thinking of becoming a cowboy

[Matty o]

Doing it properly is so expensive.

Due to health issues i work part time but i am finding i am lossing money due to the cost of being a electrician.

To get my JIB card but have to do a H&S exam £42 and as the regs change January i will have to do the update (i did the 17th 2 years ago)to get the card thats £250 pluss £100 for the books then the card itself £36.

Then the part p rip off £500 a year.
Now they are changing the inspection and testing courses anouther £500

and that's without insurance a van and other running costs

 

[Guest112]

do we have to do the updates? i have my 17th and did it 2 years ago also, and got my 2391 earlier this year? I hope not.

your right mate fortunately I work for a contracting firm so no overheads for me but feel your pain regarding money and its no wonder why so many people just chuck it in these days, in the five short years ive been in the trade ive noticed the standards of electrical installs plummet and time to do a job shorten such a shame the skill is slowly going out of the trade

 

[trev]

The thing is Matty you obviously have qualifications so the cowboys won't accept you into their posse. You'll always be known in whispers as "That bloke what does it all proper like"
Seriously though I know exactly what you're going through because I'm in exactly the same situation along with thousands of others. We're better than that though mate

 

[Amp David]

Join the club!

I'm sticking to my guns with this one.

 

[dingledong]

if your self employed you dont need to have a jib card

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Not a dig at the o/p...but theres a morality issue here......theres a right way and a wrong way to do things.....i can understand how frustrating it can be seeing work that you thought was coming your way being pinched by the empty head at the end of the bar......but to just "chuck it all in"...and give it up to these clowns goes against what being an electrician (and what this forum) is all about.....

 

[Matty o]

Found out they will acept 17th regs to 2008 so that saved some but it just seams you do 4y apprenticeship and still have to pay every man and his dog to work.

I find a lot of people are inpressed with a jib card and a lot of agency and site work ask for it
to be honest i put more weight on it than part p

 

[dingledong]

mattyu dont bother become a cowboy like me 5 grand for a rewire bodge it in in a week dont bother with earthing . also any job you do if something goes wrong you dont have to go back to it. as a cowboy you'll start to earn big bucks

 

[heinzbean]

jib card £18 i update mine but havent used it in years.

Health and safety accessment now thats a complete scam 45/45 everytime i have taken it but they insult you by making you do it again in 2 years.

If youve prevously done the 17th edition regs i dont think you have to do the update you just have to own a copy of the green book. Bought mine last week. A good cure for insomnia

 

[mattmoo1974]

You either do the work correctly ie (to the regs) or you dont.. You could have a nice shiney van all the new tools.
You could have a clapped our escort van all ya tools from the happy shopper!
Whats the difference? Nothing..

 

[dingledong]

mattmoo i had a right old banger didn't give a monkeys cut me up i'd drive into you and i did 4 or 5 times but customers were not happy and twice i was asked to park around the corner plus some concierge would not let me park in any bays i now have a nice motor and every one is nice but if you cut me up . . . i just let you to scared to get it scratched

 

[i=p/u]

so jump on the bandwagon and get earning...