These Terms and Conditions are the standard terms which apply to the provision of electrical services by North Herts Sparks Ltd to customers who require electrical services to be provided at their property. Please read them carefully and ensure that you understand and agree to them. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
These Terms and Conditions apply where the customer is a “Consumer” as defined by the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
1. Information about Us
1.1. North Herts Sparks Ltd are a Private Limited Company. We are not currently VAT registered.
1.2. Company registration number 14290867.
1.3. Registered office address: 4 Bowershott, Letchworth, Herts, SG6 2ES.
2. Contact Details
2.1. Address: North Herts Sparks Ltd, 4 Bowershott, Letchworth, Herts, SG6 2ES.
2.2. Telephone: 07818532062
2.3. Email: info@northhertssparks.co.uk
3. Orders
3.1. The majority of our work is domestic and commercial electrical work, carried out without the provision of a quote or estimate.
3.2. We accept orders for Electrical Services via telephone, email or text message.
3.3. Once work has been ordered by you and accepted by us, you and we will enter a contract (“Agreement”), which will incorporate, and be subject to, these Terms and Conditions.
4. Estimates and Quotes
4.1. Any estimate (verbal or written) will be given as an indication only of the typical cost of works and will not form any basis of a formal contract between North Herts Sparks Ltd and the customer.
4.2. Estimated times and costs are given in good faith and assume the existing installation is in a satisfactory condition, meeting the minimum requirements of BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations. Any works required to bring the relevant parts of the installation up to standard will be at additional cost, however this will be brought to your attention as soon as identified.
4.3. Should a fixed price quotation be requested, a pre-work survey of your electrical installation may be necessary, in order to ascertain the condition of the existing installation. This may incur a charge.
4.4. Any quotation or estimate is based on a non-destructive survey and assumes that the existing electrical installation meets the minimum requirements of BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations and has a supply present. Should we identify additional work that is required to bring the installation up to the relevant standards, we will bring this to your attention and provide you with an estimate/quote to complete any remedial work.
4.5. You may accept an estimate or quotation by signing and dating a copy of it and returning it to us within 21 days. When this has been returned and the deposit has been paid (if applicable), a legally binding contract will be created for us to provide the electrical services and for you to pay for them.
4.6. If you wish to change your order after accepting the estimate/quotation, please contact us and we will tell you whether or not the change can be accommodated, along with any changes to the fees payable as a result. If we cannot accommodate the changes or the changes to the fees or other matters are not acceptable to you, you may cancel in accordance with our cancellation policy.
4.7. Where a breakdown of the works into component parts is provided, the estimated/quoted costs of each component will take into consideration an overlap of workings and the efficient use of time. These costs will only be applicable if the entire works are carried out in the time frame originally discussed. Where a customer decides to only carry out some of the works or decides to split the work over a different time frame a new estimate/quotation will be necessary.
4.8. Where works include the replacement of accessories, we will itemise those fittings visible during the survey. No liability can be accepted for any additional accessories which are found subsequently, for example, following the moving of furniture. These will be charged as extras and work may need to be carried out at a later stage if such items need to be ordered.
5. Fees and Payment
5.1. Our standard hourly rate will be charged at: £50
5.2. Our standard working hours are between 09:00hrs – 17:00hrs Monday to Friday inclusive. Work required by the customer outside of these hours may be charged at an additional rate which will be agreed, in writing, prior to works taking place.
5.3. Out of hours/emergency call out:
£100 first hour.
£80 per hour, or part of, thereafter.
5.4. Labour costs will include travelling time to and from site.
5.5. For works exceeding 5 days, a reduced hourly rate may be applied, which will be agreed in writing prior to the works taking place.
5.6. An estimate/ quotation will include the price payable for the electrical services and for the estimated products required.
5.7. We will where reasonably possible use only the products (and quantities of products) set out in the order, however if additional products are required, we will adjust the final fee to reflect this. We will keep any increases to a necessary minimum, keep you informed at all times, and will not proceed without your agreement.
5.8. If the price of products or services increases during the period between your acceptance of a quotation and the start date, we will inform you of the increase and of any difference in the final fee. If You do not wish to accept the increase, you may cancel and receive a full refund of all sums paid including, where applicable, the deposit.
5.9. Any faults found during inspection and testing, which require immediate or urgent rectification, must be made safe prior to that circuit being reconnected. Any costs for such work will be in addition to any previously quoted/estimated figure. Such issues will be brought to the customer’s attention as soon as practicable.
6. Health and Safety
6.1. The health and safety of customers and employees is taken extremely seriously and therefore work is carried out in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974, the Electricity at Work Act 1989, BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations and any other relevant legislation in force at the time of the works.
6.2. Before commencing work, we will carry out a brief visual risk assessment and inform you of any concerns. If any risks are unable to be addressed immediately, work may need to be postponed until rectified. Similarly, if any risks become apparent during the course of the work, these will need to be resolved before work continues.
6.3. In order to keep children and pets safe, they should be kept away from the work area and supervised at all times whilst work is carried out within the property.
6.4. If the presence of asbestos is suspected/known within the property, please bring this to our attention at the earliest opportunity. If asbestos is suspected whilst work is being carried out, work will be suspended and tests must be carried out by a specialist contractor to ascertain if this is the case. Once confirmation is received that either asbestos is not present, or has been removed, work can resume. The costs of testing for asbestos, and any additional work required for removal by specialist contractors shall be borne by the customer.
6.5. North Herts Sparks Ltd hold public liability insurance.
Please contact us if you require further details.
7. Electrical Services
7.1. All electrical installation work will comply with BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations and applicable Building Regulations in force at the time of the works.
7.2. We will ensure that the Electrical Services are performed with reasonable care and skill and to a reasonable standard which is consistent with best trade practice. We comply with all relevant codes of practice.
7.3. It is the customer’s responsibility to obtain any relevant consents, licences or other permissions needed from any third parties such as landlords, planning authorities, local authorities or similar. These must be obtained before the electrical services commence.
7.4. We will provide the electrical services in accordance with the order / specification set out in the accepted estimate/quotation (as may be amended by agreement between you and us from time to time). We may provide sketches, plans, diagrams or similar documents in advance of the work. Any such material is intended for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to provide an exact specification nor to guarantee specific results.
7.5. We will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that the products we use match those chosen by you and are consistent throughout the Property (or relevant parts of the Property). There may be slight variations to the same Products as a result of differences between photographs, catalogues and other materials, and the Products themselves, or as a result of minor technical changes which will not impact your use of the Product in question. We will, on request, provide a sample of the relevant product, however this may incur a charge.
7.6. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure continuous and unhindered access to the site at the agreed times. Where this is not provided, we reserve the right to charge for any additional time or visits required to complete the work.
7.7. You may either give us a set of keys to the Property or be present at the agreed times to give us access. All keys will be kept safely and securely at all times.
7.8. Every effort will be made to undertake installation work in a clean and tidy manner, using dust sheets and vacuuming as necessary. However, please be aware that some additional vacuuming and cleaning down of surfaces should be expected afterwards.
7.9. Any equipment, or furnishings susceptible to damage from dust and items of sentimental/monetary value should be removed from the work area or suitably covered, prior to our arrival on site to avoid accidental damage.
7.10. The clearing and/or moving of furniture and other items obstructing access to work areas is not included within the quote/estimate, however efforts will be made to accommodate this where possible. No liability can be held for any damage caused should this service be required.
7.11. The majority of electrical work requires testing and certification, in order to comply with BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations. In order to ensure that full testing of circuits can be completed, please be aware that access may be required to parts of the property which are not within the immediate location of the work being carried out.
7.12. Whilst carrying out installation, inspection and testing work, it is likely that the electricity supply will be interrupted. This may affect all aspects of the installation and not just the specific circuit being worked on. Every effort is made to minimise disruption, however this should be considered when scheduling in work.
7.13. No liability can be accepted for loss of power, loss of data or interruptions to online work. It is advisable to make alternative arrangements to accommodate this, for example computer battery back-up and not rely on uninterrupted access to wi-fi/internet for the duration of our visit.
7.14. Where possible, cables will be concealed in building voids, under floors or chased into walls. Where impracticable or requested by the customer, cables will be surface run (either clipped direct or enclosed in trunking/conduit).
7.15. Unless agreed beforehand, chases to walls, etc. will be left un-filled. Filling, skimming, and final decoration is excluded from the quote/estimate.
7.16. Where carpet or floor coverings require lifting, best endeavours will be made to avoid damage and to refit to an acceptable standard. Based on the age and condition of the carpet/floor covering, this may not always be possible, and it may be prudent to employ a professional carpet fitter in these cases. Please speak to us if you have any concerns.
7.17. Where work is to last for more than one working day, we will, where reasonably possible, leave the property in a clean and tidy state and minimise any disruption to you while work is being carried out. We will, wherever possible, store all tools and materials only in areas where work is being carried out or remove them from the property at the end of each working day.
7.18. Every effort will be made to ensure that electrical items are plugged back in and in working order before we leave the premises, however, no liability can be held for losses resulting from an electrical item not being plugged back in and/or switched on. We advise customers to check all equipment and appliances upon completion of our work.
7.19. Removal from site and disposal of rubble, materials, general waste and packaging is generally not included.
8. Certification
8.1. Certification and documentation will be issued in accordance with BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations, BS5839 Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems for Buildings, and Part P of the Building Regulations.
8.2. Any additional observations regarding your electrical installation, made during completion of work, will be noted on the electrical certification or invoice for your reference.
8.3. Certification will be issued with the invoice, either via email, or post. It is important to retain these documents and keep them for future reference, as a record of the work that has been carried out, confirmation that the work has been installed to the current requirements of BS7671 IET Wiring Standards and in the event of an insurance claim or selling your property.
8.4. Should copies of electrical certification be required at a later date, this may incur a small administration charge.
9. Payment
9.1. An invoice will be issued on completion of works. Payment is due on receipt of invoice, unless specifically agreed beforehand in writing. Our preferred payment method is via bank transfer, however a cash is also accepted. We are currently unable to accept credit/debit card payments.
9.2. If you do not pay an invoice by the due date, we may charge you interest on the overdue sum at the rate of 8% above the Bank of England base rate until payment is made in full. Interest will accrue on a daily basis from the due date until the actual date of payment, whether before or after judgment.
9.3. If you have contacted us promptly to dispute an invoice in good faith, we will not charge interest while such a dispute is ongoing.
10. Risk and Title of Goods
10.1. The risk in all goods supplied shall pass to the customer upon delivery. All goods supplied shall remain the property of North Herts Sparks Ltd until all sums due have been paid in full.
10.2. The customer is responsible for ensuring that the property is insured for the duration of the installation work.
11. Warranty
11.1. All workmanship is guaranteed for a period of 5 years.
11.2. All materials are guaranteed for 12 Months from the date of installation (unless stated otherwise in writing).
11.3. If you discover a defect with a product supplied by us, or if they have been incorrectly described, please inform us as soon as possible, using the contact details in section 2.
11.4. Within the first 30 calendar days, you are entitled, at your option, to a full refund, to keep the product(s) at a reduced price, or to a repair or replacement.
11.5. After the first 30 calendar days, and for the first twelve months, we will, at our option, repair or replace any defective products or, if a repair or replacement is not practicable or possible, or if a repair or replacement is unsuccessful, you are entitled to a full refund. Alternatively, you may keep the product(s) at a reduced price.
11.6. After the first twelve months, if any product develops a fault, you must prove that the product in question was faulty at the time we supplied it and you took ownership of it. You may be entitled to a repair or replacement, or to a partial refund for up to six years depending upon the nature of the product and how long it can reasonably be expected to last.
11.7. Such cover does not extend to goods supplied by the customer or third- party, or in the event of physical damage, negligence by you, as a result of your failure to follow instructions given by the Electrician or as included with the Product, wilful misuse or instances where the installation has been altered or tampered with by third parties. This warranty also excludes fair wear and tear to lamps, fuses and other consumables.
11.8. Where projects involve works by third party trades, any damage to the electrical installation by third parties shall remain the responsibility of the customer. Recovery of such costs from any third party shall be the customer’s responsibility.
12. Liability
12.1. We will be responsible for any foreseeable loss or damage that you may suffer as a result of our breach of these Terms and Conditions or as a result of our negligence. Loss or damage is foreseeable if it is an obvious consequence of the breach or negligence or if it is contemplated by you and us when the agreement is entered into. We will not be responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable.
12.2. We will maintain suitable and valid insurance including public liability insurance.
12.3. If we cause any damage to the Property; disproportionate, or not as a result to the works, we will make good that damage at no additional cost to you. We are not responsible for any pre-existing faults or damage in or to your property that we may discover while providing the electrical services. (unnecessary, disproportionate, or not as a result of the work requested to complete).
12.4. We are not liable for any loss or damage you suffer which results from your failure to follow any reasonable instructions given by us or as included with the Product.
12.5. Unless you advise us in writing, prior to works commencing, that a domestic property is utilised for purposes other than as a dwelling, we make no warranty or representation that the services are fit for commercial, business or industrial purposes of any kind. We will not be liable to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, interruption to business or for any loss of business opportunity.
12.6. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to or will limit or exclude our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
12.7. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to or will limit your legal rights as a consumer under any consumer protection legislation. For more details of your legal rights please refer to your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Trading Standards Office.
13. How We Use Your Personal Data (Data Protection)
13.1. All personal information that we may use will be collected, processed, and held in accordance with the provisions of EU Regulation 2016/679 General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and Your rights under the GDPR.
13.2. For complete details of our collection, processing, storage, and retention of personal data including, but not limited to, the purpose(s) for which personal data is used, the legal basis or bases for using it, details of Your rights and how to exercise them, and personal data sharing (where applicable), please refer to Our Privacy Notice available from www.NorthHertsSparks.co.uk
13.3. We reserve the right to take photographs and video of completed works for our records and for use in our portfolio/social media unless requested not to, in writing prior to commencement of the work. We will not use photographs which identify you or your property without prior permission.
14. Other Important Terms
14.1. We may from time to time change these Terms and Conditions without giving you notice, but we will use our reasonable endeavours to inform you as soon as is reasonably possible of any such changes.
14.2. We may transfer (assign) our obligations and rights under the agreement to a third party (this may happen, for example, if we sell our business). If this occurs, we will inform you in writing. Your rights under the agreement will not be affected and our obligations under the agreement will be transferred to the third party who will remain bound by them.
14.3. You may not transfer (assign) your obligations and rights under the agreement without our express written permission (such permission not to be unreasonably withheld).
14.4. The agreement is between you and us. It is not intended to benefit any other person or third party in any way and no such person or party will be entitled to enforce any provision of the Agreement.
14.5. If any provision of the agreement or these Terms and Conditions is held by any competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part the validity of the other provisions of the agreement or these Terms and Conditions and the remainder of the provision in question will not be affected.
14.6. No failure or delay by us or you in exercising any rights under the Agreement means that we or you have waived that right, and no waiver by us or you of a breach of any provision of the agreement means that we or you will waive any subsequent breach of the same or any other provision.
Copyright © 2023 North Herts Sparks Ltd - All Rights Reserved.
North Herts Sparks Ltd
Letchworth
Herts
SG6 2ES
Company Registration No.14290867