Guild of PAT Testers

[draelectricals]

Has anyone ever heard of the guild, and are you a member?

Is it genuine? I've been approached to join them but had never heard of them, there's no one near me that knows of them so I'm trying to find out if it's real or a scam. Can anyone help?

Cheers

 

[malcolmsanford]

Well I have to say that i have never heard of it ...................what are they offering you and what would it do for you if you joined it?

 

[Pat Guild]

The Guild of PAT Testers is my site. It was launched earlier this year so it is relatively new. I can assure you it is legitimate. If you choose to join you will need to pass a test on electrical / PAT testing knowledge, this is a yearly test to make sure that any members have a good knowledge of PAT testing.

If you go to http://www.patguild.com and enter your postcode then you will see the details for any Guild members in your area.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Simon

 

[DurhamSparky]

sounds loads of crap!!

 

[malcolmsanford]

The Guild of PAT Testers is my site. It was launched earlier this year so it is relatively new. I can assure you it is legitimate. If you choose to join you will need to pass a test on electrical / PAT testing knowledge, this is a yearly test to make sure that any members have a good knowledge of PAT testing.

If you go to http://www.patguild.com and enter your postcode then you will see the details for any Guild members in your area.


If you have any questions please let me know.

Simon

I can't see any affiliation to a professional body on your website ..are you in fact associated with a recognised body ?

Is this yearly on line exam created by yourself and is it based on the gola City and guilld format, are the question set by an authoritive body such as the city and guilds?

Can you give us examples or even figures on what type of leads you can provide and what is the percentage of leads to successful contracts being awarded.

 

[paturback]

hmm just what we need haha anyone gonna own up to being a member?

 

[draelectricals]

I will contact the Pat Guild. My thoughts on it: I had an email through from the PAT Guild which looked like Junk mail, saying I'd had a request on the site to supply a quote, yet I am not registered on the site. Although when I put in my post code I am listed which is strange. I have no problem being a member of it IF it is a genuine site, but if the site is home made and not legitimate then I don't want to be associated. Where does this online test come from, and what do I get from a membership? How much traffic does the site receive?

 

[draelectricals]

hmm just what we need haha anyone gonna own up to being a member?

If you look on the site there are actually a few members, none in my area which is why I was sceptical but it still seems unreal to me - I've never heard of it before today and it seems neither have many others

 

[Pat Guild]

The online test is based on the IET Code of Practice for in service inspection and testing of electrical equipment. So any questions are based on the guidelines all PAT testers should be following. Any legitimate PAT tester shouldn't have a problem passing the test.

I started out the guild with the hope of making it easy to find a trustworthy PAT tester, as i'm sure anyone who PAT tests will know there are alot of people who don't test by the book. Any tester who joins the guild has to agree to follow guidelines that include testing in accordance with IET's COP, not having hidden charges, etc. Members can also be struck off if they have a complaint made against them.

 

[draelectricals]

Yes but the issue people have with the "Guild" is that it is not a guild. It is your website; set up by you, not by a group of people. And what happens to the money - does it go back to the members or do you keep it? If it was a real guild there would be no joining fee but membership based on trust.

So, I think the guild is a way for you to sell yourself as the trustworthy PAT Tester, and to suggest that anyone who is not a member is not trustworthy.

Also, what can you be struck off? If something doesn't really exist in the first place?

 

[Pat Guild]

Yes but the issue people have with the "Guild" is that it is not a guild. It is your website; set up by you, not by a group of people. And what happens to the money - does it go back to the members or do you keep it? If it was a real guild there would be no joining fee but membership based on trust.

The definition of a guild is 'An association of persons of the same trade or pursuits, formed to protect mutual interests and maintain standards.' so by definition it meets the criteria of a guild.

The money received goes towards the maintenance, running costs and administration of the web site as well as paying off money already spent in designing the site. Whilst it could be free and I welcome anyone to set there own version up for free, most people will recognise the significant outlay of time and money in setting up a site such as this.

If you look into guilds or associations in other industries you will find that not only is the Guild of PAT Testers cheaper, but also membership criteria is more strict with the requirement to first take a test before entry.

 

[DurhamSparky]

still sounds like crap!!! similar site out there called PAT Directory.......!! same set up and same stuff...!!

p.s how did you get my details by the way ??? Pat Directory!! Probably!

 

[Pat Guild]

still sounds like crap!!! similar site out there called PAT Directory.......!! same set up and same stuff...!!

p.s how did you get my details by the way ??? Pat Directory!! Probably!

Yes but even the PAT directory charges more and all you get is a website listing then. With the guild the members are agreeing to follow the code of practice and have to pass an entry test.

I could enter my dog on the PAT directory website. Doesn't mean she has a clue about PAT testing

 

[draelectricals]

Yes, and anyone can become a member of your site by paying £15 and answering a few questions that can be found in a book - doesn't mean they know anything about PAT Testing.

If you choose to set up a website, call it that Pat Testers guild and pay for it yourself then say that on the site, don't suggest you are the law and governing body of a trade.

 

[72-van]

Hi All Heres my two pence worth on this subject.I am a quite experienced tester having several years behind me working full time at testing and whilst i can see the reason for a scheme to promote testing and promote testers in their regions the online test however difficult is not sufficient imho as they might know all the theory in the cop but not have a scooby doo how to work a tester in the field .Also they could be appliance 'ticket slappers' and not actually doing the job properly as indeed it deserves.
The only real way forward is the same type of annual inspection as the niceic do for there pat scheme where they check your work calibated tester make sure your are in complete compliance with cop and indeed have a copy .
Had this pat guild done inspections as above then perhaps i might have considered it otherwise i am afraid i will be steering well clear.
I am giving serious considration to joining a credible scheme can anyone tell me if other than niceic any of the other bodies do one .Select seem to but the websites hard to make out.

cheers 72-van
fife

I would point out that i am not a spark but have 2377 /2383 and currently studying 2391