Is it just me or do other feel like the NICEIC are ripping us off?
We have been a member of the NICEIC for over 16 years and initially we just had the obligatory half day visit, which is included in the annual fee.
One year we had about 6 months work in Doncaster (we are based in South London) and consequently, at the inspection, the NICEIC wished to see the job as it made up a substantial part of the years work. No problem and I didn't even mind paying the extra dollars!
Anyway, ever since then they always booked us for a full days visit and charge me the extra ÂŁ388 (which is for the extra half day as half a day is already I included in the annual fee).
Over the last four years or so the work has dropped off and is nowhere near as far afield. So this year I questioned why we still needed the extra half day. I was told by an operative at NICEIC HQ, that this decision was down to the inspector. I reminded her that he wouldn't know until he turned up by which time it would be to late as she had booked him out for the whole day already. Which was why I was trying to be helpful and was letting them know now. Again she insisted that she couldn't do anything and that it was the inspectors decision.
He turned up and after looking at the work agreed that there was not enough to see over the whole day. From 10 or so Certs he picked out the only four installation jobs that we had, as the others we small and not worth seeing, and after making calls to them I told him that we couldn't get in to any as they was all residential and the clients were at work.
He told me that he'd have to mark this down as a major non compliance as we couldn't see any work and I would need another half day visit (ÂŁ388!). I said what about the half day that's booked for today? He told me that he'd get them to cancel the invoice.
I informed him that I was not happy as how could this be my fault when I had told his office that there was not enough work and then when he chose which jobs to look at, we couldn't get in anyway.
He replied that there was a lesson to be learned and that I would need to make sure I arranged the jobs in future.
'We're not allowed to do that', I replied, 'we're not allowed to choose which jobs you see!'
'Well', he said, 'Something is better than nothing at all!'
Now tell me this guys, it's not me is it? It's not as if the annual fee is cheap anyway, but to lever the other ÂŁ388 or so, in any ay they can, amounts to a con doesn't it?
I've been around long enough to realise when something doesn't smell right, and generally speaking, if I feel that I am being done, then some thing is definitely amiss!
I am on the verge of telling them to poke the membership and we will go elsewhere.
Your thoughts on the situation, what the other scam schemes are like and similar experiences would be gratefully received.
We have been a member of the NICEIC for over 16 years and initially we just had the obligatory half day visit, which is included in the annual fee.
One year we had about 6 months work in Doncaster (we are based in South London) and consequently, at the inspection, the NICEIC wished to see the job as it made up a substantial part of the years work. No problem and I didn't even mind paying the extra dollars!
Anyway, ever since then they always booked us for a full days visit and charge me the extra ÂŁ388 (which is for the extra half day as half a day is already I included in the annual fee).
Over the last four years or so the work has dropped off and is nowhere near as far afield. So this year I questioned why we still needed the extra half day. I was told by an operative at NICEIC HQ, that this decision was down to the inspector. I reminded her that he wouldn't know until he turned up by which time it would be to late as she had booked him out for the whole day already. Which was why I was trying to be helpful and was letting them know now. Again she insisted that she couldn't do anything and that it was the inspectors decision.
He turned up and after looking at the work agreed that there was not enough to see over the whole day. From 10 or so Certs he picked out the only four installation jobs that we had, as the others we small and not worth seeing, and after making calls to them I told him that we couldn't get in to any as they was all residential and the clients were at work.
He told me that he'd have to mark this down as a major non compliance as we couldn't see any work and I would need another half day visit (ÂŁ388!). I said what about the half day that's booked for today? He told me that he'd get them to cancel the invoice.
I informed him that I was not happy as how could this be my fault when I had told his office that there was not enough work and then when he chose which jobs to look at, we couldn't get in anyway.
He replied that there was a lesson to be learned and that I would need to make sure I arranged the jobs in future.
'We're not allowed to do that', I replied, 'we're not allowed to choose which jobs you see!'
'Well', he said, 'Something is better than nothing at all!'
Now tell me this guys, it's not me is it? It's not as if the annual fee is cheap anyway, but to lever the other ÂŁ388 or so, in any ay they can, amounts to a con doesn't it?
I've been around long enough to realise when something doesn't smell right, and generally speaking, if I feel that I am being done, then some thing is definitely amiss!
I am on the verge of telling them to poke the membership and we will go elsewhere.
Your thoughts on the situation, what the other scam schemes are like and similar experiences would be gratefully received.
