Stroma Certification Scheme NICEIC prices going up, thinking of going with stroma.

[45140]

Very disappointed that the NIC do not appear to be a proper trade body.

They tell the public they cannot get involved in any dispute. They state that everyone who is registered is competent and uses their trademark. However they then display a list of those who are displaying their trademark illegally but appear to be unable to understand that it is an offence to use someone else's trademark without permission and deal with these people legally.

What is the point of paying out a substantial sum to an organisation that cannot even police the misuse of its own branding ???

The other issue is that you cannot be registered until you produce work for them to inspect but you cannot do the work without being registered...... WTF is all that about ???

 

[rolyberkin]

Have never been asked who I am with and to be honest none of my domestic or commercial customers know what a scheme is or to be honest care. Stroma is cheaper and in my opinion has significantly more robust entry requirements and assessment than other schemes hence I will always recommend them over other schemes.

 

[Bellendian]

Pretty sure that list is reserved for those that failed to pay their subs on time....

 

[DPG]

Very disappointed that the NIC do not appear to be a proper trade body.

They tell the public they cannot get involved in any dispute. They state that everyone who is registered is competent and uses their trademark. However they then display a list of those who are displaying their trademark illegally but appear to be unable to understand that it is an offence to use someone else's trademark without permission and deal with these people legally.

What is the point of paying out a substantial sum to an organisation that cannot even police the misuse of its own branding ???

They have taken action where people have fraudulently used the NIC logo.

 

[n180]

As wilko said, it's the first year's fees that are a hurdle for me. The first year I'd have to pay NIC near enough a grand to join.

With stroma I paid £350. And not had any issues, had a really nice assessor, and they've always been helpful over the phone.

Almost all domestic and most medium sized companies don't ask or know about schemes, so long as you can give them a cert.

The only thing that would make me even consider NIC over stroma is if being registered on the NIC website actually generated enough work every year to justify the premium. Does it?

 

[Fitzy]

A builder friend of mine who who primary does works for insurance companies,can ONLY use NICEIC registered electricians, he very rarely comes across an insurance company that will allow other scheme member electricians complete their work as they don’t “approve” their schemes.

 

[richy3333]

Very disappointed that the NIC do not appear to be a proper trade body.

They tell the public they cannot get involved in any dispute. They state that everyone who is registered is competent and uses their trademark. However they then display a list of those who are displaying their trademark illegally but appear to be unable to understand that it is an offence to use someone else's trademark without permission and deal with these people legally.

What is the point of paying out a substantial sum to an organisation that cannot even police the misuse of its own branding ???

The other issue is that you cannot be registered until you produce work for them to inspect but you cannot do the work without being registered...... WTF is all that about ???

I don't understand your comment really as the NICEIC often have people prosecuted. Some PV company recently got jail time if I recall correctly.

I agree we should have 1 trade body and it should have teeth rather than as it is in England with half a dozen different companies.

Any scheme highlights the predicament of not being registered to do work but needing work to be assessed for an initial joining assessment so far as I know. I assume Stroma are no different?

As others have said I get plenty more work a year from being NICEIC that easily covers the annual cost, even if it is now £10 per year more. If people can't afford the extra £10 their business model must be very tenuous?

 

[Midwest]

I know you have to live in the real world, but I've seen these comments before and I know that some of the other schemes have asked to be informed of this NIC bias, and they would like to think they could take it further.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I don't understand your comment really as the NICEIC often have people prosecuted. Some PV company recently got jail time if I recall correctly.

I agree we should have 1 trade body and it should have teeth rather than as it is in England with half a dozen different companies.

Any scheme highlights the predicament of not being registered to do work but needing work to be assessed for an initial joining assessment so far as I know. I assume Stroma are no different?

As others have said I get plenty more work a year from being NICEIC that easily covers the annual cost, even if it is now £10 per year more. If people can't afford the extra £10 their business model must be very tenuous?

That’s right they got 4 years but it wasn’t just for using the logo.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

That’s right they got 4 years but it wasn’t just for using the logo.

Solar PV Company Directors Jailed for Deception - https://professional-electrician.com/news/solar-pv-company-directors-jailed-deception/

 

[Welchyboy1]

I moved over to stroma, well worth it!

 

[Welchyboy1]

I have no issues with Stroma's service. It does what it is supposed to.
I wouldn't recommend using the third party service. Why would you want to actively enable others to do you out of possible work ?

do not ask for third party registration, why would you?

 

[a-z electrics]

I moved to Stroma from Elecsa about 3 yrs ago.. no regrets and Ive saved about £750 over that time. Assessors have been real nice and understanding and helpful to me..

 

[andysparkfree]

Good afternoon Sham

worth checking cost of the insurance, as having just done this for a friend, seems you need additional cover to undertake periodic inspections and to 3rd party certificate
I found the costs only a little under the NICEIC costs ( specially once you add TrustMark )

Good Luck

 

[Toneyz]

Don’t really understand why the LBC building inspectors sign off on the structural stuff but stay clear of electrics? Unless there were specific grounds to suspect a dangerous installation I would politely tell a council official to ‘f’ off if they turned up at my house to check the wiring.

I think that you have answered it by saying building inspector and anything that has a constructional element. Ok, they may know the basics but they haven't had the electrical training that's why all these schemes have sprung up and they would not be able to cope with all the inspections if they did not exist.