Savoyardstick Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 HelloWe recently found ourselves a lovely flat, albeit in need of some TLC.Whilst I think I have a pretty good feel for tradesmen pricing in the UK, I am Johnny Clueless in France. We need a refresh of some power sockets (a total of 16 sockets in 4 rooms), due to the previous owner leaving old wall boxes (boites) but non-fitting socket facias (prises), which come lose when used. Not great with small people around... The main wiring was tested and is sound, so it's just a question of taking the old boxes out, bashing out the walls (admittedly concrete) and fitting new boxes, re-testing and making good, etc.The devis for 16 sockets? 2300 Euro!!The guy comes recommended but this seems through the roof (I would expect 1-2 days' works tops and the materials should be nominal) - in the UK I'd have expected something around 1/3 of this.Does this sounds like the much reported Tax ValeurAnglais or is this what I should expect from French sparks?Is the done thing to attempt to negotiate?Plan B: does anyone have the name of someone they could recommend in the Chambery/Aix-Les-Bains area please?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 An area I know well and artisans are expensive in the Savoy, in fact everywhere. If you think that half of this price goes to the goverment and then there is the artisans pay and the cost of the wiring and sockets etc, so I reckon that that sounds right. I've never heard of les anglais being charged more, but that may depend on where in the Savoy as to whether you might get this charge or not. We never knew many english speakers, not that we ever tried to find any and I didn't want to live 'near' any and in the end we knew enough french people to not get fleeced............[Www] and we couldn't usually afford the luxory of an artisan anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 I doubt you could fix 16 new sockets in two days in concrete walls and produce a nice finish. I reckon 4 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesFlamands Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 can't really say without looking at the job but it's not outrageous in my opinion. Get another quote! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I'm just having some re-wiring and sockets replaced, and the firm quotes 40€ an hour, to allow for charges and VAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarkkent Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 A couple of years ago, I had my small, two bedroom house rewired and it cost me €8000. I think that you have just got to get used to French costs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 French costs, yes, take some getting used to and the prices we now pay for trades people do not take any getting used to at all. We were talking to a friend in France the other night and he was asking why we hadn't done 'x' ourselves, well, we are not rich by any means, but the prices we pay here make it suddenly affordable to get someone to do some of the many jobs that have needed doing. I reckon that if you got a quote in the UK then the french price in general would be double and that is down to the cotisations, and I cannot see how anyone wanting to make a living, not a forune, just a living could get around that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savoyardstick Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share Posted January 18, 2012 Thanks all - really helpful to know that the numbers don't seem massively askew to you all. I actually don't have an issue paying a "fair rate", I just had no idea what a fair rate would be in France! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Chambery and Aix les Bains are expensive places anyway, as is Annecy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossy67 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 We have just had our 3 story 5 bed house rewired for €7k. The quotes I had here were based loosely on €70/socket wired, fitted. As many have said though, the cotisations are really high, it seems to me almost everyone in France is on more than the top rate of tax in the UK regardless of their income (I know, cotisations are not tax, but that's just a name). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 That sounds very reasonable .My Devis for completely rewiring and putting in a new main board and earth was around 3000€, but it's very small just two rooms one above the other.Difficult job though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossy67 Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 We only managed to get two devis back after 4 electricians came to see the job. They were very close indeed, only €100 between them. We went with the cheapest, not because I am a tight ass, more because the one we chose seemed more professional, when you're spending €7k an other €100 is neither here nor there really. Any way, after a couple of additions we made the final cost was exactly the same as the other more expensive devis.Job took a while to do but we are more than happy with the outcome. I suppose prices vary wildly from region to region.[8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherami Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 The simple answer to your Question is a resounding No. I paid in the Cher for 2000€ for one fuse box 1 light and 5 sockets.We all seem to make the same mistake and compare to British prices and that is a big mistake . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 [quote user="Cherami"]The simple answer to your Question is a resounding No. I paid in the Cher for 2000€ for one fuse box 1 light and 5 sockets. We all seem to make the same mistake and compare to British prices and that is a big mistake .[/quote]One fuse box may not sound much but with the way the french wiring is arranged (radial circuits) and lots of them with double pole breakers + 5 sockets etc that isn't that bad. British wiring is so much simpler and I would reckon you would pay £1500 for the same in the UK with all our regulations and council building regs nicking some of your hard earned too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherami Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Could you clarify (radial circuits) and lots of them with double pole breakers circuits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Certainly, in the UK we use ring main circuits, two or sometimes three. One for downstairs, one for upstairs and sometimes one for a kitchen, that's all the power sockets. Lighting is similar to France except the french have a circuit for each room rather than up stairs and downstairs lighting. The french do the same for power to the sockets each room connected to its own circuit breaker (fuse) and not in a ring formation just one socket connected in parallel to the next. Double pole breakers disconnect both the phase and the neutral of a circuit whereas in the UK we just disconnect the phase.Very basic description, the French use a similar system to that used industrially, not passing comment on which is best but one is certainly more complex for a domestic situation. Our UK fuse boards are generally 10 fuses these days used to be around 5. The french panels are around 30! fuses/breakers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherami Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Sorry not talking about the UK system. I thought you meant your description was for French electrical system, which is why I asked what do you mean by radial circuits. Just in case there is confusion on the part of users. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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