Another Bloody Cowboy, is this the worst CU change ever ???

[bwm730]

Came across this recent CU change yesterday while quoting to replace some Storage Heaters.
The builder had replaced the original Main CU and seperate Economy7 CU with the unit pictured below.
He crammed both sets of tails into the mainswitch by cutting some cores off of each tail and put a strip of wood between the tails as extra insulation.
He installed the 1mm lighting circuit on a 20A MCB, the 6mm Cooker circuit on a 63A MCB and put 2 seperate ring circuits on 1 32A MCB.
Obviously no testing or certificates, he even mounted the new CU lower than the old ones so that now the door hit it when fully opened.
I advised the customer to contact LABC and Trading Standards and wait to see any results.

I have now replaced this with 2 seperate CU's, fully tested and certificated ( 2 IR faults found ) .

The Cowboy's skills are not limited to electrics as he also stuck some ceramic floor tiles down in the bathroom and kitchen with NO NAILS which have now started to crack and the laminate floor in the bedroom has been laid so tight to the wall that it is now rising in the middle.

 

[Adam W]

It would be good to think that customers had 'Values' too..Why is it always the tradesmen that have to have 'Values' ? it really ****es me off..some num nut gets two quotes one is half the other, hello ? a lot of the time I have no fkn sympathy for these idiots, get Billy Bob Builder in to do the leccy..when your kids are toast have a party on what you have saved !
J

Because the electricians are the professionals and as such should maintain a professional decorum.

 

[Jimmy Boy]

Because the electricians are the professionals and as such should maintain a professional decorum.

What like the NIC lol..
J

 

[Guest55]

What like the NIC lol..
J

Yeah ! let the satuarday morning NIC bashing begin !
its been 36 hrs since i last slagged them off , i'm beginning to get withdrawal symptons. :-D

 

[plugsandsparks]

Because the electricians are the professionals and as such should maintain a professional decorum.

Agreed, Joe Public really have not got a clue, its down to us - anyway i want that breakfast in the avatar

 

[Adam W]

What like the NIC lol..
J

Not really, no. I mean if a 'cowboy' rips off a little old lady it's primarily the cowboy's fault for ripping her off rather than the little old lady's fault for going for a cheaper price. If someone who trades in a professional capacity says they can do the electrics a customer shouldn't have any reason to doubt that.
I suppose if you wanted to crowbar the NIC into the equation you could argue that they should act as a regulatory body and tell customers to always use an NIC registered electrician, which as much as they would like isn't strictly the case since you can go with any of the 'competent persons' schemes, but as I've already said you could get a perfectly competent electrician who works for a company to do the work on a weekend and they wouldn't be 'Part P'.

If anything I think it is an issue for the JIB - if you want an electrician to work on your house ask to see his JIB card rather than which organisation the company he works for has paid a subscription to.
There's your controversial argument!

 

[Jimmy Boy]

<snip>If anything I think it is an issue for the JIB - if you want an electrician to work on your house ask to see his JIB card rather than which organisation the company he works for has paid a subscription to.
There's your controversial argument!

Thats fine I would like one could you tell me how to go about it ? I hold C&G level 1-3, 17th ED etc I await with baited
J

​

 

[topcat]

Looks like you would have fun getting the case on this is a joke. I would not be able to sleep at night if I had done that.
LABC dont like to get involved in this sort of thing. Dont know why they send you to trading standards.

 

[Strima]

I'm thinking of setting up on my own, after seeing things like this why should I bother going through the hassle of applying into scheme membership when LABC and other agencies can't be bothered to deal with cowboys who carry out this kind of work?

Makes a mockery of the whole Part P system.

 

[Adam W]

Agreed, Joe Public really have not got a clue, its down to us - anyway i want that breakfast in the avatar

Little Chef do them for £7.49, appropriately named the 'Olympic Breakfast'.

 

[Jimmy Boy]

Unless the work is part of a bigger building project that also needs signing off I wouldn't bother mate, it's a fkn rip off, just do what the others do, except your will be done properly.
J

 

[Adam W]

<snip>If anything I think it is an issue for the JIB - if you want an electrician to work on your house ask to see his JIB card rather than which organisation the company he works for has paid a subscription to.
There's your controversial argument!

Thats fine I would like one could you tell me how to go about it ? I hold C&G level 1-3, 17th ED etc I await with baited
J

​

Print this form
http://www.ecscard.org.uk/pdfs/ECS003R_Application_Form_March_2012.pdf
fill it in and post it to them. If you haven't done the NVQ3 they'll give you a 'trainee' card, which is often controversial.

You need a different form if you're in Scotland. I don't think there's a special form for if your location is 'Lounge'.

 

[Adam W]

I'm thinking of setting up on my own, after seeing things like this why should I bother going through the hassle of applying into scheme membership when LABC and other agencies can't be bothered to deal with cowboys who carry out this kind of work?

Makes a mockery of the whole Part P system.

I suppose the point would be so that you have the 'luxury' of saying you're doing things 'by the book' rather than taking shortcuts, which could be a good selling point for the more discerning customers.

 

[oldtimer]

I have just been fortunate enough to work for a nice old Lady who got 2 quotes (one was mine), then went with me (the dearer quote) because she couldn't see how the other guy could do the work for the price he quoted. I have no idea how he could have done it either, as there was a lot of work involved and I went over time as it was, to get it done to a high standard. Needless to say, she is very pleased.

Yep just done a job this morning and the same situation

 

[ipf]

I'm thinking of setting up on my own, after seeing things like this why should I bother going through the hassle of applying into scheme membership when LABC and other agencies can't be bothered to deal with cowboys who carry out this kind of work?

Makes a mockery of the whole Part P system.

Makes some feel like packing it in. Mockery of the whole trade.

 

[Guitarist]

Yep just done a job this morning and the same situation

Just have to add, looked the other guy up who quoted and he is not part P registered. Extra circuit to outbuilding was required, amongst other things.... Not sure how he was going to notify this as I know the £180+vat for LBC was not in the price...