Sigma Electrical & Controls Ltd. 

These Terms & Conditions of Service set out the basis on which Sigma Electrical & Controls Ltd (the “Contractor”) provides electrical installation, maintenance and associated services to its clients (the “Client”).

1. Acceptance of Terms

Acceptance of a Quote/Estimate, purchase order, written instruction or instruction to proceed with the works constitutes acceptance of these Terms & Conditions. The Quote/Estimate, together with these Terms & Conditions and any variations subsequently agreed in writing, forms the agreement between the Contractor and the Client.

2. Quotes/Estimates and Scope of Works

All quotes/estimates are prepared using the information, drawings, specifications and site conditions available to the Contractor at the time the estimate is prepared. Due to the nature of the works, estimates are provided as an indication of the expected cost and are not fixed quotations, unless specifically stated otherwise. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the estimate covers only the works and materials detailed within it. Any additional works, labour, materials or remedial works outside the original scope may be charged separately. Where unforeseen conditions or additional requirements are discovered during the works, the Contractor will notify the Client where reasonably practicable and, where possible, agree any additional works and associated costs before proceeding. All estimates are valid for 30 days from the date of issue unless otherwise stated.

3. Booking and Commencement of Works

Works will be scheduled once any agreed deposit, advance payment or material costs have been received and cleared. The Contractor reserves the right to postpone commencement where required payments have not been received. Any dates provided for commencement or completion are estimates unless a specific date has been agreed in writing. 

4. Deposits and Advance Payments

Where a deposit or advance payment is required, the amount and payment terms will be stated clearly within the Quote/Estimate. Deposits may be used towards the purchase of materials, equipment, labour and other costs associated with the project. Special-order, bespoke or non-returnable materials may require payment in advance. Where the Contractor has been instructed to proceed with the works and has purchased equipment, materials or other items specifically for the Client’s project, and the Client subsequently cancels, changes or withdraws the instruction, the Client may be responsible for any costs incurred by the Contractor as a result. Where an item is returned to the supplier and the Contractor receives a refund, any amount refundable to the Client will be limited to the amount actually refunded to the Contractor by the supplier, less any applicable costs or charges incurred.

5. Materials and Equipment

The Contractor will make every reasonable effort to supply materials and equipment in accordance with the estimate. Where a specified product becomes unavailable, discontinued or subject to a significant price increase, the Contractor may offer a suitable alternative or revise the quotation/estimate accordingly. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all materials supplied by the Contractor shall remain the property of the Contractor until full payment for the works has been received. This applies whether or not the materials have been incorporated into the works.

6. Additional Works and Variations

 Any alteration, addition or change to the agreed scope of works may constitute a variation.Where reasonably practicable, variations will be discussed with and agreed by the Client before additional works are carried out.Where immediate action is reasonably necessary to protect health and safety, property or the electrical installation, the Contractor may undertake essential works and notify the Client as soon as reasonably practicable.Additional works will be charged at the agreed rates or, where no rate has been specified, at the Contractor’s prevailing labour and material rates.

7. Site Access and Client Responsibilities

The Client is responsible for providing safe and reasonable access to the property and areas where the works are to be carried out.The Client must ensure that:suitable access is available;working areas are reasonably clear;relevant information and documentation are provided where required;other contractors and trades working on site are appropriately coordinated; andany known hazards, restrictions or unusual site conditions are brought to the Contractor’s attention before works commence.Failure to provide suitable access or working conditions may result in delays and additional charges.

8. Protection of Property and Making Good

The Contractor will take reasonable care to minimise disturbance or damage to the Client’s property when carrying out the works.Where access to concealed cables, electrical equipment, pipework or other services requires walls, ceilings, floors or other finished surfaces to be opened, removed or disturbed, the Contractor will make reasonable efforts to leave the affected area safe and secure.The Client acknowledges that certain disturbance, damage or removal of existing finishes may be reasonably necessary to carry out the works. The Contractor shall not be responsible for damage or disturbance that arises as a necessary consequence of carrying out the works, provided that reasonable care has been taken.Unless specifically included within the estimate/quote, plastering, decorating, painting, flooring and specialist making-good works are not included.The Contractor cannot accept responsibility for pre-existing defects, weaknesses, deterioration or unsuitable existing materials which become apparent or are affected during the works.

9. Cable Installation

Where cables are installed within walls, ceilings or other finished surfaces, the Contractor may carry out the filling of cable chases using bonding plaster or a similar suitable compound where requested. This is a separate chargeable service and is not included within the price of the cable installation unless expressly stated in the quotation/estimate.The filling of cable chases is intended to prepare the surface for subsequent plastering and does not constitute a finished plastered or decorated surface.Final plastering, skimming, decorating, painting and other specialist making-good works are not included within the price and will be charged separately where requested.Please speak to the Contractor if you require final making-good works. Where possible, the Contractor may be able to recommend or help you find a suitable person to carry out the required plastering or finishing works.

10. Waste and Disposal

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Client is responsible for the removal and lawful disposal of waste arising from the works.Where the Contractor agrees to arrange waste removal, any associated costs will be confirmed with the Client in advance where reasonably practicable.

11. Delays and Disruption

The Contractor will not be responsible for delays caused by circumstances outside its reasonable control.This includes delays caused by:restricted or unavailable access;other contractors or trades;incomplete preparatory works;unforeseen site conditions;delays in the availability of materials or equipment;changes requested by the Client;adverse weather, where relevant; orother circumstances beyond the Contractor’s reasonable control.Where such circumstances result in additional labour, attendance or project costs, the Contractor reserves the right to recover those reasonable costs from the Client.

12. Payment Terms

Payment terms will be set out within the estimate/quote or invoice.Unless otherwise agreed in writing, interim payments may become due at agreed stages of the works, including completion of first-fix works.For larger projects, progress invoices may be issued throughout the duration of the works.The final balance is payable upon completion of the agreed works unless alternative payment terms have been agreed in writing.Final certification documents, completion certificates and commissioning documentation, where applicable, will only be issued once the full outstanding balance for the project has been paid in full.The Contractor reserves the right to suspend works where an account becomes overdue.

13. Late Payment

Where an invoice remains unpaid after the payment date stated on the invoice or the payment date agreed with the Client before the works commence, the Contractor reserves the right to take reasonable steps to recover the outstanding balance.For commercial customers, the Contractor reserves the right, where applicable, to charge statutory interest in accordance with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, together with any statutory compensation and reasonable additional recovery costs permitted by law.For domestic and commercial customers, where an account remains overdue and additional administration, correspondence, telephone calls, payment chasing or debt-recovery work is required, the Contractor may charge a late-payment administration and recovery fee of up to £200. This fee covers the Contractor’s time and costs associated with dealing with the overdue payment and is separate from any legal, court, solicitor or other professional costs incurred in recovering the outstanding balance.Any legal, court, solicitor or other professional costs incurred by the Contractor in recovering an overdue payment is be charged separately.The late-payment administration and recovery fee is separate from, and is charged in addition to, any statutory interest, statutory compensation or other reasonable recovery costs that the Contractor is entitled to claim.The Contractor reserves the right to suspend works where an account remains overdue.

14. Electrical Testing, Certification and Commissioning Documentation

Where electrical testing, certification or final commissioning documentation is included within the agreed scope of works, the relevant certificates and documentation will be issued following completion of the works and receipt of payment in full of the outstanding project balance.Certificates and final commissioning documentation will normally be provided electronically in PDF format.Where applicable, the Contractor will carry out the required testing and commissioning in accordance with the agreed scope of works and applicable requirements. 

15.Commissioning and Safety

The Contractor will carry out reasonable testing of any equipment, machinery, control panels, electrical systems or other equipment on which the Contractor has worked before leaving the site, where reasonably practicable and where it is safe to do so.Such testing is intended to confirm the operation of the work carried out by the Contractor and does not constitute full commissioning, safety verification or approval of the equipment or system for continued or unrestricted use.Final commissioning, functional testing, risk assessment, safety verification and authorisation to return production, industrial, commercial or other machinery and equipment to service remain the responsibility of the Client or the Client’s designated responsible person.The Client is responsible for ensuring that any necessary safety checks, guarding, interlocks, emergency stops, control systems and other safety requirements have been verified before the equipment is returned to normal operation.The Contractor will not be responsible for the continued safe operation of equipment or systems where such matters are outside the agreed scope of works or where final commissioning and safety verification are the responsibility of the Client or its designated responsible person.

 16. Workmanship Guarantee and Manufacturer’s Warranty

The Contractor will carry out all works with reasonable skill and care.Where a specific workmanship guarantee is provided, the duration and terms of that guarantee will be stated within the Final invoice or relevant project documentation.Electrical equipment, components and materials supplied by the Contractor are subject to the applicable manufacturer’s warranty.Manufacturer’s warranty periods vary depending on the product and manufacturer.Guarantees do not cover defects or damage resulting from misuse, accidental damage, unauthorised modifications, interference by third parties, inadequate maintenance, normal wear and tear or circumstances outside the Contractor’s reasonable control.

17.Existing Electrical Installations

Where the Contractor is working on or connecting to an existing electrical installation, the Contractor cannot accept responsibility for defects, faults or non-compliance originating from existing works which were not carried out by the Contractor.Where unsafe conditions, defects or areas of non-compliance are identified, the Contractor will notify the Client where reasonably practicable.The Contractor may recommend remedial works where necessary to allow the proposed works to be completed safely and appropriately.

18. Health and Safety

The Contractor is committed to maintaining appropriate health and safety standards throughout all works.The Client must inform the Contractor of any known hazards, hazardous materials, restricted areas or unusual conditions which may affect the works.The Contractor reserves the right to suspend or decline works where it reasonably considers that the site presents an unacceptable risk to its employees, contractors or other persons.

19. Contagious Illness

The Client should notify the Contractor in advance if anyone at the property is suffering from a contagious or infectious illness which may reasonably affect the Contractor’s attendance.Where an engineer attends and reasonably considers that continuing with the works would present a health or safety concern, the Contractor may postpone and rearrange the appointment.Where reasonable prior notification has not been provided and an attendance is consequently lost, the Contractor reserves the right to charge the applicable attendance or labour rate.

20. Liability

The Contractor will carry out its services with reasonable skill and care.The Contractor shall not be responsible for losses, damage or defects arising from pre-existing conditions, third-party works, misuse, unauthorised alterations or circumstances outside the Contractor’s reasonable control.Where the Contractor is called to attend a breakdown, fault or failure involving machinery, plant, equipment, control panels, electrical control systems, production lines, industrial equipment, commercial equipment or similar systems, the Contractor’s responsibility is limited to the repair, fault-finding, testing or other works specifically undertaken during the visit.The Client acknowledges that fault-finding and diagnosis of breakdowns may require a process of investigation and elimination. Identifying and rectifying one fault may reveal additional or separate faults which were not initially apparent and could not reasonably have been identified before the initial fault was addressed. The Contractor shall not be responsible for such additional or subsequently identified faults unless they have been caused by the Contractor’s negligence or failure to carry out the works with reasonable skill and care.Where the Contractor has made reasonable efforts to repair, restore or assist in returning the equipment or system to operation, the Contractor does not guarantee that the equipment or system will continue to operate after the Contractor has left the site. The Contractor shall not be liable for subsequent breakdowns, stoppages, loss of production, loss of revenue, loss of profits, downtime or other consequential losses arising after the Contractor’s attendance.The Contractor shall not be liable for any loss resulting from the failure of machinery, plant, equipment, control panels, electrical control systems or other systems where the cause of the failure is unrelated to the works carried out by the Contractor.

21. Suspension or Termination

The Contractor reserves the right to suspend works where:payments are overdue;safe access cannot be provided;the Client materially changes the agreed scope without agreement;site conditions make the works unsafe; orcircumstances arise which prevent the Contractor from reasonably continuing the works.Any outstanding amounts relating to completed works, materials or services shall remain payable.

22. Cancellation

Where the Client cancels or postpones works after the Contractor has committed labour, materials, equipment or other resources to the project, the Contractor may recover reasonable costs already incurred.Special-order or non-returnable materials may be charged where they cannot reasonably be returned or reused.

23. Complaints

The Contractor aims to deal with all concerns promptly and professionally.Any complaint relating to the works or services should be raised with the Contractor as soon as reasonably practicable, with sufficient information to allow the matter to be investigated.The Contractor will make reasonable efforts to investigate and, where appropriate, resolve legitimate concerns.

24. Events Beyond Our Control

The Contractor shall not be liable for failure or delay in carrying out its obligations where this results from circumstances beyond its reasonable control.This may include severe weather, industrial disputes, supply chain disruption, shortages, government action, fire, flooding, power failure or other unforeseen circumstances. 

25. Minimum Labour Charge

The Contractor applies a minimum labour charge for all call-outs and attendances.For domestic customers, the minimum labour charge is £80 + VAT, plus the cost of any materials used.For commercial and industrial customers, the minimum labour charge is £120 + VAT, plus the cost of any materials used.The applicable minimum labour charge will be payable regardless of the amount of time spent on site. This includes situations where the fault or issue for which the Contractor was called has been resolved before arrival, disappears or cannot be reproduced upon arrival, or where the work required takes less than the minimum chargeable time.The minimum labour charge also applies where the Contractor attends the site and the fault is no longer present, including where the fault has cleared or the equipment has resumed normal operation before or during the Contractor’s attendance.Any additional labour beyond the minimum charge, where applicable, will be charged at the Contractor’s standard labour rate. 

26. Governing Law

These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.Any dispute arising from or in connection with these Terms & Conditions shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

27. Contact Details

Sigma Electrical & Controls Ltd.Telephone: 07472105227
Email: dan.sigma.eng@gmail.com
Registered Office: N/A
Company Registration No.: 16947987
VAT No.: N/A