Niceic assessment

Zahid Nawab · Mar 6, 2020

This question is to those who are niceic. I am an approved contractor, I had my second periodic inspection on this previous Monday. The assessment had started as it usually does 8 till 12 everything went well however I had just realised by chance actually that the niceic had billed me for an additional half day. In total my yearly registration has cost me 580 plus an addutional 384. This is crazy. Almost a grand for the year. Has this happened to anyone before? My assessment was finished around 11.30 but he stayed and chatted for a while which is no bother but how do they justify an additional 384. I have phoned them only to be fibbed off and send in a email to which they haven't responded. It's disgusting*

Vortigern · Mar 6, 2020

In the past year Stroma have just introduced approved contractor status. Which I have taken advantage of. The year before I just had a telephone assessment asking what work I had done. Aside from the fact it was the same cost I think it is fair enough. After all they have come and pored over work in a commercial environment the few years previous and have got to know me. When they wanted to see certs I pulled out about 300 pages of them which they glanced at in a cursory fashion. In the end they were quite clear I was not fresh out of a five week course with no experience and probably have me marked as such. I sometimes wonder why they inspect every year when they know what calibre of person they are dealing with. Looking forward it is all change again as NAPIT has appeared over our new portal and bringing with them the exorbitant NIC fee structure gawd help us! But that is in 2021 they are going to soften us up first I am told, in not so many words!

Dobes_88 · Mar 6, 2020

I had the exact same scenario that happened to me on my second AC visit (finished about 12.30), was completely unaware I'd be getting charged extra until I received the letter through the post, phoned them up and had a moan but had to pay in the end...

Was agreed after with my assessor that a half days visit is enough as most of my work is local, which was the case in Januarys assessment.

davesparks · Mar 6, 2020

westward10 said:
Our assessors want to get away from me as fast as possible.

I get on very well with our assessor, we spend a lor of time looking at the backstage of the theatres I work in and discussing how shows work rather than looking at my electrical work.

westward10 · Mar 6, 2020

davesparks said:
I get on very well with our assessor, we spend a lor of time looking at the backstage of the theatres I work in and discussing how shows work rather than looking at my electrical work.

I can understand that. Few years back we went to a historic church we had worked on, lots of artefacts and stuff and soon lost interest in the job.

Dave OCD · Mar 6, 2020

I've had the same assessor for the last six years, he says he likes visiting me as it's very easy knowing he won't find any problems and I don't have any of the hostile attitude of many that he visits ! So it's a pleasant and unstressed experience for me really, apart from the cost.

ipf · Mar 6, 2020

radiohead said:
This is not always the case, been an AC for over 20 years and never had more than half a day. Most recent visit was in early feb, 1pm till 4pm.

30 years for me, always half a day. Latest December 9 till 12.

Zahid Nawab · Mar 7, 2020

Vortigern said:
In the past year Stroma have just introduced approved contractor status. Which I have taken advantage of. The year before I just had a telephone assessment asking what work I had done. Aside from the fact it was the same cost I think it is fair enough. After all they have come and pored over work in a commercial environment the few years previous and have got to know me. When they wanted to see certs I pulled out about 300 pages of them which they glanced at in a cursory fashion. In the end they were quite clear I was not fresh out of a five week course with no experience and probably have me marked as such. I sometimes wonder why they inspect every year when they know what calibre of person they are dealing with. Looking forward it is all change again as NAPIT has appeared over our new portal and bringing with them the exorbitant NIC fee structure gawd help us! But that is in 2021 they are going to soften us up first I am told, in not so many words!

You ve raised some very good points. I could never figure it out. Why do they assess you every year, and always treat you like a novice. I mean the fact I ve been a AC for years should prove I know how to test etc. Every year he tells me, oh yeah you know what's going on, I can see that. I think it's just to justify there exorbitant fees.

Risteard · Mar 7, 2020

Annual assessments are a requirement under the Electrotechnical Assessment Scheme and for UKAS accreditation I believe.

The NICEIC have no choice over this.

radiohead · Mar 7, 2020

Zahid Nawab said:
You ve raised some very good points. I could never figure it out. Why do they assess you every year, and always treat you like a novice. I mean the fact I ve been a AC for years should prove I know how to test etc. Every year he tells me, oh yeah you know what's going on, I can see that. I think it's just to justify there exorbitant fees.

I understand your frustration, but I have to say I've never felt I was treated like a novice. On my Feb assessment he arrived about 1pm, went through the usual paperwork, and then looked at and we discussed a couple of EICR's on the PC. These counted as one job. After that we went off and looked at a couple of local installations, did some testing, and discussed a few points raised...(not negative, just a review of reasons for the way things had been done. Then back to the office, no issues at all and a full endorsement. See you next year.
I would point out other scams are available if you are unhappy with the NIC.....take your money elsewhere.

Midwest · Mar 7, 2020

Risteard said:
Annual assessments are a requirement under the Electrotechnical Assessment Scheme and for UKAS accreditation I believe.

The NICEIC have no choice over this.

I believe I've read before, there is scope for the Schemes not to carry out site visits every year, after the first assessment. But you have to ask, what else do you get for your money.