R U Part P registered?

[Richard Andrews]

MyHammer, Rated People, My Builder...All are sources of work, but those without Part P credentials, etc., are doing YOU out of your membership fees by undertaking Part P works.
I have been through MyHammer for jobs within 200 miles... Many jobs require Part P credentials, but those bidding would seem to have "unchecked" C&G qualifications. What's C&G's to do with Part P compliance? Others state they have undertaken a 5 day EAL Part P course, but do not mention Part P registration with any of the bodies concerned...
Today I have emailed MyHammer (who sponsors Channel 5's "Cowboy Builders" and have informed them they are providing an avenue of work for cowboys. I also sent the email to Channel 5 and Rated People.
I am one man - together we are many! If you see an ad where potentially unregistered person(s) are responding would you take just a few minutes to inform the site (MyHammer/My Builder, etc) and protect our livelihood against those who choose to break the law.
Together, we can make a lot of noise and somebody will eventually listen!
I have informed MyHammer it's simple to check my credentials - simply phone NICEIC.
Get it together and do YOUR bit for compliance! Do your bit to safeguard YOUR income! Do YOUR bit or SUFFER the consequences..............

Richard of Andrews & Co

 

[Shorted]

Fairly new to the forum, and having just read this thread thought it about time I contribute. I agree with three points in particular:
1. Most customers don't know about Building Regs and so don't check about Part P registration and sign-off;
2. Without registration with NICIEC or another body you are not deemed competent, however many qualifications and years experience you have;
3. But unless you get registered you either have to (should!) arrange for LABC to sign-of and pay (or suggest the customer does so!) and the cost and inconvenience is high.

So what's the solution? Does Part P and registration really count for anything when lots of qualified and unqualified people are doing unchecked work? I've encountered work by qualified sparks which is not up to standard and some of these can sign-off their own work!

My wife has a similar situation in her line of work. She is a fully qualified podiatrist ('foot doctor') and is regulated by the HPC. However, there are lots of non-HPC registered people working as chiropodists and podiatrists who don't pay the HPC fees and do work of very variable quality. Strictly speaking they are breaking the law. No-one seems to do anything about it and most members of the public don't seem to know about the HPC. It makes me wonder what is the point in such registration schemes if they are ineffective. I don't think government is going to do anything much to help, especially since they seem to be keen on relaxing regulation and cutting back the public sector (the main enforcers).

Final point about Building Regs. It is the householder's responsibility to ensure compliance. However, I believe the Local Authority can only prosecute within two years after the work is completed. After that as far as I am aware the main risks are in selling the property (e.g. if a survey picks up electrical alterations which leads to a request for a Part P certificate) or insurance claims e.g. if a fire can be traced to dodgy electrics.

In my opinion Building Regs (incl. Part P) therefore don't have any real teeth - especially since most LAs are being squeezed and are unlikely to take prosecutions except in the most serious cases. So I'm not sure what the answer is. Its down to those of us who have a conscience to try and maintain the standards I guess...

 

[FAA Greenie]

if you are a qualified electrician, and can prove so along with 17th edition and 2391, then why should we have to be members of these part P schemes? i do think that there should be spot checks on any electrical work, and that it should be against the law to carry out electrical work unless you are qualified. Its the same with gas, and it should be with electricity. im sure that there are many of you who disagree,but this is my opinion.

Part 'p' schemes are all out for your money, i agree. However, you do not have to be a member of a part P scheme to undertake electrical work. What you DO have to do if you are not, is pay BC in your area to inspect and approve any notifiable work you carry out, regardless of your qualifications and experience/competence. In Somerset I believe it is £250 a shot. How are you ever going to be competetive in the market if you have to add that sort of price into fitting, lets say, a bathroom shower circuit?

 

[timo1]

I think that the LABC costs are a disgrace. Its £285 in Dorset which forces you to pay for a scheme. If it was more reasonable say £50 a time then you could build it into the price, which I think most would do. The cynic in me says its all about job creation...

 

[Engineer54]

I think that the LABC costs are a disgrace. Its £285 in Dorset which forces you to pay for a scheme. If it was more reasonable say £50 a time then you could build it into the price, which I think most would do. The cynic in me says its all about job creation...

No, ....It's all about Money creation. lol!!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

We....WE....WE....are the money tree...........

 

[UNG]

But what about the LABC's that sign off building work with non compliant electrical work a part of it seen it happen a few times on house extensions local to me On one no electrical certs were provided by the spark who did the work and the work carried out was of poor quality and the householder was badly advised

Part P does not promote quality or competence with Part P registration bandied about like some sort of qualification. We need to be rid of this Labour job creation scheme and if deemed necessary replace it with scheme or system that does what it says on the "tin" and promote electrical competance of all operatives carrying out any electrical work without the huge rip off

 

[GLENNSPARK]

But what about the LABC's that sign off building work with non compliant electrical work a part of it seen it happen a few times on house extensions local to me On one no electrical certs were provided by the spark who did the work and the work carried out was of poor quality and the householder was badly advised

Part P does not promote quality or competence with Part P registration bandied about like some sort of qualification. We need to be rid of this Labour job creation scheme and if deemed necessary replace it with scheme or system that does what it says on the "tin" and promote electrical competance of all operatives carrying out any electrical work without the huge rip off

Competence being the operative word here as some "electricians" who can claim to have this cert n that cert basically cant do the job....its all very well plonking someone down in a chair in front of a computer and giving them a regs book to copy out of (2382) then saying go and get registered now...but be sure to ATTEMPT the 2391 within a year (no one said anything about passing) but we want ex amount of pounds a year....its all about the cash and sod competence which sounds like a clear breach of BS7671 anyway so whoos playing straight and whoos cheating who here?.............