We trust that this explanation clarifies the situation but should you have any questions regarding allowances and client extras then please ask for these to be clarified before any work commences.

Quotations

Our quotation is valid for thirty days from the date shown on the quotation.

Should we be instructed to carry out work after this point we are happy to issue a revised quotation before work commences, upon request.

The pricing of itemised quotations assumes that all elements of the work are instructed as our fixed costs are spread across all the items. Where a customer chooses to instruct us for only some rather than all the work then we reserve the right to amend the pricing of the individual items accordingly.

Any errors in our quotation (whether discovered by the company or the customer) will be corrected so that neither party is disadvantaged.

Where a product brand is detailed in a quotation, we reserve the right to substitute  this for another of equivalent quality (in our opinion) should, for any reason, we be unable to source the original brand in time for installation.

Where lighting units quoted are based on our estimate from an architect’s drawings, it may transpire that the actual number required to provide the appropriate level of lighting may turn out to be greater which will result in

 an amendment to the quotation and total cost.

Please be aware that due to the bespoke nature of gate installations, we would request written acceptance of the quotation by the customer. Three weeks before manufacturing commences,

we will require a deposit payment of 25% of the total cost with the balance due upon completion. Both the deposit and balance can only be paid by bank transfer. Once manufacture has commenced the order cannot be cancelled and must be paid for in full.

The cost of installing client-supplied light fittings assumes that this can be undertaken using our standard tools. Should specialist equipment need to be hired (for example – platforms)

then this must be organised and paid for directly by the client.

When installing client-supplied light fittings (or any item with easily breakable parts), our service is limited to the connection and fixing of the core fitting itself and checking that it operates correctly. We will not attach any shades (glass or fabric) that come with the fitting nor any client-supplied bulbs due to the risk of breakage.

Where a quotation makes reference to using existing cabling for an installation,

this is on the assumption that the cables are suitable for the new purpose and

meet current regulations. Should it transpire that this is not the case

then the price of the installation will be increased to cover the cost of the new cables.

Our quotation will include the replacement of an existing consumer unit when we believe that this does not meet current legislation or any alterations needed to include  it in the specification could pose a risk to us or the home-owner or if we feel that within a time-scale of five years the unit is likely to or could pose a safety risk to the property and/or its occupiers.

We work with a variety of industry partners and may introduce their services to customers or be introduced to new customers by them. The additional services from the partner companies may be complementary to the work we are undertaking  or distinctly separate. Each company will quote individually for the work that

it will undertake and each company will subsequently invoice the client for

 their work only. This means that the customer may receive a number of quotations and/or invoices for the work that they choose to commission. We will never include the  cost of another company’s work in our quotation or invoice and the client will have

 a separate legal and contractual relationship with each of the companies who do the work.

In larger projects such as extensions, new-build or property remodelling, the electrical work we undertake will comprise two elements: first-fix and second-fix. First-fix covering

the core cabling and installation of the hidden items (back-boxes etc.) whilst second-fix includes the installation of the outlets and sockets (often following plastering). Dependent  on the size of the project the time between these two parts can vary from weeks to

months. Our quotation will cover the cost of the two visits for first-fix and second-fix.

For client convenience, when we undertake a rewire we will normally look to do the first-fix and second-fix stages concurrently (effectively having one visit albeit spread over a number of days).

However, there are often times when we need to make an additional visit. This is often related to the installation of a kitchen or bathroom where we were previously able to carry out most

 of the second fix but need to return to finalise work after kitchen fitters have installed cabinets or bathroom fitters have installed sanitary ware. However, there can be many reasons  why an additional visit is subsequently required that was not planned or quoted for.

In these circumstances, each additional visit will be chargeable (either through our Call Out Visit charging structure if a short visit or through an additional quotation if a more significant return).

Where we supply technology products (such as, but not limited to, CCTV systems, security cameras, video doorbells etc.) then our service is limited to a supply and install basis and we

do not provide a set-up or demonstration on how to use the products and any apps or

accounts required are the responsibility of the customer.

All our prices are subject to VAT at the rate set by HM Government

(currently 20% for most standard electrical installations.

When we issue a formal quotation, the prices shown will clearly illustrate our net cost, the amount of VAT payable and the total cost for the work.

On occasions, possibly due to expediency or in an emergency, we may provide information  and prices for work that is not in the form of a formal quotation, for example by text

message or social media. In these cases, any prices shown will be the net charge made by us and, therefore, the customer will need to add 20% to the total to calculate  the correct amount that they would need to pay.

If in any doubt, please ask for a formal quotation before agreeing to proceed with any work.

Preparation for our Arrival



We recommend that any rooms (including loft spaces) that we will work in are emptied by the home-owner

before our arrival. Should this not be the case and whilst we will take appropriate care, we cannot be held responsible for any damage caused to items within the property or decoration of the property through the necessary moving of furniture and other household items. Where the work involves a number of

 rooms, we can advise which rooms will be worked upon during the following business day upon request.

Our standard pricing does not cover the cost of removal of existing electrical items and this remains the responsibility of the customer - where possible we would ask for this to be done before

 our arrival. If we have agreed to take away and dispose of any items then this will be clearly shown on our quotation and the price confirmed.

We do not undertake any excavation work needed. Any breaking of floors or outside ground needs to be undertaken before our arrival and the making good carried out after we leave. The cost of this is not included within this quotation.

Our quotation is valid for thirty days from the date shown on the quotation.

Should we be instructed to carry out work after this point we are happy to

issue a revised quotation before work commences upon request.

Communication

For reasons of speed and efficiency, we communicate with customers electronically and we would require a valid email address from any

prospective client.

All documents such as quotations and invoices are sent to customers

as pdf attachments to our email.

Items such as Part-P certification for notifiable work, NICEIC Domestic Electrical Installation Condition Reports

and Electrical Installation Condition Reports issued in accordance with The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 will all be provided only in pdf format via email.

All correspondence with customers is issued in good faith and we cannot be held responsible for any failure to receive this whatsoever the cause.

In rare circumstances (such as bad weather conditions, staff illness, unavailability of necessary materials etc.) we may have to cancel an appointment we have with the customer – we will always look to provide as much notice as possible but cannot guarantee the degree of this. Whilst we regret the inconvenience and potential costthere may be to the customer, we cannot be held responsible for any financial

loss incurred.

Materials

All outlets (eg switches, sockets etc.) are in white unless otherwise stated. Should you wish to upgrade outlets to an alternative finish then please advise us before any work commences.

When an upgrade to outlets is requested, we will specify pricing based

on our ‘VP’ range of switches and sockets.

These are available in the following finish combinations:

Satin Chrome Effect

with White Inserts

Satin Chrome Effect

with Black Inserts

Polished Chrome Effect

with White Inserts

Polished Chrome

with Black Inserts

Black Nickel Effect

with Black Inserts

Antique Brass Effect

with Black Inserts

For simplicity these may be shown on quotations and invoices simply as ‘outlet upgrade’ and the client is free to choose one of the above up to five working days before installation.

A quotation or invoice which does not show the words ‘outlet upgrades’ or

'VP range' in the outlet description will refer to the standard white version.

If, at the time of installation we are unable to obtain the necessary outlets from the ‘VP’ brand range, we reserve the right to substitute with a brand we feel is of equal quality.

Should a finish option be required that is not shown in the list above or a specific brand of outlet is desired then we are happy to source these on behalf of the customer and would provide bespoke pricing once the cost is known.

Our USB double sockets either comprise one USB A socket and one USB C socket or two USB A sockets dependent on supplier availability. We will ensure that all the USB sockets installed will be of the same type to provide a unified appearance throughout the property.

Satin-Chrome Effect with White Inserts 

Polished-Chrome Effect with White Inserts

Black-Nickel Effect with White Inserts

Satin-Chrome Effect with Black Inserts         

Polished-Chrome Effect with Black Inserts   

Antique-Brass Effect with Black Inserts

Damage

Whilst we will take appropriate care, certain installations (such as but not limited to: re-wires) will inevitably lead to damage to existing plasterwork and existing decoration. We will not be responsible for rectifying any such damage which would need to be undertaken by a contractor appointed and paid for by the property owner.

Should we need to lift carpets in rooms with fitted wardrobes, we may need to cut carpets where the carpets meet the edge of the wardrobe. The property owner would need to appoint and pay

a contractor to rectify this following the completion of our work.

Specialist Electrics

When we relocate fixed-line telephone sockets, extend cabling for these or install an additional socket, the cabling terminates at the outlet and final connection is not  undertaken by us nor is the cost included within the quotation and the customer would need to instruct an authorised installer to carry-out

this work.

When we install Cat6/RJ45 cabling and TV coax cabling, this terminates at the outlet and final connection to media apparatus is not undertaken by us nor is the cost included within the quotation. We are more than happy to recommend a third-party  installer to carry out this work should the customer so require.

TV coax sockets and cabling are compatible only with a modern, digital aerial - should one not exist, we are again happy to recommend a third-party installer to arrange this.

Legislation

Our understanding of current legislation is that the electrics we provide for new-build properties are VAT exempt and those for completion of a full property refurbishment are at the reduced rate

of 5% and our quotations are priced accordingly. However, we strongly advise clients to take the necessary professional taxation advice on this point. Should legislation change or a specific property be not eligible for this exemption then we reserve the right to amend a quotation or invoice at any stage and should payment have been made then we will invoice the client for the unpaid VAT amount due to HMRC.

We will require a copy of the planning permission documentation stating that the project qualifies for the reduced rate of VAT or the VAT exemption.

For new-build properties, items quoted will be suitable to meet low energy guidelines (such as Part-F) based on our understanding of current legislation. However, we strongly recommend that clients take the necessary professional guidance to ensure that any item satisfies local building regulations and should enhanced products be required (for example: heat recirculating fans) then we need to be advised before work commences. We reserve the right to amend quotation prices due to any changes of this nature and to charge for the removal  and replacement of items where we are not advised before installation.

Invoice and Payment

Any errors in our invoice (whether discovered by the company or

the customer) will be corrected so that neither party is disadvantaged.

Any customer queries regarding an invoice must be raised with us within seven days of the date of the invoice. After this time it is assumed that the customer accepts the invoice "as is" and will proceed to make full payment.

The rate of VAT shown is that which applies at the time the quotation was prepared. If there is any change to this rate between quotation stage and payment by the customer then the new rate will be applied and our invoice altered accordingly.

Where the electrical work we undertake runs alongside building work (for example, an extension, renovation, kitchen installation or re-wire), the work quoted for would be undertaken in at least two stages. Upon completion of first fix, we will send our invoice

detailing the full cost of the work through to completion and we will ask for a payment equal to half the total cost (including VAT) to reflect the materials

and labour costs experienced by us up to that point.

Whilst the actual cost split between first and second fix work may technically vary slightly  (from a 50/50 split) we feel this process provides a simpler approach and allows the customer to budget accurately from the start of the work. Should the total cost of the work be comprised allowances by another contractor (eg a builder) and extras specified by the client then the payment requested from the client at this point could be equal to the total amount of the client extras dependent upon the split between the two elements. We will then bill the balance upon completion.

In cases where a few items remain outstanding because we are awaiting upon another contractor or supplier, we may ask for the balance to be paid less the value of the items still to be completed (which we will refer to as a completion retention). Acceptance

of the quoted work assumes that the customer is happy and prepared to proceed on this basis.

Should we employ a third-party contractor to carry out work and the

property owner cancels the work and/or appointment, any charge made to us by

 the third-party contractor will become the responsibility of the customer.

We accept payment by cheque, cash (up to £250.00) and BACS transfer (internet banking). Due to the increased administration costs we incur for processing cash and cheque payments, these will be subject to an additional charge of 2.5% of the  invoice value or £5.00 (whichever is the greater).

Payment is due within seven days of the issue date of our invoice and all

goods remain the property of the company until paid for in full.

We reserve the right to charge a 5% administration fee where full payment

is not received within seven days of the date of the invoice.

Whilst a payment to us is outstanding we will not commence or continue  any further work nor will we accept warranty claims on any work, current or previous, carried out by us.

Where reports (such as EICR) are commissioned, we aim to issue the

documentation in seven days from receipt of full payment, but on occasion this timescale may be extended if we are awaiting the necessary support paperwork.

Where Part-P notifiable work is carried out, the Electrical Installation Certificate will be  registered following full payment of the invoice balance and be supplied to the lead contractor (or customer if the work was instructed directly) within 28 days of this date. In situations where separate billing has occurred (as described above) then the certificate is issued within 28 days of receipt of the final payment.

VAT

All our prices are subject to VAT at the rate set by HM Government (currently 20% for most standard electrical installations.

When we issue a formal quotation, the prices shown will clearly illustrate

our net cost, the amount of VAT payable and the total cost for the work.

On occasions, possibly due to expediency or in an emergency,

we may provide information and prices for work that is not in the form of a formal quotation, for example by text message or social media.

In these cases, any prices shown will be the net charge made by us and,

therefore, the customer will need to add 20% to the total to calculate the correct amount that they would need to pay.

If in any doubt, please ask for a formal quotation before agreeing to proceed with any work.

Warranty

Our installation work is covered by a twelve month warranty. If a part supplied by us fails due to a manufacturing defect we will liaise with the supplier on behalf of our customer to obtain a replacement. Should there be any carriage charges levied by the manufacturer in this process then these will be paid for by the customer. Should the manufacturer decline to replace the item (for whatever reason) then Advanced Electrical cannot be held responsible.

Consumable items (such as batteries and rechargeable batteries) are covered by a three month  warranty due to their life span being affected by how they are used by the product in which they are installed.

If a product carries a manufacturer's enhanced guarantee in excess of our twelve month warranty  and fails in this extended period then the responsibility for obtaining the repair / replacement rests with the client and should we be requested to uninstall or reinstall the item affected then we will apply

 our call-out charge(s) for this service.

Where we install client-supplied items, our warranty is limited purely to the installation work undertaken. If we attend a warranty visit and it transpires that the fault lies with the client-supplied item then  we will charge our call-out fee (that applies at that time) plus the relevant materials and labour costs associated with rectifying the problem.

If the outcome of a warranty visit is that there is no fault with either the electrical item supplied by us  or the installation work we carried-out or that the fault is due to a reason separate to our work then we will charge our call-out fee (that applies at that time) plus the relevant materials and labour costs associated with rectifying the problem should the customer wish us to do so.

We will not undertake any warranty work where a payment to us remains outstanding, whether or not the payment in question relates to the work for which the warranty claim is being made.

Reporting of snags is required by email directly to us and within 28 days of the date the second-fix work was completed by us. After this time, any queries will be dealt with as warranty work.

GDPR

UK - General Data Protection Regulation – The current data protection rules require us to explain to you what kind of information is collected and stored by us,

how it may be used and when it may need to be shared:

The information we have about customers is either provided by the customer themselves or via a connected third party (for example, a builder, if the electrical work is related to an extension;

 an insurance company, if the electrical work is related to an insurance claim;

a landlord, if the electrical work is related to a rented property).

The information held on our database is limited to name, address, telephone number and email address. We may receive and store other documents which hold additional information but this is not entered on our database.

For our alarm customers, we also store the date of the last alarm service

carried out.

All client data is held on our computer and backed-up daily to a separate hard-drive at our administration premises. We do not store any client personal information on cloud-based servers.

We use the information we hold to enable us to produce quotations and

invoices for customers as well as allowing us to keep in contact.

We do not actively share customer information with other organisations – from time to time we may need to give a connected third party (eg a builder) details regarding the mutual customer (although this will be limited to the information shown above).

Where the cost of the electrical work is shared between a builder and the customer, we reserve the right to advise both parties of the current payment status of the other party.

We do not sell or give your information to third party marketing companies.

We do not currently operate a marketing database although very rarely we may email customers about important situations (for instance changes in legislation). Should this situtation change, we pledge that we would send our existing customers messages no more than once a month. At any time, a customer could opt-out by emailing STOP to info@advanced-electrical.net

Should you have any questions regarding the UK - General Data Protection Regulations then please contact us at info@advanced-electrical.net

Advanced Electrical (Midlands) Ltd - Company Information

Registered Address: 31 Littleworth Hill, Hednesford, Cannock WS12 1NS

Trading Address: Unit 4A, Ash Park, Hyssop Close, Cannock WS11 7XA

Customer Care Telephone Number: 01543 548879

Emergency Help: 07890 515161

Email Address: info@advanced-electrical.net

Company Registration Number: 07988094

VAT Registration Number: 161 4501 41

NICEIC Certification Number: 616066000

QBE UK Limited Liability Insurance Policy Number: 10006122SF

Bank Account Details: HSBC, Sort-Code 40-17-60, Account Number 51581031