Electrical compliance in first world is not as good as the third world

[The Ghost]

Oh and by the way, it is not the land of milk and honey here. I think per thousand head of population we have more murders in London now than south africa and as to children in poverty and being raped not only here in England but many other european countries I think it is safe to say south Africa does not hold a monopoly on human tragedy. It is fairly endemic throughout the world very sadly.

 

[Andy78]

Surely this is why the Niceic Approved contractor is a good thing, you know by using one that they have the correct qualifications, they are assessed once a year, have relevant insurances, use proper test equipment etc etc.
It's got to be a lot safer than using someone without the accreditation surely and is a form of license.

Haha the biggest scamming cowboys round here are NICEIC AC. Unfortunately the membership of any scheme is no longer any guarantee of quality or competence. I will agree that at one time the approved status within the NICEIC scheme did mean something, but those days are long gone.

 

[Starjack]

Haha the biggest scamming cowboys round here are NICEIC AC. Unfortunately the membership of any scheme is no longer any guarantee of quality or competence. I will agree that at one time the approved status within the NICEIC scheme did mean something, but those days are long gone.

But putting their motives aside, surely the fact that you need several things to join and become A.c. approved.
Level 3 nvq etc
Insurance
Certification
Several installs to show
Complaints procedure etc
Proves you're trying to do things right.

I don't know whether other people just have bad assessors but ours go through everything thoroughly and certainly earn their wage.
My point is any Tom , dick or Harry can walk into an wholesaler and buy electrical materials and go and wire up whatever they like, at least if you had to produce proof you are an AC contractor it could cut a lot of the cowboys out and the customer would know you are qualified with relevant cover etc etc etc.

 

[Pete999]

None taken Pete, there's nothing you can say to offend me

You sure about that????????????

 

[Rpa07]

Customers don’t give a monkeys about all that faff, they want their electrics working, safe and neat! I said in another thread, if you can’t supply all three you won’t survive and make a living.

 

[static zap]

................ if you had to produce proof you are an AC contractor it could cut a lot of the cowboys out and the customer would know you are qualified with relevant cover etc etc etc.

I don't think it would be long before an industry of "Counterfeit parts" would pop up ..and be more sub-standard than the stuff from the sheds !
..Wrong materials used = more fires..
Not sure I want be checking for holograms on parts.

 

[Andy78]

But putting their motives aside, surely the fact that you need several things to join and become A.c. approved.
Level 3 nvq etc
Insurance
Certification
Several installs to show
Complaints procedure etc
Proves you're trying to do things right.

I don't know whether other people just have bad assessors but ours go through everything thoroughly and certainly earn their wage.
My point is any Tom , dick or Harry can walk into an wholesaler and buy electrical materials and go and wire up whatever they like, at least if you had to produce proof you are an AC contractor it could cut a lot of the cowboys out and the customer would know you are qualified with relevant cover etc etc etc.

I think my point was that being accredited to NICEIC AC or any other scheme is no guarantee that a contractor is any better than any other, and similarly not being registered is no proof either way of competence, incompetence or professionalism or the lack of.

Which leaves the supposed aim of the schemes null and void.

 

[Starjack]

I think my point was that being accredited to NICEIC AC or any other scheme is no guarantee that a contractor is any better than any other, and similarly not being registered is no proof either way of competence, incompetence or professionalism or the lack of.

Which leaves the supposed aim of the schemes null and void.

Let me put it another way, and the following is 100% the truth.
All of my customers are large companies and are either Industrial or commercial.
My Biggest customer last year had a Nett profit of 85 million, now I'm not trying to be Billy big .......... but I can guarantee that without the Niceic Approved accreditation, large insurance coverage, proof of qualifications , impressive portfolio etc etc then all the guys who don't have the Above and all the boil in the bag, dot to dot short course guys wouldnt even get passed the security house.

 

[Andy78]

Let me put it another way, and the following is 100% the truth.
All of my customers are large companies and are either Industrial or commercial.
My Biggest customer last year had a Nett profit of 85 million, now I'm not trying to be Billy big .......... but I can guarantee that without the Niceic Approved accreditation, large insurance coverage, proof of qualifications , impressive portfolio etc etc then all the guys who don't have the Above and all the boil in the bag, dot to dot short course guys wouldnt even get passed the security house.

That's not putting it another way, that's a different point entirely. That point is made from a financial viewpoint. I was talking purely about competence and validity. We are clearly not on the same page here.

If large companies choose to select contractors on the basis of a badge rather than do their own due diligence that is up to them. I was just asserting that method is no guarantee of ending up with the best company, just the companies that have ticked the right boxes.

You must understand I'm not being personal here but just talking about schemes in general, so there's no need to be defensive.

 

[DPG]

Spot on Andy.