Niceic

[petegibbons]

I am an enrolled contractor with the NICEIC but I have really had enough of dealing with them.

I am considering withdrawing from the scheme and joining another body. Can anyone give me any advice on this, will it affect my business, what are the other bodies like etc?

I presently do a lot of work for many of the large social housing landlords providing day to day maintenance and periodic inspections. None of them ask me for NICEIC reports and are quite happy to have our own computer generated certificates.

I'm just sick of the NIC to be honest, I feel we get nothing off them but annual bills and hassle over nonsense, every year they seem to find some way of draining a few £'s extra out of you..

 

[brucelee]

change to elecsa or napit mate i think they have a service for changing from other governing bodies its just another form of tax eh mate

 

[Sparky Ninja]

I'm still with the niceic but have looked into switching for similar reasons. I know that elecsa have an apparent easy switch service, that they claim is http://http://www.elecsa.co.uk/whyjoinus.aspx

 

[djb_1983]

Most people do ask for niceic as i think its a name they are used to seeing. But sounds like Napit and Elecsa are making a breakthrough.

 

[Guest123]

Well at least if you do swap you wont have to do or pay for any assessments.

Unless you are NIC DI and go Napit full scope.

 

[Baal]

Hi Pete,
When you say you've had enough of them, are there particular incidents or is that just a general feeling?
I'm interested because I'm quite happy with our NICEIC membership but I must admit I've never really checked out alternative scheme providers.

 

[Sparky Ninja]

I'll give you my reason for thinking about leaving Baal.

We had our annual assessment arranged as per usual. However, due to unforseen circumstances I was unavailable for the arranged date (I am the only QS). So, with 23 working days before the assessment, I rang them to confirm cancellation. All was assumed OK. This was well within the NIC's timeframe without additional fee's being necessary (I think it's something like 14 days).
I was informed we would receive our new appointment at a later date.
So, the friday before the original assessment date (the tuesday) I had an feeling that I should confirm the cancellation (reason being that I hadn't received any further appointment from them). Turns out they had no knowledge of it. I gave them the ladies name, but that was no use. They said 'no problem, tell us which phone number you called from and which date and we will check our system'. I thought, 'fine' and gave them the info.
The next day she called me back, saying that their system isn't working and they can't check the records.
'Oh well'... I thought.

She then went on to tell me her manager has instructed her to invoice me the fine anyway, and it would be up to me to find from my own phone records, proof of the phone call.

I've always supported the NICEIC. But the second this happened, they lost all credibility IMO.

 

[Baal]

I'd be thinking the same way under those circumstances!
Although it doesn't make up for the stress and anger, I'll bet a call to the sales team explaining your reasons for wishing to leave will result in a withdrawl of the 'fine'.

 

[Sparky Ninja]

Oh don't worry, I got them with their tail between their legs. It's funny, the day after I resolved it all on the phone, my new assessment date arrived.
I don't mind having to shuffle some paperwork when necessary, I'm fairly organised like that.



It's just the sheer nerve of the company thinking they pull off things like that.


I've discussed it with Mr Tony Cable and he wasn't too impressed.

 

[DurhamSparky]

i would tell teh NIC to POKE IT!!!! i know plenty of sparks who in last 3 years have did the same!! must be up to 30-40 sparks now either with Elecsa or Napit .... and not just one man bands either!

put it this way British Gas is now Elecsa Registered from NICEIC....!

 

[Voltimax]

I too have had experiences with the NICEIC that have left a bad taste in my mouth. At the end of the day their arrogance is unbelievable. I had a disagreement with them and as I was putting my point across to a lady there, she just hung up on me. I had a free transfer to them from Napit, they upset me over something they promised me and then they decided they were'nt going to give it to me. I asked to be immediately transferred back to Napit, they said no. I called Napit and they said that since I had payed my fee for the year and renewal isn't due until November, in their books I'm still a member