The shape of things to come???

[blinkie]

I've just been undercut (significantly) on a quote by what the customer is telling me is "a fully qualified" gang from what used to be East Germany. I'd cut the quote to the bone to get the job as well. Anyone else bumped into cheap EU labour? I'm 20 miles east of Leeds.

[Mr Ed]

Was it a private domestic job, or commercial?

[Lee Winger]

not been undercut by Europeans, but most definatly by bigger UK firms

[blinkie]

Was it a private domestic job, or commercial?

 

Domestic, a nice Beech T/D to clear building plot land plus some conifer hedging. The customer is something fairly high up in the council though........

[Mr Ed]

In that case, their qualifications are immaterial. If it was a council job, or a construction company, you could set the HSE on them (not that they'd bother coming) but if its private land they can do what they like. It is a bit sickening though, and I can understand you being pissed off.

[Andy Collins]

Dont forget that as members of the EU we are perfectly entitled to travel abroad to undercut them!!

[Mr Ed]

Which loads of British tree surgeons (myself included) did in the 80's and 90's.

[Lee Winger]

To behonest as long as they're qualified and insured I couldn't care less, apart from the serious undercutting of course!

[Old Monkey]

I was undercut by half on a job by an all Albanian crew. The owner got cold feet about their lack of insurance and came back to me as the next lowest bidder who had insurance. I am awaiting a driveby on the jobsite by some angry Albanians.