The great pat testing scam

[Risteard]

Recently during an interview with a large PAT testing company I was told that they expect 1,100 assets inspected and tested per week and that they believe it is quite achievable on many sites, and suggested that they might offer bonuses beyond 1,100 assets.

This means they were aiming at 220 units per day.

 

[DurhamSparky]

bst i achieved was 130 a day and i was 8.30 - 5 roughly 14p/h and lots of them were class 2 (chargers and other useless office gizmos)

that was a hard push to keep motivated..! was there 3 days!

 

[UNG]

Recently during an interview with a large PAT testing company I was told that they expect 1,100 assets inspected and tested per week and that they believe it is quite achievable on many sites, and suggested that they might offer bonuses beyond 1,100 assets.

This means they were aiming at 220 units per day.

And what were they paying for this target

 

[Graeme Harrold]

I usually average 1 item every 5 mins and I do a thorough visual check. Having a barcode scanner and my own item sheets does speed things slightly and now using the Fluke 6500 in fast mode on the auto test sequences helps a lot too.

I charge roughly £2 per item thus netting about £20-24 per hour. Got a large contract doing caravans with a set price of £9.50 per van with up to 6 items. This allows for packing up moving to the next van and starting again.

At anything less than £1.75 per item Id be looking at a well prepared site (everything brought to me) and volumes ove 500 items. If someone tries to beat me on price I am in the fortunate position of being able to walk away (9/10 I get a call back!!!) and say if you want it doing properly then thats the price.

 

[mogga]

just been for an interview with a Large distribution deopt as maintenance electrician I asked if they had did PAT In house or farmed it out they said they farm it out @ 30p an item YES thats not a typo 30p ner item I nearly fell off the seat If I get the job be assured Ill be checking everything I use / touch as if they r prepared to cut Pat testing that far back whats the pirs gonny be like??

 

[graham3058]

In a perfect world where time and price are not an issue would anyone like to go through the process of a perfect pat test on a portable apliance

 

[Graeme Harrold]

In a perfect world where time and price are not an issue would anyone like to go through the process of a perfect pat test on a portable apliance

YES......................... nice easy day with about £200 pure profit...........

 

[Risteard]

And what were they paying for this target

There was mention of 35 pence somewhere.

 

[expo09]

It's a bit of a joke. This whole thing drives down the price and quality of PAT testers. It will get to the stage where testers are simply unable to perform proper tests as it take to long for what they are having to charge to get the work. And this means appliances will be passing, that should fail, thus defeating the object of PAT testing.

 

[UNG]

It's a bit of a joke. This whole thing drives down the price and quality of PAT testers. It will get to the stage where testers are simply unable to perform proper tests as it take to long for what they are having to charge to get the work. And this means appliances will be passing, that should fail, thus defeating the object of PAT testing.

The quality of the cheapee testers has to be questioned

I think it is at that stage now where the testing is not performed properly except by those charging a proper rate that actually earns them a living. Unfortunately most company management now is accountant and price driven only price matters not quality or safety

Under the EAWR I wonder who will be left holding the "baby" if something goes wrong will it be the employer, the buyer for buying in sub standard work or the company actually doing the testing, until somebody is killed and the precedent is set we will never know.

 

[mogga]

simple answer to the EAWR question All of the above but ultimitly the engineer doing the work specialy when the excuse for substandard work would be that all we can afford as for ur Until thats HSE all over at most firms

 

[shane]

I told some bloke recently, £2.00 an item....."How much!!!???" was the reply, "Ive been quoted 75p an item" I explained what I did and what it involved and got the contract.....Shocked at my own sales ability!!!

we as a small company charge for large installations for which we have a few £1.75 per item, for small companies with smaller amount of items we charge 2.00 , i have seen while in large multi floor offices leads double marked with stickers and the same with almost every appliance in there two tests two stickers"" scanking *******s"" so when we tested it there was neerly half the ammount than previously,we pointed out what had been done to which the head of h&s replied thats what the regs said so she was told, i'm not gonna name this company on ere as it is a very large electrical company niciec reg as some of you lads might work for them lol..

 

[Guest123]

30p!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cbw]

The quality of the cheapee testers has to be questioned

I think it is at that stage now where the testing is not performed properly except by those charging a proper rate that actually earns them a living. Unfortunately most company management now is accountant and price driven only price matters not quality or safety

Under the EAWR I wonder who will be left holding the "baby" if something goes wrong will it be the employer, the buyer for buying in sub standard work or the company actually doing the testing, until somebody is killed and the precedent is set we will never know.

Thing is if you buy a £30, 000 car for £5000 in the eyes of the law you are guilty of handling stolen goods as it is obviously nicked at that price.......

If your buying PAT @ 35p an item you are quite obviously buying a substandard service......

are you guilty of breaching HSE regulations???? PROBABLY!

 

[eskimo39]

Bit of an update.
The caretaker said that the testers had claimed 6000 appliances tested,there were 3 blokes and they were there 3 days.
Now if you allow them a standard 8hr day....(somewhat generous as their vans were gone by 3-4pm when I saw them)...that makes 666 appliances per man per day.....or one every 43 seconds.
Not bad going I reckon.

They are obviously taking the ****, I pride myself on my PAT testing capabilities and take pride in my Engineer status. However 43 seconds to test an item, talk about taking their time. I can look at any plug and put a sticker on it in 8 seconds flat go on try me.....