Portuguese or English

[ron5000]

I needed power bought in to my new conservatory, 4 sockets, light and switch
I called a local Brit I have known for a while but he was too busy and suggested another Brit who came round and texted a quote for 250 euros. I called a local Portuguese electrician who again I have known for a while, he came round straight away and quoted 2 hours for 2 technicians at 17 euros an hour each person. They came around 2 days later, this morning, right on time. Did a professional job, fitted the sockets and light with separate switch, changed the cable from the original source to 2.5 mm cable and fitted 2 heavier contact fuses at the main board. While here they changed an existing light unit and moved another to a point by the front porch. No sign of wiring anywhere, all nicely hidden. 2 and a half hours in total, 122 euros including sundry parts. English or Portuguese in the future, tough one to decide and I have lived here for 17 years. You would think I would know by now

[EMM]

We reached our conclusion a couple of years ago when we were quoted double the cost from the " friendly British expat aircon supplier " compared to the local Portuguese company.
We have had similar experiences with our satellite installation and repair.
Some Portuguese may see us as a scource of easy money but so do our fellow countrymen.

[James Faro]

I have a Portuguese neighbour here in London called Alberto, and he regularly does work for me on my house. He is an electrician but also does general building work. He charges really mininmal rates too and he is so honest.

I called in some damp proofing people as the entrance to my basement area started to develop severe damp. I got a quote for £9,500 for the two cellars to be lined and damp-proofed. The report attached to the estimate was full of elaborate diagrams and wording. The cellars were the causation.

Just by chance, Alberto came to see me and I told him about the cellars. He started to go into swearing overdrive. He reckoned the damp has nothing to do with the cellars. He hacked away with a Kango and the cause of the dampness was a leaking pipe coming in from the water supply off the road, If It was not for Alberto I would have forked out all that money for work that was not needed and that problem would have stll persisted.

You can't fault Portuguese workers. They have a passion in their work.

[Bruce Wallis]

Without getting to any them and us arguments............
We have had several building style jobs done recently. Each time I have gone for both Portuguese and ex-pat English and German quotes.

On every occasion, the direct Portuguese quotes were the higher....some times significantly so.

I find this sad.

The British guys I have met, seem to recognise that the current situation effects all of us, and are pricing their jobs accordingly, in order to get the work.
The irony is that, the 3 I have used, use Portuguese labour, and pay their labour the local going daily rate.

I cant work out if the Portuguese builders just dont need the work, and therefore quote high, or, they still have this belief of English villa owner = shitloads of money.

The one thing I do believe is that the ex-pats have got their acts together in order to survive!!

[widge]

Insensitive & potentially divisive thread which will add no value to our combined wisdom at all.

Nuff said !

[cereza]

A ridiculous topic There are lazy, greedy people among all nationalities as well as honest, hard working ones.
Get several quotes and recommendations and then make your choice regardless of nationality.

[pato]

A ridiculous topic There are lazy, greedy people among all nationalities as well as honest, hard working ones.
Get several quotes and recommendations and then make your choice regardless of nationality.

Yeah!get a Dutch quote, see I'm not racial.

[Michael Crane]

..... Yeah!get a Dutch quote, see I'm not racial.

Probably not . . . but you are provocative.

[cereza]

..... Yeah!get a Dutch quote, see I'm not racial.

Probably not . . . but you are provocative.

You've got to laugh though

[HampshireRich]

A ridiculous topic There are lazy, greedy people among all nationalities as well as honest, hard working ones.
Get several quotes and recommendations and then make your choice regardless of nationality.

Yeah!get a Dutch quote, see I'm not racial.

Does that means you have to pay half yourself?

[cereza]

A ridiculous topic There are lazy, greedy people among all nationalities as well as honest, hard working ones.
Get several quotes and recommendations and then make your choice regardless of nationality.

Yeah!get a Dutch quote, see I'm not racial.

Does that means you have to pay half yourself?

or is it double ?