You do not need to diagnose the fault yourself. The most useful first message simply says what has stopped
working, where it is, what it is doing now, and whether anything changed just before the problem started.
What this usually means
This step is about giving enough context before the visit to judge the likely next step. That might be a
straightforward small repair, a fault-finding visit, or a wider quoted job if the fault clearly points
beyond one local issue.
Typical solutions
- Share your postcode, a short plain-English description and 2–4 clear photos.
- Say whether the problem is dead, loose, hot, buzzing, tripping, damaged or intermittent.
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Include a product link or model number if a specific fan, switch, dimmer, spur or accessory is
involved.
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Say when the fault started and whether it followed a recent change, decorating, a leak or other
unusual event.
Basic information
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Plain English is enough. A clear symptom is more useful than trying to guess the technical cause.
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If there is more than one fault, put them in a short list so it is easier to see what matters most
first.
- One wider photo for context and one closer photo of the affected point usually help most.
- A consumer unit photo helps when something is tripping.
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Do not remove covers or keep testing something that feels hot, damaged or unsafe. Stop using it and
say that in the message.
What can change the scope
- Several unrelated faults may need prioritising rather than one simple repair visit.
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Repeated tripping, heat damage, burning smells, water or visible damage can move the job into fault
finding or a safety-first check.
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If the fault started after DIY or a recent change, the first step may be checking what was altered
before parts are changed.
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Once opened up, hidden damage or poor previous work can change the job from a small fix to a broader
repair or compliance conversation.
Official sources and further guidance
