NIC Rip off

[markythesparky]

Is it just me or do other feel like the NICEIC are ripping us off?

We have been a member of the NICEIC for over 16 years and initially we just had the obligatory half day visit, which is included in the annual fee.

One year we had about 6 months work in Doncaster (we are based in South London) and consequently, at the inspection, the NICEIC wished to see the job as it made up a substantial part of the years work. No problem and I didn't even mind paying the extra dollars!

Anyway, ever since then they always booked us for a full days visit and charge me the extra £388 (which is for the extra half day as half a day is already I included in the annual fee).

Over the last four years or so the work has dropped off and is nowhere near as far afield. So this year I questioned why we still needed the extra half day. I was told by an operative at NICEIC HQ, that this decision was down to the inspector. I reminded her that he wouldn't know until he turned up by which time it would be to late as she had booked him out for the whole day already. Which was why I was trying to be helpful and was letting them know now. Again she insisted that she couldn't do anything and that it was the inspectors decision.

He turned up and after looking at the work agreed that there was not enough to see over the whole day. From 10 or so Certs he picked out the only four installation jobs that we had, as the others we small and not worth seeing, and after making calls to them I told him that we couldn't get in to any as they was all residential and the clients were at work.

He told me that he'd have to mark this down as a major non compliance as we couldn't see any work and I would need another half day visit (£388!). I said what about the half day that's booked for today? He told me that he'd get them to cancel the invoice.

I informed him that I was not happy as how could this be my fault when I had told his office that there was not enough work and then when he chose which jobs to look at, we couldn't get in anyway.

He replied that there was a lesson to be learned and that I would need to make sure I arranged the jobs in future.
'We're not allowed to do that', I replied, 'we're not allowed to choose which jobs you see!'
'Well', he said, 'Something is better than nothing at all!'

Now tell me this guys, it's not me is it? It's not as if the annual fee is cheap anyway, but to lever the other £388 or so, in any ay they can, amounts to a con doesn't it?

I've been around long enough to realise when something doesn't smell right, and generally speaking, if I feel that I am being done, then some thing is definitely amiss!

I am on the verge of telling them to poke the membership and we will go elsewhere.

Your thoughts on the situation, what the other scam schemes are like and similar experiences would be gratefully received.

 

[uksparks]

Yes we all have a few things we would rather not disclose, I never do anything dangerous etc, it's just some things slightly bend the rules.

im like you, just give them 5 immaculate jobs you know are 100% and all is usually ok.

 

[GMES]

Well all I can say is I must have one of Mike's old ones, because our Nic assessor is very thorough he was with us for a full day and looked at 5 jobs. he went through the jobs and our office with a fine tooth comb and too be fair couldn't have been more helpful, we even spoke an handful of times the following couple of days.

For the record I am also of the same mindset as MDJ, it is naive these days to think you don't need to be accredited to get the work, we were busy in general before but since becoming Approved contractors the work has just snowballed and the quality of work and customer has improved.and as an extra my hourly went straight up following requests by certain customers stipulating Niceic, so for my company it was the right thing to do.

 

[markythesparky]

I take all the above on board although some of it is slightly off topic. My point is that I don't have a problem with a full days visit (if it is really warranted), any inspector assessing my work, or any inspector choosing which work see. What I do have a problem with is £388 for what ultimately amounts to around three hours and that if it is stretched out by the inspector.

Our first four or five years was done within the included half day and I don't see any reason, considering our current workload and job locations, why this cannot now be done again within the same time frame. It maybe a challenge but we all, as electricians, have to be conscious of costs for the clients as naturally we wouldn't otherwise get the work.

We need to work harder to get the job done in a reasonable timeframe so as not to push the cost up. But the NICEIC don't seem to be bothered by the cost to its clients (us!) and they don't seem to be operating in a competitive market.

The NICEIC may not be any 'better' than any other scheme operator, it's just that they seem to have started to operate like a monopoly. Hence, the outrageous prices.

What needs to happen is that the architects and others like them need to be informed that it is not just the NICEIC approved electricians who can sign off the work, but any approved electrician from any scheme operator. All the time the architects and insurance companies are specifically asking for NICEIC approved contractors, we will be ripped of by the. NICEIC.

Someone said on here that if sparks start leaving the NICEIC to go to another scheme, the NIC may actually sit up and take note, but in order for that to be a viable option for the electrician, the architects and insurance companies need to stop specifying NICEIC Approves contractors.

Suggestions on how to do this would be helpful as I am determined to at least get the ball rolling towards this end.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Presumably it's the same parent company as opposed to them being the same company.

Well, yes, thats probably how it works.

we could get into a debate about differences of degree but..... Or.... i could just say yes you are right :smiley2:

 

[Jolec]

I've had the all day trick too. They have you by the bits though as people in general as well as commercial clients ask for NIC membership. if you ditch them you will have to alter your business somewhat and risk another association like elecsa or similar.

REAL get on my nerves even more, I'd like to know who they are paying their back hander too?

 

[markythesparky]

Job specifiers probably.? The other schemes need to get their act together and push their own Part P schemes. Let's face it, the NICEIC are not brilliant at advertising themselves, they've only had sixty odd years and they never got as powerful as Corgi did. The number of clients I deal with who still have never heard of Part P is simply staggering