Consumer Unit Charging

[Theorysparky]

Wellcome to the real world !!!!!

So who in their right mind employs Romanians to do the electrics in their house !!!!!!!!!!!

we have all seen the horrors of their work before

not a pretty sight....

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Wellcome to the real world !!!!!So who in their right mind employs Romanians to do the electrics in their house !!!!!!!!!!!

we have all seen the horrors of their work before

not a pretty sight....

About 75% of the householders round my way.

 

[PC Electrics]

when pricing for a cu change I alway say I allow a day to fit and test the whole house as this is the way it has to be done with certificates and part p compliance being in the post a couple of weeks afterwards. Means it puts doubt in their mind when joe down the pub can do it for 150quid with no test equipment.Its always important to set yourself from the competition during the quoting process. Even if your quoting against a decent spark who turns up and says 300quid, if I say the same price and explain the process the customer will feel I am doing more for the money and know what I'm talking about.

Bang on Sell! Always explain to the client during the quote stage that it's 1 to 1 1/2 days work depending upon what you find, that it is necessary (and a legal obligation) to test the existing install for safety. Also explain they are getting (at least) 2 RCDs and what they are for / do. Give them a copy of the ESC bonding & earthing leaflet if you think there's any doubt about them taking you word for it.

This way the client gains an appreciation of just how much work is involved, that you are going to do it properly for their safety. Also make the client aware you're a local chap who can be called on anytime if there's a problem. Offer references.

The "feel good" factor is very important to most people. It is definately the winning sell.

 

[Theorysparky]

Quoted

5 way RCBO board

Tails

bonding to water through loft down back of house to rear

 

[Dunx]

I am pretty much in the same channel as most of you. I always budget on a days work and if I finish early its a bonus. I typically charge

 

[wozz]

I always quote for RCBOs cant remember the last time i fitted a dual RCD, makes me more expensive which i like as I dont like changing fuseboards much anyway!

 

[Dunx]

Meant to say earlier....I was 'acting as agent' for a LL so not directly involved in doing any work on this shop refit. I was just supervising what the new tenant was doing and keeping him on the straight and narrow. whilst I was ther one day [its an asian supermarket] an Indian guy turns up to give the tennt a quote on the shop CU. No probs I said but I need to see the test cert on completion and the registration of the spark. It all went quiet.....

How much do you charge by the way [he didn't know I was a spark], 'Oh I usually charge

 

[steptoe]

Meant to say earlier....I was 'acting as agent' for a LL so not directly involved in doing any work on this shop refit. I was just supervising what the new tenant was doing and keeping him on the straight and narrow. whilst I was ther one day [its an asian supermarket] an Indian guy turns up to give the tennt a quote on the shop CU. No probs I said but I need to see the test cert on completion and the registration of the spark. It all went quiet.....How much do you charge by the way [he didn't know I was a spark], 'Oh I usually charge

 

[Sidewinder]

Because the LL insurer required it?

 

[steptoe]

nothing to do with BC signing off the job though, or anyone else for that matter.

 

[Sidewinder]

No mate, perhaps as Dunx is working for the Land Lord (LL) then the LL has insurance requirements needing a registered contractor.

I have a lock up in a big building which as been split up.

The LL has an AC look after the lektriks, we are on par, in fact, there are areas of the building and the lektwikery I know more about!

I have keys to the switch room etc. however, I don't touch anything unless emergency, request from LL, agent or the other contractor, he is a nice guy & we get on well, I will help him as & when I can.

However, IF I needed say an upgraded supply to my lockup (unlikely!) then the LL contractor would have to do this at my cost, no option, clause of the agreement!

They are moving to requiring PIR's for all the individual units, these must meat the LL &/or their contractors spec, you can't argue as it is their building!

Just a thought and an example.

 

[steptoe]

understand SW

I do some stuff that is spec'd as a deviation to 7671 so I comply with designer and note on cert with a copy of design attached,

but,

my point was it is nothing to do with BC as to a reg spark or not in commercial,

and not to anyone to just knock a non reg spark that does comm/ind .

seems to me more and more HBs are trying to knock contractors for not being with a scam.!

NOT here BTW,

I mean in general life, been to recheck a few jobs where sparks have pir'd, then a part p spark has filled the owners head with rubbish about prev spark not being registered etc......

I go and find soooooooooo many faults Mr part P has pulled up are none existent on commercial premises.

mr LL has just paid 3 times to find out Mr 1st was fairly good but now he is struggling to find the money for the improvements that he thinks we are just out to rip him off.

Part P go suck yourself.

 

[Sidewinder]

Part P / 5DW?...

 

[steptoe]

Possibly. Went to a pub last Sunday to fix a lot of faults that had been pulled on PIR, only about a 1/3 of them existed, no RCD protection on cellar sockets was one, not a fault at all, even at that all the outlets were RCD sockets anyway, so if one cooler tripped the rest were ok. There were loads of similar issues, wrong type MCBs, type D for air con should be Bs according to Mr tester,!

 

[Manator]

I see so many upset clients who think there wiring is dangerous and can only be fixed by a rewire. When they get my report some are really relieved, the others are just so angry they have been misled, the last bloke I saw I told him to pass my invoice onto the spark who gave all the code 1's, should prevent him doing some PIR's for a while.

 

[Dunx]

Fair point, I just didn't want any dodgy workmanship and i wanted to know I was dealing with a kosher spark. It would require a cert in any event and it was being supervised by BC.

 

[steptoe]

I understand Dunx, you have to cover you ass,

but my point was that I know a lot of guys that do only smallish/independent com/ind and are NOT registered, never have been and prob never will be unless they have to,

as we all know, some(a lot) of scam members have little or no idea of even domestic, never mind anything else.

seems to me that the main purpose of these short courses is to teach you how to read(BRB so you can pass 2382) , and how to pass your scam assessment, and very little else.

 

[Dunx]

Had my annual assessment yesterday.....jeez it f***s my week right up!!