Void if broken sticker?

[ukpablo]

Thoughts appreciated on this one.
Did a consumer unit replacement a couple of months ago and got a recall as they said they had a problem with one of the ccts. Mcb was tripping randomly in the evening? Asked the usual questions etc. Any alterations etc........the answer was no. So as I give a guarantee on my work if I supply parts etc for a year than I investigated. On opening up the cu I noticed that the cct in question had another cable tapped into it since I had done the work? It was supplying a 500W sec light. So I asked again and it turned out a friend of the family put up the light as a favour. As certain lights on the house cct were switched on it overloaded the 6A mcb causing it to trip.
So here lies the question, I have seen some void if broken sticker seals on Internet. These could be put onto a cu after testing and if removed for any reason other than myself within those 12 months could void my warranty. I'm aware that other parts of the cct could be interfered with without me knowing but it could deter customers from losing the warranty and costing them more in the long run?

 

[rocker]

I don't know if it'll stand up, but it's a damn good idea, Where have you seen the stickers?

 

[ukpablo]

Seen them on eBay. Could alter terms and conditions to suit?

 

[nickblake]

oh yes i have had a situation mr DIY , guy used to do his electrics and get me in to change the boards test and may bee second fix he is a typical one of little knowage so any how i rewire his friends house knowing full well that the front will be off the board the day after i leave i advised in writing that any works carried out on the installation will void the warrenty and stcuk 2 stickers on in , went back after a fault had developed to find that an extra circuit had been added , and the consumer unit for the ECO was missing and thae tails tapped up so i rectified the fault which i would like to point out was a fault to neutral on the added circuit no earth sleeve and a porly terminated connection so i charged the customer call out plus hours labour and pointed out that the warrenty was now void and confirmed it with a letter

 

[mogga]

alter tsncs and as the old saying goes a picture paints a thousand words Photo your nice sticker to prove it was there in the first place

 

[IQ Electrical]

I'm sure the NICEIC have them in the latest catalogue?

We take a digital image of every DB installed/tested and on commercial periodics the images are included in the final file as a print out and on the CD with all other documentation.

It's all about covering your --- and limiting your liabilities!

 

[ukpablo]

Like it. Think I'm gonna do it. It's only about 12 quid for 500 labels. Could save me in the long run in time and hassle.

 

[IQ Electrical]

Here it is: NICEIC - approving excellence

 

[Marvo]

I think the problem might be that there's several reasons a consumer unit might be opened that wouldn't interfere with your warranty, periodic safety testing for example. I'm not sure it would hold water if there was a warranty claim refused and it went to court.

 

[ukpablo]

Like the comments guys. The NIC seals look IQ

 

[IQ Electrical]

I think the problem might be that there's several reasons a consumer unit might be opened that wouldn't interfere with your warranty, periodic safety testing for example. I'm not sure it would hold water if there was a warranty claim refused and it went to court.

But there are also several reasons that would interfere with your warranty and they are the ones that you have to guard against.

 

[ukpablo]

Fair comment marvo. But adds to the argument eh. I suppose it would help eliminate that akward hour trying to get to the bottom of who is telling the truth when a customer wants some work doing for nothing.

 

[Adam W]

When I read the title of the thread what instantly came into my mind was the stickers you get over the screws on plugtops, which I would routinely peel off when doing PAT testing. If a warranty issue arose I would happily argue that removing the sticker was necessary to do the appropriate inspections and that I was suitably qualified to do so.

Probably a similar scenario with consumer units - if you stick a sticker on it can be expected to stay there unless there is a good reason for it to be removed, which would have to be decided on a case by case basis. Overall I would say it's a good idea, then there is no question over whether or not the unit has been opened since you worked on it.

 

[nickblake]

what i have done in the past if you use you periodic lable and stick that over the side instead of the front then the cove is sealed , if its a new build or rewire then there realy is no reason why it should be opened unless a fault occoures then it would be covered by the warrenty on domestic properties it would not require a periodic for 10 years rented property it would be every 12 months / 5 years if commercial or change of tenant then the seals would require breaking other wise should be left alone

 

[High Tower]

Any fault finding or install work by another party should be accompanied by a certificate or pir, so the damage to the seals should be backed up by the presence of a certificate

 

[Rappid]

I have the seals from the NIC and put the seal number on the certificate and invoice for future reference.

 

[RWJ]

I have the seals from the NIC and put the seal number on the certificate and invoice for future reference.

We went through a phase of having to do this, I've still got a sheet of NIC serialised numbers never use them now the boss got over that "obsession".

 

[Ponty Massive]

When I do a board change, wylex come with the small square stickers to place over the terminal screws for the mcb's. At least you know if someone has tampered with the circuit.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

I put this on my certificates, and invoices

All work guaranteed for 12 months subject to normal usage. Any additions or alterations must be certified in accordance with BS7671:2008, and records must be available, or the warranty is invalid and any work arising will be charged for.

I then get the inevitable question "So are you saying that if anyone does any electric work except you, then my guarantee is invalid"

I then reply "NO, anyone can work on your electrics, but if they add to my work, then it must be properly documented so that i know it has been done properly".

I point out that is no different to buying anything else. If you buy a telly and take the back off and bugger about with it, then Mr Toshiba is going to tell you where to shove the guarantee if it packs in.

Cheers......Howard

 

[Knobhead]

Computer OEM companies tried this, they got mauled in the courts.

 

[High Tower]

Computer OEM companies tried this, they got mauled in the courts.

No one is suggesting that any warranty offered would be null and void just by breaking the seal on the CCU, we all know our own tricks with DNO cut outs and their self destructing, sorry it wasn't their in the first place seals!

However for us, arriving at a customers property and finding the seals broken, it points us immediately in the right direction, allows us to ask why the cover has been removed and what work has been carried out, and more to the point, whom carried out the work and were they suitably competent.

and even more to the point it allows us to ask for the certificate issued for the works that have been done.

we would never get away with voiding a warranty purely on the grounds of a broken sticker, but it highlights what has gone on and allows us to another enough info to give us the grounds to reject a warranty call

 

[BluSparx]

I think the problem might be that there's several reasons a consumer unit might be opened that wouldn't interfere with your warranty, periodic safety testing for example. I'm not sure it would hold water if there was a warranty claim refused and it went to court.

If this is only to cover the 12months warranty there should be no need to periodic safety check as the inspection has already been carried out

 

[ste mac]

I have also seen tamper evident tapes for the Brother label printers. You can print your own little message for the meddlers!!!

 

[RWJ]

Avery do some Tamper Proof labels

Avery Security Labels, tamper proof