EICR – Rogue electrician scam?

EICR – Rogue electrician scam?

9:59 AM, 4th December 2020, About 3 years ago 77

Text Size

I hired an electrician for an EICR, which he failed and said it needed a new consumer unit to pass EICR, which I agreed, and he completed the job and issued a “satisfactory” EICR.

It only raised my suspicions after I subsequently gave him EICR for two more properties (almost new build), which he failed and said needed new consumer units for both again.

After looking into his three EICR reports with other registered electricians, I found the same reason he used to fail EICR for lack of RCD is not valid (which should be C3 as a recommendation, not C2 as dangerous) and he’s not even a registered electrician to install consumer units.

So now I ended up with a new consumer unit that I never needed in the first place to pass EICR, and two other failed EICR for invalid reasons.

What’s my best action here?
Should I pay him?

Thanks

Mike


Share This Article


Comments

Beaver

15:03 PM, 5th December 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul landlord at 04/12/2020 - 22:55
Thanks for your honest response; I don't do it either. I probably could do it, but I don't have time and I'm not parsimonious.

The point of my question is to do with what the original author of this thread said: if the regulations don't say that a qualified electrician must fit everything there's no point in reporting him to trading standards without knowing what he promised to deliver and what he charged. If a qualified electrician would charge £500-600 but this guy charged £300 and the subsequent inspection cost £200 and the installation was shown to be safe then there's not necessarily a problem. It all boils down to what he said he'd do and for how much; so we don't really know the facts.

Paul Shears

15:06 PM, 5th December 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by michaelwgroves at 05/12/2020 - 09:56
I have employed and worked with countless tradesmen in my life who are qualified, but by no stretch of the imagination, could they be described as "skilled" in anything.

michaelwgroves

16:58 PM, 5th December 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 05/12/2020 - 15:03
For the sake of any doubt, and to answer the original question, the 18th edition regulations are very clear, you must be "skilled" to install a consumer unit.

The 17th edition was ambiguous, it advised you must be competent, this is why the 18th Edition changed it to skilled, and addressed this with a very clear explanation as to what skilled means.

If someone is advertising as an electrician, and they are not part of a competent person scheme, you should report them to the HSE.

Paul Shears

17:05 PM, 5th December 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by michaelwgroves at 05/12/2020 - 16:58
Yes let's all sign up to the social construct no matter where it has taken us.

michaelwgroves

17:11 PM, 5th December 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mike at 05/12/2020 - 13:37
I can't help but bite on this absurdity. £250 for a consumer unit change............
The cheapest 18th edition consumer unit on Screwfix is £120. You then need to buy stuffing glands, maybe new tails, connectors and cable. If you allow £30 you wont be far wrong. Including buying tools, transport, insurance, yearly certification, training etc. You think a skilled electrician is only worth minimum wage.
If you think Electricians are earning £175k, you should give it a try, surely can't be that difficult........easy money

michaelwgroves

17:15 PM, 5th December 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul landlord at 04/12/2020 - 22:55
Could you add some clarity to your comment, are you saying anyone can install a consumer unit, as long as someone else signs off?
I'm not sure if this is what you are saying?

michaelwgroves

17:17 PM, 5th December 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul Shears at 05/12/2020 - 17:05
Sorry, I don't understand your comment?

Manu Patel

17:36 PM, 5th December 2020, About 3 years ago

This is a new Pandora's Box opened by the powers to be to enable the Landlords to be ripped by all workmen/Tradesmen now we have to rely on. You hardly find any willing to do a fair Job at fair price.
In my younger days I was registered as Gas Safe Registered installer and did my 16th Edition Electrics but age and size of portfolio forces to rely on outside help. My solution now is to shrink the portfolio to minimum just to generate enough to live in our old Age!

Mike

20:30 PM, 5th December 2020, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 05/12/2020 - 15:03
Hi Beaver,
In my original post and question, I tried to provide as much as information possible, but I'm happy to further clarify.

I hired him to do EICR for three properties and had no interests in any other work, but was told by him all EICR failed due to no RCD in consumer units (now I know it's an invalid reason to fail EICR) and all of them need a new consumer unit to pass EICR(now I also know RCD can be retro fitted in most cases, even if "no RCD" were a valid reason to fail EICR), at a cost of around £500 each.

I did follow his suggestion on the first consumer unit which he completed, but got suspicious right after (I didn't agree on the other two consumer unit jobs) and luckily I have not paid him or lost any money yet, which is why I was trying to get everyone's thoughts on whether I should pay him anything at all (maybe a silly question, but try to be decent and reasonable landlord).

Many thanks

Mike (Original author)

John

22:06 PM, 5th December 2020, About 3 years ago

I’ve just swapped my first board yesterday

It had no rcd protection. Price was good and I bought the materials.

I’m doing 2 more after Christmas. They are rcd protected on one side, but not on the other side. I can get rcbo’s but for the extra cost I am getting new boards with dual rcd. Do these boards have to be 18th edition? The sparky didn’t tell me to get 18th so I have got 17th Ed contactum ones.

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now