When do you actually do the paperwork?

robbo777 · Mar 30, 2012

Hi

Just a question here regarding testing and certification.

If you got called to a house to replace a socket that had its casing cracked or you put a lovely new B&Q chandelier up for someone would you then do a minor works Cert + Si + STR?

Seems a little overkill to me

If you don't what's the smallest job that you would do it on?

Guest123 · Mar 30, 2012

A MEIW cert is only one page and takes no more than 10-15minutes to fill in, providing everything is safe & sound.

Octopus · Mar 30, 2012

Like for like repair/replace = EFLI check and noted in Invoice.

robbo777 · Mar 30, 2012

Lenny said:
A MEIW cert is only one page and takes no more than 10-15minutes to fill in, providing everything is safe & sound.

So would you not do a Schedule of Inspections and a Schedule of test results with that then?

SirKit Breaker · Mar 30, 2012

Whats paperwork? is that the stuff the customer shoves in you hand, that serves as currency in the local:wink_smile:

SirKit Breaker · Mar 30, 2012

robbo777 said:
So would you not do a Schedule of Inspections and a Schedule of test results with that then?

NO, not required.

Guest123 · Mar 30, 2012

robbo777 said:
So would you not do a Schedule of Inspections and a Schedule of test results with that then?

No.

AN MEIW cert is one page, that's it. No additional SOI or SOTR required.

Look at the examples in BS 7671.

robbo777 · Mar 30, 2012

SirKit Breaker said:
NO, not required.

lol, that's why its ****ing me off then, I was having to charge for my time to do all 3 and was just quoting too high

Octopus · Mar 30, 2012

robbo777 said:
lol, that's why its ****ing me off then, I was having to charge for my time to do all 3 and was just quoting too high

if its like for like I wouldn't bother with a cert unless its a rental property.

This job has enough paperwork without doing unnecessary MWC's too. The bloke down the pub won't even raise an invoice let alone a cert!

Top Cat · Mar 30, 2012

SirKit Breaker said:
Whats paperwork? is that the stuff the customer shoves in you hand, that serves as currency in the local:wink_smile:

Hope you declared that paperwork to the tax man like we all do!!

SirKit Breaker · Mar 30, 2012

Top Cat said:
Hope you declared that paperwork to the tax man like we all do!!

Taxman..........whats one of them?

SirKit Breaker · Mar 30, 2012

Murdoch said:
if its like for like I wouldn't bother with a cert unless its a rental property.

This job has enough paperwork without doing unnecessary MWC's too. The bloke down the pub won't even raise an invoice let alone a cert!

I agree with Murdoch, although its not politically correct etc, sometimes it is more practical. Although as a minimum i would do an EFLI test, even if i didnt document it.

Cheers..........Howard

RISElectrical · Mar 30, 2012

Any addition I would do a MWC, anything requiring an EIC would get one, as said above for like for like replacements etc I wouldn't usually do a cert, I would do a test, however would just invoice and on my way.

richy3333 · Mar 30, 2012

Minor works and invoice. Preferably whilst still at the house

Deleted member 9648 · Mar 30, 2012

SirKit Breaker said:
I agree with Murdoch, although its not politically correct etc, sometimes it is more practical. Although as a minimum i would do an EFLI test, even if i didnt document it.

Cheers..........Howard

Same here as Murdoch and Sirkit.....there's too much paperwork anyway...a form to change a socket?...no thanks.

brman · Mar 30, 2012

You guys that do certs/invoices etc at the house, what do you do for your copy? carbon paper?

RISElectrical · Mar 30, 2012

Invoices done on iPad and usually emailed to customer then and there. Certs if EIC done on pc and posted. MWC I usually either do on pc and post or write out 2 copies

mogga · Mar 30, 2012

If your doing a lot of stuff requiring MWC you could do a small part of MWC on bottom of invoice, job sheet specialy if your doing L.A. or rental stuff get tenant to sign that you have been there and done it as well

trev · Mar 30, 2012

brman said:
You guys that do certs/invoices etc at the house, what do you do for your copy? carbon paper?

Notepaper mate, copy it out when you get home.
2 minutes

Richard Burns · Mar 30, 2012

brman said:
You guys that do certs/invoices etc at the house, what do you do for your copy? carbon paper?

I do all my invoices at the end of the job on carbon paper. certificates I normally try and do if I can again on carbon paper (although I got told off by Elecsa because they were too faint so I now use handwriting blue copy paper, messy but not faint).
If I am doing a cert for an insurance company, etc. I normally fill it in on the PC at hoem and send it off.

R4BOE · Mar 31, 2012

mogga said:
If your doing a lot of stuff requiring MWC you could do a small part of MWC on bottom of invoice, job sheet specialy if your doing L.A. or rental stuff get tenant to sign that you have been there and done it as well

anyone got a sample of there job sheets with the MWC incorporated would you send me a copy i would love to see the layout as this is the route i need to go

Richard Burns · Apr 1, 2012

mogga said:
If your doing a lot of stuff requiring MWC you could do a small part of MWC on bottom of invoice, job sheet specialy if your doing L.A. or rental stuff get tenant to sign that you have been there and done it as well

I like that idea. I hate wasting paper on all these certificates and this should also cause confusion with the customers filing; is it an invoice or certificate.
I like it, I have made up this rather quickly as an example of how to scrunch things up.

richy3333 · Apr 1, 2012

brman said:
You guys that do certs/invoices etc at the house, what do you do for your copy? carbon paper?

Iphone/Ipad/computer etc. Copies are electronic

brman · Apr 1, 2012

Thanks Guys, lots of options there. I like the combined invoice/meiwc idea!

EastAnglian · Apr 1, 2012

I always issue a certificate of one kind or another. Not only is it required (see earlier messages!) but I believe it sends out the message "this guy is qualified and knows what he's doing" (hey, you can fall most of the people most of the time :biggrin: ). My reason for doing that is the £35 job you got called in to do today could easily turn into a £500 job the next time the customer needs work doing, or when his neighbour/colleague/mate in the pub says "do you know a decent electrician?". Plain simple marketing!

As for how I do them ..... software, local copy for my records, backed up of course, and a PDF version to the customer by e-mail. If necessary, a printed copy by post, but that's quite rare now!

dingledong · Apr 1, 2012

but that is the main question !!!!! do you know a decent electrician ????????????? in these parts its do you know a cheap electrician ?

durhamspark · Apr 2, 2012

I like the idea of a combined invoice/MEIWC , I might look at drafting one up myself based on my current invoices.

Personally I have started to get into the habit of documenting everything I do, which means a MEIWC for every job no matter how trivial.

This way if there were any future issues - worst case a fire started by faulty equipment- then I can prove I did the necessary checks when I was there.

I can also agree with eastanglian, it does look more professional to the client if you certify all works.