Scheme providers cash cow vs must have.

[baldsparkies]

Often wonder what many electricians commercial or domestic really think of being a member of one of the scheme providers.
Are they really there to help provide a valuable service to practicing electricians ?
Or are they just a pain in the backside that are always trying to find new ways to relief you of your hard earned cash ?
If it wasn't for domestic notification of works under part P being cheaper under one of the schemes.
I cant see when they have been anything but the latter to be honest.
But opinions on the subject would be interesting.

 

[telectrix]

agree. i place them just 1 step above rated people and the other parasites.

 

[Marvo]

From the general comments I've seen I think most people agree with you Tel. It seems like the majority of sparkies only belong to one for cheaper notifying of work.

 

[baldsparkies]

Of course the biggest baddest of this mob, you know the one !! (they have a geriatric has there man of the moment)
Often pride themselves on there free to members technical helpline.
Free that is until you get yer phone bill and see what that premium rate number as cost you :censored:

 

[telectrix]

i had a bust-up with LABC. they will accept a cert from me on any new build, work on an extension, etc., no problem. but if it's purely electrical ( notifiable) work, they won't accept if i'm not in a scam. so i then said. fine, i'll not bother to notify. sue me. that was the last i heard from them. 4 years ago.

 

[NDG Elecs]

I would be happy with the schemes if they did what they should. That is ensure only properly trained sparks can join and not let any Tom Dick and Harry join. Also the dilution of notifiable works a couple of years ago does not help. If anything it should have got stricter. The schemes should bang their heads together and also push for a change in legislation to prevent non electricians buying certain electrical gear. As it stands I am often easily undercut by non registered 'sparks' who don't have insurance, test gear, regs books or a decent understanding of electrics. I sleep well though.

 

[Risteard]

Often wonder what many electricians commercial or domestic really think of being a member of one of the scheme providers.
Are they really there to help provide a valuable service to practicing electricians ?
Or are they just a pain in the backside that are always trying to find new ways to relief you of your hard earned cash ?
If it wasn't for domestic notification of works under part P being cheaper under one of the schemes.
I cant see when they have been anything but the latter to be honest.
But opinions on the subject would be interesting.

Often people might need to be members of one of them as a client prerequisite.

 

[baldsparkies]

Often people might need to be members of one of them as a client prerequisite.

Not as often as they would like us to believe me thinks.

The prerequisite is more about confidence in your ability, and equally yer price to do the job.

Rarely as a scheme providers name made any real difference in my own experience.

 

[Risteard]

Not as often as they would like us to believe me thinks.

The prerequisite is more about confidence in your ability, and equally yer price to do the job.

Rarely as a scheme providers name made any real difference in my own experience.

In many public or non-domestic jobs a client may well require you to be a member of a particular body. It's really not that uncommon.

 

[shanky887614]

In many public or non-domestic jobs a client may well require you to be a member of a particular body. It's really not that uncommon.

not really, the company i work for have worked on certain large sites for that long that they dont care if we are registered at all but then the firm has been working there on and off for kver 20 years

 

[Risteard]

not really, the company i work for have worked on certain large sites for that long that they dont care if we are registered at all but then the firm has been working there on and off for kver 20 years

Well I honestly don't think that would be accepted here. I know many (if not all) of the public bodies insist upon NICEIC membership.

 

[GB.Kayak]

Well I honestly don't think that would be accepted here. I know many (if not all) of the public bodies insist upon NICEIC membership.

It sounds like 'closed shop' working practices to me ... a single, private and profit making company being the only organisation whose certification is accepted by a public body ... I understand why it happens but to my mind it is a monopoly!

 

[telectrix]

and monopoly money in brown envelopes passed under the table with a funny handshake.

 

[GB.Kayak]

and monopoly money in brown envelopes passed under the table with a funny handshake.

... I didn't think they admitted women to their ranks ...

 

[baldsparkies]

With commercial work, I have found that more and more facilities managers are wising up and now have more interest in seeing a JIB card from the operatives actually doing the job as opposed to membership of the company they work for with regards to NIC or the like.
No doubt they have seen examples of young apprentices being let loose on there installations.
And under the umbrella of the scheme provider vs company the apprentice works for.
Who do we have spare ?? Little Joe he's a bright lad give him a van today and send him up.
Oh dear, did I just turn all the IT servers off ?? whoop's.
Trust me !! It happens.