Working for B&Q

[sythai]

Just seeing if any of you chaps out there carry out electrical installs for B&Q kitchen/ bathrooms....?

Any pointers would be welcome.

Couple of fitters we work for have just got a local contract with them.

Looking at the paperwork I'm struggling to figure out what B&Q are actually paying. Their price list/ paperwork isn't very clear cut.

Got a feeling this could be a bit of a farce. We'll give one a try and see how things pan out, have my doubts though.

Thanks Sy

 

[Knobhead]

 

[guest119]

There will be nothing but problems with missing parts and re visits, they are famous for it.


Boydy

 

[Geordie Spark]

There's a big B&Q near where I live and I asked the manager how many people worked there.

"About on in three" was his answer.

 

[sythai]

There will be nothing but problems with missing parts and re visits, they are famous for it.


Boydy

Sounds like a right ball ache

 

[Badged01]

I asked the manager how many people worked there. "About on in three" was his answer.

Wow so many! Up in Liverpool it was nearer "on(e) in eight" when they eventually showed up for work .......

 

[Guest111]

Years ago a mate of mine used to fit kitchens for MFI,I used to do his electrics for him,It was ok when we first started out,I think they were paying something like £25 per socket,the same for an fcu and about £150 for a cooker feed,more if the cu wasn't big enough.Anyway this was ok at first then they started saying that it was costing too much and they were reducing the point price,In the end they were offering something daft like a tenner a point for all electrics,sockets,fcu's,lights etc and something like £50 for a cooker point! At that point I suddenly became very busy elsewhere.

 

[Welchyboy1]

We do bathroom electrics for b&q, the prices are bad, the quality of the parts are worse, and the paperwork to fill out to become an installer are rediculous, they wouldnt accept my NIC AC membership certificate as proof of competence, as they are with napit, and said napit are superior to nic (first time ive heard that one) and its not considered enough to install bathroom downlighters and a pull cord switch!!!

i had to photocopy every certificate ive got and send it to them. CRB check, copies of all insurances, jib card, everything, worse than joining constructionline

they also got the hump cause i have my van written and we have company logo tshirts, and i refused to wear there bright orange numbers!

i only do there jobs cause my mate a plumber cant find another decent spark to do them for him

homebase are much much better in every aspect

 

[Octopus]

I'd be wary as they will quote "electrics" without visiting site or worse allow the fitter to do it and we all know what that means.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Wow so many! Up in Liverpool it was nearer "on(e) in eight" when they eventually showed up for work .......

.. and then when they did show-up they started nicking stuff.

 

[not clever]

I'd be wary as they will quote "electrics" without visiting site or worse allow the fitter to do it and we all know what that means.

Spot on Murdoch, friends of ours are having a new kitchen fitted by B&Q in March, last week the "surveyor" turns up for measuring & assessing the electrics.

The electrics assessment went along the lines of;

• count up the sockets fuse spurs & lights.
• Flick the lights on & off.
• Look at the meter.
• Look at the consumer unit (from the floor not up close) count mcb' in use.

"Hmm yes the fuse board is now illegal, it is an old obsolete MK sentry unit"
"For us to bring that up to standard & work on the circuits in the kitchen we will need to add rcd's, that will be £120 per circuit for the RCD's required. 3x circuits at £360 + vat or we could change the whole fuse board for £450 + vat bringing the whole install up to legal standards."

I get asked to take a look so we visit for an evening............sockets on an RCBO, Cooker on an RCBO, only the lights require any RCD/RCBO protection. hour later & remote RCD fitted to lighting job done.

 

[sythai]

First (and only by the sounds of it) job booked for 3 weeks time, off to do my own survey of it next week.

We'll see how it compares to the the 'spec' I've been given!
I'll price it my usual way and if it doesnt stack up they'll have to use another spark.

To be fair if this wasnt for the a couple of 'sound' fitters we work with regularly I would probably have given it swerve altogether based on the comments above.

Thanks for your input.

Sy

(I'll let you know how it goes.....)

 

[telectrix]

.. and then when they did show-up they started nicking stuff.

careful geordie. only takes 20 minutes to leave a MR2 standing on bricks. LOL. :auto:

 

[MDJ]

There's a big B&Q near where I live and I asked the manager how many people worked there.

"About on in three" was his answer.

lol, hilarious

 

[Stuuk1]

Got my kitchen from them, nightmare. Wrong drawers, they were replaced, then after almost a day of struggling, realised all of the runners were incorrect, this went on and on and on.

Then the bathroom... 1st toilet had a tiny crack underneath so that it leaked when flushing, replacement was the same, the next too!


Got it right in the end though..

 

[Guest111]

Got my kitchen from them, nightmare. Wrong drawers, they were replaced, then after almost a day of struggling, realised all of the runners were incorrect, this went on and on and on.

Then the bathroom... 1st toilet had a tiny crack underneath so that it leaked when flushing, replacement was the same, the next too!


Got it right in the end though..

I had a bathroom suite from them and my toilet did the same,a tiny pin hole,cheeky sods wouldn't,t swop it as they said it should have been found before fitting!

 

[Badged01]

careful geordie. only takes 20 minutes to leave a MR2 standing on bricks. LOL. :auto:

Tell me about it, back in the late 70's I had the misfortune of breaking down in Liverpool only to come back a few hrs later to find my pride and joy on bricks ......

 

[MDJ]

Tell me about it, back in the late 70's I had the misfortune of breaking down in Liverpool only to come back a few hrs later to find my pride and joy on bricks ......

I'm suprised they didn't steal the bricks as well lol

 

[Octopus]

The thing about B&Q and all the big sheds is that they sub the vast majority of the installation work to contractors....

 

[flyingsausage]

careful geordie. only takes 20 minutes to leave a MR2 standing on bricks. LOL. :auto:

Thats shocking in Glasgow they promise to do it in five minutes.

 

[telectrix]

yeah, but scousers take care not to scratch the bodywork. makes it less saleable.

 

[ifindoubtdont]

When you come to some places in Birmingham don't stop at zebra crossings, these guys put F1 wheel changers to shame.

 

[shanky887614]

This announcement followed Ferrari's decision to take advantage of the British government's 'Work for your Dole' scheme and employ some Liverpudlian youngsters. The decision to hire them was brought about by a recent documentary on how unemployed youths from Toxteth were able to remove a set of wheels in less than 6 seconds without proper equipment, whereas Ferrari's existing crew could only do it in 8 seconds with millions of pounds worth of high tech equipment.

It was thought to be an excellent, bold move by the Ferrari management team as most races are won and lost in the pits, giving Ferrari an advantage over every other team.

However, Ferrari got more than they bargained for! At the crew's first practice session, not only was the scouse pit crew able to change all four wheels in under 6 seconds but, within 12 seconds, they had re-sprayed, re-badged and sold the car to the Mclaren team for 8 cases of Stella, a bag of weed and some photos of Coulthard's bird in the shower.

 

[Deservices]

Working for B&Q

I was working for them for over a year via a kitchen fitter. The prices are ok but they charge double to the customer, all prices are set ie £47 a socket etc £95 a RCD little board. The cert side was all done online with napit which is very easy but I am with napit so was used to it. You WILL have loads of problems the guys who spec and inspect the kitchens to say what is needed etc are a waste of space. Always parts missing etc, also if there is a problem even something like a free standing fridge hasn't turned up you don't get paid. They think it's a privilege to work for them as such are a bunch of idiots. Pm me and I will send you my phone number if you want any info.

 

[sythai]

Re: Working for B&Q

I was working for them for over a year via a kitchen fitter. The prices are ok but they charge double to the customer, all prices are set ie £47 a socket etc £95 a RCD little board. The cert side was all done online with napit which is very easy but I am with napit so was used to it. You WILL have loads of problems the guys who spec and inspect the kitchens to say what is needed etc are a waste of space. Always parts missing etc, also if there is a problem even something like a free standing fridge hasn't turned up you don't get paid. They think it's a privilege to work for them as such are a bunch of idiots. Pm me and I will send you my phone number if you want any info.

Great thank you Deservices, have sent you PM

 

[Octopus]

Re: Working for B&Q

I was working for them for over a year via a kitchen fitter. The prices are ok but they charge double to the customer, all prices are set ie £47 a socket etc £95 a RCD little board. The cert side was all done online with napit which is very easy but I am with napit so was used to it. You WILL have loads of problems the guys who spec and inspect the kitchens to say what is needed etc are a waste of space. Always parts missing etc, also if there is a problem even something like a free standing fridge hasn't turned up you don't get paid. They think it's a privilege to work for them as such are a bunch of idiots. Pm me and I will send you my phone number if you want any info.

What if you weren't a Napit member?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

the best of the large highstreet retailers kitchens are Wickes.

proper chipboard backs on them....service voids (unlike IKEA crap)...and the fittings for the units are generally of acceptable quality (although the link lights are sh*te)....

 

[Pete999]

A bit off topic My garage door lock went ----- up last night, wire link snapped between catch and handle, went to B&Q as I knew they sold a replacement you would have thought it was easy to buy wouldn't you? 45 minutes it took to pay 0.98p bunch of losers, still pay peanuts you only get monkeys lol not all of them though some are quite helpful

 

[KAS1]

I hate B&Q with all their self service tills it really gets on my wick, and they still stock them stupid "socket covers" you know the plastic safety things

 

[Rob Smith 643]

I've done installs for bodge it and quit for over a year now. The install schedule rarely matches the work to be done, which in some instances can cause friction with the customer. It has gotten worse since the fitters became responsible for the pre-fit survey. They miss loads. It wasn't nearly as bad when they had a dedicated survey team, in fact it was fine. I've trained one of the fitters that I support to send me photos of cu, meter etc and ring me if he isn't sure. Tother fitter hasn't yet grasped the importance of this but is happy to pay for work he misses out of his own pocket. They're both good guys and I would have them fit a bathroom for me anytime, but in there private capacity and not at bodge it and quits inflated prices. Its occasionally frustrating but in the main okay. As regards the woes some have had with being approved by bodge it and quit i only needed a crb, now called a dbs. Probs different for none napit folk as they don't already have your documentary bits and bobs on file. Its work at the end of the day and maybe I'm lucky with the guys I support. PM me if you need more info but nobody gets rich on their work.

Rob

 

[Deservices]

Working for B&Q

It don't matter if your not napit member as the kitchen fitter or whomever is running the job is. They can't do the Certs, it's just there log on you use. You login with there id, fill in the Certs that have already been put on the system, sign them with your details and put your reg number for whomever company your certified with. It's similar to using easycert etc.

 

[Rob Smith 643]

Re: Working for B&Q

It don't matter if your not napit member as the kitchen fitter or whomever is running the job is. They can't do the Certs, it's just there log on you use. You login with there id, fill in the Certs that have already been put on the system, sign them with your details and put your reg number for whomever company your certified with. It's similar to using easycert etc.

Hope you're getting the cert money for doing there job for them D. You do have the option of handing a completed cert to them and letting them crack on. Some of the sparks do that and I understand that is the 'correct' way. The bodge it and quit rule book also asks for there own form to be completed and left on site after inspection, testing and first fix. I can count on no hands how many times I've done that as well.

 

[Plonker 3]

Re: Working for B&Q

It don't matter if your not napit member as the kitchen fitter or whomever is running the job is. They can't do the Certs,

if they cant even fill out a cert, how the hell have they managed to become members of NAPIT?

 

[Rob Smith 643]

Re: Working for B&Q

if they cant even fill out a cert, how the hell have they managed to become members of NAPIT?

They're not napit electrical regd. Napit have an oversight role for b and q. All the bathroom fits have to be napit approved. Don't ask me what they approve other than the elecs but the work schedule includes fitting of washing facilities etc which must have to comply with something or other. Lol. Napit inspectors occasionally call at bodge it and quit bathroom fits, not unheralded mind you, in that capacity.

 

[Plonker 3]

Re: Working for B&Q

They're not napit electrical regd. Napit have an oversight role for b and q. All the bathroom fits have to be napit approved. Don't ask me what they approve other than the elecs but the work schedule includes fitting of washing facilities etc which must have to comply with something or other. Lol. Napit inspectors occasionally call at bodge it and quit bathroom fits, not unheralded mind you, in that capacity.

So NAPIT bypass all the rules and will register Part P work by people that are not even assessed to be competent to do the works.

 

[Rob Smith 643]

Might be at cross purposes here. They have purely an admin role re the elec cert as fitting team leader, but I get your drift. I think. I complete the work and the cert and hand it over at the end of the job.

 

[Guest55]

I hate B&Q with all their self service tills it really gets on my wick

work of the devil those things.
removing human service and replace with machines , only an accounts dept. could dream up such a cheap --- customer service fail.

anyway i blame the NIC & CEF for everythings thats wrong with the world.
who said hating stuff isnt fun.
;-)

 

[Guest55]

Re: Working for B&Q

So NAPIT bypass all the rules and will register Part P work by people that are not even assessed to be competent to do the works.

the nic have been doing it for 20 years under their Qualified supervisor set-up.
;-)

 

[Plonker 3]

Re: Working for B&Q

the nic have been doing it for 20 years under their Qualified supervisor set-up.
;-)

But at leaast the QS was responsible (using that word loosely) for the works carried out and could at least what was happening. This is just makes a complete farce of it all if B&Q can do it without any type of assessment for anyone.

 

[Rob Smith 643]

Any type of assessment for anyone? Lol. I'm competent (ish) just not at fitting bath and loos...but clearly the bathroom fitter is. Some of the work I do for them isn't even notifiable to labc but it still gets notified to napit/b&q. What is it they're not doing right specifically Dillb? Sorry if i've lost the thread here... It happens.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I've done installs for bodge it and quit for over a year now. The install schedule rarely matches the work to be done, which in some instances can cause friction with the customer. It has gotten worse since the fitters became responsible for the pre-fit survey. They miss loads. It wasn't nearly as bad when they had a dedicated survey team, in fact it was fine. I've trained one of the fitters that I support to send me photos of cu, meter etc and ring me if he isn't sure. Tother fitter hasn't yet grasped the importance of this but is happy to pay for work he misses out of his own pocket. They're both good guys and I would have them fit a bathroom for me anytime, but in there private capacity and not at bodge it and quits inflated prices. Its occasionally frustrating but in the main okay. As regards the woes some have had with being approved by bodge it and quit i only needed a crb, now called a dbs. Probs different for none napit folk as they don't already have your documentary bits and bobs on file. Its work at the end of the day and maybe I'm lucky with the guys I support. PM me if you need more info but nobody gets rich on their work.

Rob

well cut his training short wont you....as once he`s had 5 weeks of it he`ll think he`s an electrician...

trust me...we`v all seen it...

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Re: Working for B&Q

the nic have been doing it for 20 years under their Qualified supervisor set-up.
;-)

but its the ratio Biff...

as in 3 installers to one QS..

not like 200 odd installers to 1 QS...as was brought up recently at the parlementary select committee