Hi guys whats your take of how many EICRs can be done properly in a day average of 5 to 8 circuits ranging from 1 bed flats to 3 bed houses?? This would also include travel and also doing any repairs whilst there?
- Thread starter magnoliafan89
- Start date
I work subcontract for the company ..we are all self employed
I was just packing me stuff in me van and telling the wife see ya soon love I’ll write ya!.....
I work subcontract for the company ..we are all self employed i must admit it's not been good since March with the current situation as they hadn't had any work for me since the lockdown which has prompted me to seek other work without too much success..hence my surprise at the hourly rates quoted here.
Please start that thread....you might want to join the arms though mate don’t start it in the public section for gods sake ?
Sod that! That company are swindling you.
Do you actually have a contract/letter of intent or anything that states your contract terms?
I retired over ten years ago, and at that time I was charging my clients £50.00/hour and only worked enough days to pay the bills and beer, perhaps it was all different then and times have made it harder, but I doubt it.
Hi no contract or letter of intent.....I'm self employed working on an as required basis so there is no requirement for the outfit i do the work for to provide such things
So you have no agreement on how much you get paid or when?
Dartlec
Arms
I have several landlords as clients who have only just discovered the joys of EICRs so I've been doing several lately, and you really cannot predict how long one will take before you start. I've had studio apartments take all day and houses take 3 hours.
Some things that definitely make an EICR take longer:
1) tenant in residence (even worse if actually present and bonus points for kids) - means you can't leave wires hanging out between testing even if you know they are dead, or turn off and yank every cable out before you start, but have to work circuit by circuit - only bonus is that you might get a cuppa when the kitchen circuit goes back on!
2) Storage heaters/Economy 7 or 10 - Adds extra circuits and complications. In theory they are just single spurs, but there might be 5 extra circuits. I've just had a 10yo flat with 3 storage heaters and top up immersion on some sort of ring circuit with a central wall mounted thermostat to control - no longer works of course and the thermostat is long obselete. Not to mention it takes time to work out which circuit does which heater, and then with some heaters which is the off peak and which is on peak - because they are never labelled!
3) Idiot landlords who get you to do the EICR at the last minute after the place has been decorated, so that every light switch and pendant is painted to the wall/ceiling
4) "ghost" circuits - that either aren't labelled or supplied an immersion that is no longer there - but are still connected, though with no obvious load on testing. You either have to FI them, or disconnect them and hope they aren't doing something crucial.
5) Flats where the supply fuse is in a cupboard 3 floors down, which needs a key, and then the fuses aren't labelled properly anyway.
6) The absolute worst are old wiring ones where things have been 'added' by ambitious DIYers (Kitchens are the best - with split rings or jbs behind plinths ). And the easiest are probably the oldest - 4 or 6 wylex rewireable fuses are so much easier than a 90s 1 RCD on everything for a quick Zs on lights.
The most sensible pricing systems I've seen for EICRs is a fixed base cost, then a fixed amount per circuit - it does at least take into account the difference between 4 and 14 circuits, though harder to explain. Fortunately most of my clients understand when I say it will vary depending on how long it takes.
I did have a landlord expecting me to do 7 flats (all in one building at least) in a day and wasn't impressed when I quoted 3-4 hours per flat and 100-140 per certificate...
Some things that definitely make an EICR take longer:
1) tenant in residence (even worse if actually present and bonus points for kids) - means you can't leave wires hanging out between testing even if you know they are dead, or turn off and yank every cable out before you start, but have to work circuit by circuit - only bonus is that you might get a cuppa when the kitchen circuit goes back on!
2) Storage heaters/Economy 7 or 10 - Adds extra circuits and complications. In theory they are just single spurs, but there might be 5 extra circuits. I've just had a 10yo flat with 3 storage heaters and top up immersion on some sort of ring circuit with a central wall mounted thermostat to control - no longer works of course and the thermostat is long obselete. Not to mention it takes time to work out which circuit does which heater, and then with some heaters which is the off peak and which is on peak - because they are never labelled!
3) Idiot landlords who get you to do the EICR at the last minute after the place has been decorated, so that every light switch and pendant is painted to the wall/ceiling
4) "ghost" circuits - that either aren't labelled or supplied an immersion that is no longer there - but are still connected, though with no obvious load on testing. You either have to FI them, or disconnect them and hope they aren't doing something crucial.
5) Flats where the supply fuse is in a cupboard 3 floors down, which needs a key, and then the fuses aren't labelled properly anyway.
6) The absolute worst are old wiring ones where things have been 'added' by ambitious DIYers (Kitchens are the best - with split rings or jbs behind plinths ). And the easiest are probably the oldest - 4 or 6 wylex rewireable fuses are so much easier than a 90s 1 RCD on everything for a quick Zs on lights.
The most sensible pricing systems I've seen for EICRs is a fixed base cost, then a fixed amount per circuit - it does at least take into account the difference between 4 and 14 circuits, though harder to explain. Fortunately most of my clients understand when I say it will vary depending on how long it takes.
I did have a landlord expecting me to do 7 flats (all in one building at least) in a day and wasn't impressed when I quoted 3-4 hours per flat and 100-140 per certificate...
Well it's just the way the industry is I think..the client tells me to go to a house and carry out a test,..I do the test..send it to them and issue an invoice, and in the fullness of time...usually 60 days i get paid . As a matter of interest i was reading a thread on this site from a guy in West Wales who was more or less in the same situation as me ...I think he was getting jobs at £10.00 per hour. So it's not just this area that have this level of hourly rate. Can I please ask you guys what level of qualifications you have as these might be seen as advanced and thus warrant the pay difference..maybe mine are not particularly well thought of now
I'm a bit confused/concerned here, are you saying you get paid £40 for an EICR as a fully qualified electrician? If so that's mad, at the very least you need to value yourself higher. I have no idea how you can afford to work to that level as others have said Tesco pay more.
60 days for £40!....? no way, what quals do you have? So not only do you have to take ya tools fuel van scheme insurances testers and calibration out of that poultry amount you are probably accruing overdraft charges as well.....if you were over drawn for the 60 days you’d have nearly lost the £40 in charges so have worked at a loss!
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Well maybe but at the end of the day it's the customers who determine his much they will pay....and I have no idea how much Tescos pay ..the absolute minimum i guess
I’m sure my customers would like to pay £40, i wouldn’t be doing it for that so good luck to em....I’m also sure your customers are paying a lot more than £40, you are either insane or are trying to justify paying peanuts to somebody!
£10 an hour self employed with own van and test kit...wise up. I pay my helper more and he doesn't own as much as a screwdriver, and Northern Ireland is one of the poorest paying areas of the UK. I think 20 years ago when I became time served spark I was cards in and on more money. Maybe even was as an apprentice.
Well it might be poultry to some but it's a wage to others and as for qualifications i have what use to be called the A certificate and the test and inspection very ..be interested in knowing what others have
It’s not a wage....it’s not even minimum wage so on that context itS poultry....all quals are on display in the profiles of you opt to do so....Qualifications will have no relevance in how you as a sole trader business charge....you must do other work being self employed? What do you charge for these?
No you determine how much they pay. If you’re Happy doing the job for £40 and consider you are producing a professional insurance backed certification then I would suggest you make yourself familiar WithTesco et al. You would be better of and much less vulnerable.
Well I don't think I'm insane and as I work in my own i have nobody to pay anything to
Tesco's pay £9 an hour (according to google). That's for an employee, so you get holiday pay, pension, sick pay.
Self employed doing EICR's for £10 an hour with own van, test kit, and 60 day payment terms, I can't see it somehow. I've heard of the race to bottom...well done, you deffo have won that.
HMRC, Test software, Van Upkeep & MOT, Diesel, Tester Calibration, Upkeep of tools & equipment, Insurances, Pension...just to start the list off. And that's before any living costs are taken into account, you are insane.
D
davesparks
The JIB minimum rate for an electrician is currently £14.99/hour, even a 3rd year apprentice gets more than you according to the JIB minimum rate!
yes I do other works ,mainly small works such as replacing damaged sockets,switches etc..I try to be fair with people it's no good fleecing a customer as work soon gets around that youre a rip off merchant and you lose work which is exactly what would happen if I tried to charge some of the rates in this site. There has been one on here who claims to have charged £50 per hour ..this is more than an accountant and I really do think that an accountant or similar job is far higher in the social scale. I think that there has to be a sense of proportion here, we as box standard electricians are lower middle on the qualification scale, above let us say a semi skilled worker but not in the same level as a white collar professional and we must price yourself accordingly or we risk losing our work to other trades.....Have you seen how many plumbers, gas fitters and kitchen fitters now have NICEIC membership and carrying out electrical work
D
davesparks
[
Oh yes, of course, you must keep yourself within your correct place on the social scale!
How dare anyone possibly consider trying to charge a fair price for their work, they must only ever price according to rules set down by the upper classes for those in the 'lower middle of the qualification scale'
Oh yes, of course, you must keep yourself within your correct place on the social scale!
How dare anyone possibly consider trying to charge a fair price for their work, they must only ever price according to rules set down by the upper classes for those in the 'lower middle of the qualification scale'
Effectively you charge/earn less than a Tesco employee. Be as fair as you like, if you where in my area and any good I'd bring you on board, pay you a bit more, and sub as much as I could out to you. I won't get be getting out of bed for £80 a day.
Plumbers, Gas fitters, Kitchen fitters may be NICEIC and doing electrical works...but not at £10 an hour.
Well maybe this is why do many small electrical companies are going bust..the JIB wage rates are too high..as a non JIB company i can do a job cheaper than than those that belong to it which put
"There has been one on here who claims to have charged £50 per hour ..this is more than an accountant and I really do think that an accountant or similar job is far higher in the social scale. I think that there has to be a sense of proportion here, we as box standard electricians are lower middle on the qualification scale, above let us say a semi skilled worker but not in the same level as a white collar professional and we must price yourself accordingly or we risk losing our work to other trades.....Have you seen how many plumbers, gas fitters and kitchen fitters now have NICEIC membership and carrying out electrical work".
I can only assume you have a very low opinion of electricians or have simply set out on here to offend people. This won't work, trolling can be the only logical explanation. Why disrespect someone for getting paid £50 an hour (I charge and pay more) when you are happy with £2.99 an hour. Who is the fool ? All indicators point to you.
I can only assume you have a very low opinion of electricians or have simply set out on here to offend people. This won't work, trolling can be the only logical explanation. Why disrespect someone for getting paid £50 an hour (I charge and pay more) when you are happy with £2.99 an hour. Who is the fool ? All indicators point to you.
D
davesparks
Are many small electrical companies going bust?
Just because you can do a job cheaper it doesn't mean that you should!
I've never heard anyone say the JIB rates are too high before!
Well you can jest all you wish but I've been around long enough this planet to realise that not much changed and sooner or later we all have to accept that fact.
Eh ? Whats that got to do with the price of eggs ?
It would seem to me that your customers are taking advantage of your low self esteem Brian. Perhaps you are contributing to the race to the bottom for domestic prices? Any savy business person would identify where the profits are to be made with the skills they have and direct their business in that direction.
I've been told that there is a net loss of electricians to the industry at the moment especially amongst the younger age groups. As a personal observation i think having gone through the training to become an electrician they become very dissilutioned with the reality of the work, that being very repetative and in the main physically demanding
Less electricians equals higher wages mate....well not in your case obviously but you get it...
Well I just do what I can like everyone else we all have to grab what work we can ...this is what running a business is about
D
davesparks
Running a business is about making money, that's the whole point of it.
Yes I get your argument. but as I said previously the work is being taken up by other trades who are doing it as a add in to their main source of employment
Yet to hear of a kitchen fitter or gas installer or plumber that does EICR's, and if they do I'm sure it's not for a tenner an hour.
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