Yes. An emergency electrician is on hand in Brechin at any time of the day or night. If the lights go out or a socket starts to crackle, a recorded menu is the last thing you want. You want a qualified electrician on the line, and here that's James Leslie, who answers his own phone every day of the year. Below you'll find what happens once you ring, how quickly he can reach you and what it costs.
Yes, and Here's How to Reach James
Yes. Ring 01356 235858 at any hour and you'll get through to an electrician straight away.
Day or night, the voice on the line is James Leslie, the emergency electrician in Brechin behind this service. He's based in Brechin, Angus (DD9) and works across the town, Montrose, Edzell, Forfar, Arbroath, Kirriemuir, Laurencekirk and the farms up the glens.
James started out as an RAF electrical engineer and later served as a retained firefighter at Brechin Fire Station, and he now has 40 years in the trade. He's qualified to the 18th Edition, holds City & Guilds 2382-22 and carries full insurance.
It's worth calling if the power has gone, the trip switch won't stay up, or there's a smell of burning or water near the wiring. He makes it safe first, then explains the cause and agrees any repair cost up front. If the whole street is dark, it's more likely a network fault, so ring 105 for SSEN.
Who Picks Up When You Call?
There's no switchboard and no message service. Call 01356 235858 on a weekday afternoon, in the early hours of a Sunday or on Christmas morning, and James answers in person.
Talking straight to the electrician means he can judge how serious it is. If something is scorching or water is getting into a socket, he'll guide you through cutting the power safely, and he'll give you the price before he heads out.
Daytime calls carry no call-out fee and no deposit. Out of hours, he asks for a £50 deposit through a secure text link, and that amount is knocked off the final bill.
Safety Advice First, Then a Visit
Your safety comes before any booking. When you ring, James asks you to describe what you can see, hear or smell, then tells you what to do right now.
Often that means turning off the main switch at the consumer unit, staying away from wet sockets and fittings, or getting everyone outside if there's a smell of burning. His time as a retained firefighter means he knows which warning signs can't wait. If there's smoke or flames, get out and call 999 first.
With the immediate risk dealt with, he books the visit. Attendance depends on whether he's free, but for local call-outs in and around Brechin he's usually with you in around 15 minutes. Places further out, such as Forfar, Arbroath, Kirriemuir or the glens, take longer, and he'll give you a realistic arrival time on the phone.
Out of hours, the £50 deposit is paid by text link first and later deducted from your bill. Parts and repairs are agreed with you before any work starts.
What Does a Daytime Call-Out Cost?
Ring between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and there's no call-out fee to pay. Time on site is £50 an hour, billed in 30-minute blocks, and the £100 minimum covers the first two hours.
You won't be asked for a deposit before James heads out, and if you cancel once he's texted to say he's on his way, there's no charge.
Parts are on top, though he agrees them with you before anything is fitted, and there's no VAT. A simple daytime fix, like tracing a tripping consumer unit, usually lands at the £100 minimum plus parts. If the fault is safe to leave until morning, waiting for daytime hours is the cheapest option.
What Do Out-of-Hours Call-Outs Cost?
Once the daytime window closes, the price depends on when you call. Monday to Saturday evenings, 6pm to 10pm, the call-out is £150, and that includes your first hour on site.
Each further 30 minutes is £45. From 10pm to 8am, and all day on a Sunday or bank holiday, you pay £195 with the first hour included, then £50 for every extra half hour.
Either way, James sends a secure text link for a £50 deposit, which he deducts from the bill. Parts are charged separately and agreed beforehand.
As there's no VAT, the figure you're given is the figure you pay. A one-hour evening call, for instance, costs £150 plus parts. Cancelling after the "on my way" text costs £50 in the evening and £75 overnight, on Sundays or on bank holidays.
Conclusion
So yes, help is there in Brechin whenever your electrics let you down. Ring James Leslie on 01356 235858 at any hour, on any day, and you'll be talking to the electrician himself. He'll judge the urgency by phone and give you an arrival time if he's free to come out.
He looks after Montrose, Edzell and Forfar as well as the town, and for everyday electrical work he also runs Brechin Sparks. Rates change with the time of day, so ask when you ring.