Electrician fined for EICR.

davezawadi (David Stone): 
 

Hm, as I predicted one can see the way this is going.

We have Toms installation, which is not the 18th amdt 1 but is probably safe from most of the things Tom is likely to do. It could be that you want RCD protection in case he drills the walls, but this does not mean a new CU. It could then be argued that this might be “inconvenient” so a raft of new RCBOs is required. Then someone notices that Tom has some electronic items, so it is necessary to fit type B RCBOs (Those seem to be a bit like hen's teeth), and as he is fairly old and may not notice a fire, AFDDs. You suggest that a bill for £3 grand is reasonable and he has a heart attack and dies. Did you kill him, because I think that a case for negligent manslaughter might be made?

I have just been helping an old lady who is being severely harassed by BG. She moved into a new sheltered flat, that had a BG electricity supply. She moved supplier as soon as possible because she had the same problem at her old property. They then sent a bill for £200 for 4 days of supply, both ends being “estimated readings”. It might just about be possible to use 1000 units in 4 days in a domestic (very small) premises, but the whole place would be unbelievably hot! She queried the bill by phone (1.5 hours), I did the same (2 hours), her daughter did (1.75 hours), I did again (2 hours) and although each person answering the phone apologised and said that the problem was corrected, she now has a debt collection agency letter! She was positively suicidal yesterday, she has not had a good night's sleep for weeks, and BG is uncontactable. I know because I made a serious complaint and was assured that I would get a return call within 48 hours four weeks ago. There has been no contact. I have to ring again tomorrow. I would love them to try court action because that would be in all the papers, and if the lady actually comes to any harm I am sure there is an excellent case as above. Her actual smart meter consumption including heating etc (no gas) is £8 per week. In the end, they will try to blame “computer error”. The only error that computers make is bad programs, like the Post Office.

I give the illustration because proper professional advice is very complex to do well. If one follows some of the comments above, the installation as a whole must be replaced, to protect the inspector! This is not electrical safety, it is actually serious incompetence. Nowadays some people see danger everywhere and it must be avoided at all costs. This is not the correct view of professionals. Imagine your Doctor had the same level of both fear and control. NO drinking, eating, smoking, enforced 2 hours of serious exercise per day, no carrying anything above 15kg, no running upstairs, no using sharp or powered tools, in fact, an end to life. Regular testing of every known bodily function just in case something turns up, and certificates galore. Are you sure that you are not doing this?

Great post and, good luck with the BG!

regards…

davezawadi (David Stone): 
 

Hm, as I predicted one can see the way this is going.

We have Toms installation, which is not the 18th amdt 1 but is probably safe from most of the things Tom is likely to do. It could be that you want RCD protection in case he drills the walls, but this does not mean a new CU. It could then be argued that this might be “inconvenient” so a raft of new RCBOs is required. Then someone notices that Tom has some electronic items, so it is necessary to fit type B RCBOs (Those seem to be a bit like hen's teeth), and as he is fairly old and may not notice a fire, AFDDs. You suggest that a bill for £3 grand is reasonable and he has a heart attack and dies. Did you kill him, because I think that a case for negligent manslaughter might be made?

I have just been helping an old lady who is being severely harassed by BG. She moved into a new sheltered flat, that had a BG electricity supply. She moved supplier as soon as possible because she had the same problem at her old property. They then sent a bill for £200 for 4 days of supply, both ends being “estimated readings”. It might just about be possible to use 1000 units in 4 days in a domestic (very small) premises, but the whole place would be unbelievably hot! She queried the bill by phone (1.5 hours), I did the same (2 hours), her daughter did (1.75 hours), I did again (2 hours) and although each person answering the phone apologised and said that the problem was corrected, she now has a debt collection agency letter! She was positively suicidal yesterday, she has not had a good night's sleep for weeks, and BG is uncontactable. I know because I made a serious complaint and was assured that I would get a return call within 48 hours four weeks ago. There has been no contact. I have to ring again tomorrow. I would love them to try court action because that would be in all the papers, and if the lady actually comes to any harm I am sure there is an excellent case as above. Her actual smart meter consumption including heating etc (no gas) is £8 per week. In the end, they will try to blame “computer error”. The only error that computers make is bad programs, like the Post Office.

I give the illustration because proper professional advice is very complex to do well. If one follows some of the comments above, the installation as a whole must be replaced, to protect the inspector! This is not electrical safety, it is actually serious incompetence. Nowadays some people see danger everywhere and it must be avoided at all costs. This is not the correct view of professionals. Imagine your Doctor had the same level of both fear and control. NO drinking, eating, smoking, enforced 2 hours of serious exercise per day, no carrying anything above 15kg, no running upstairs, no using sharp or powered tools, in fact, an end to life. Regular testing of every known bodily function just in case something turns up, and certificates galore. Are you sure that you are not doing this?

Great post and, good luck with the BG!

regards…