Merv - Im speaking as a Mod and not a member posting opinions...
Checking you profile you have been a member for nearly 5yrs, you have 30+ posts to your credit over this time reviewing these posts it seems to be a running theme that your are out to grind an axe as you repeatedly show a distaste for the Electrical trade and those who are part of it, now for whatever reason I don't particularly care but you are very quick to categorise and paint the whole trade with the same tainted brush that somehow has edged you to have such opinions, I see throughout this thread that members have given you very valid reasons to some of your complaints about the thread topic but you relentlessly seem ignorant to take these points on board and stubbornly troll out the same repeated viewpoint.
There are good Electricians and bad ones just like there are good Landlords and bad ones so to say we are all out to rip customers off with in your view 'needless certificates' is shortsighted and offensive, the majority of the trade has pride in their workmanship, has respect for their customers safety and that off the property too, and to protect our own backsides issuing a cert' is the only way we can leave a paper trail to ensure if the unfortunate day ever arose and found ourself in court then we could present some form of proof we had complied to regulations and tested our work as safe... on that note it should also be the duty of any landlord to also ensure his tenants are safe within his property re' the Electrical installation and any existing appliances, yes you can say a property is safe all you want but unkess you have the papertrail of proof that you regularly ensure the condition of the electrics hasn't been compromised by say a previous tenant or the condition hasn't naturally deteriated then you wouldn't have a leg to stand on in court.
Merv - your approach is far from having an open minded debate, you seem set to remain stubborn in your views regardless of any advice or replies this is evident throughtout your post history where the theme has been having a pop at the trade or members, normal debates evolve and move on as viewpoints are expressed, this is not the case with this thread, we are all for a good debate but there is a distinct line between having a good debate and holdng strong views and that of trolling, baiting members and causing keyboard conflicts and IMHO you are now doing that.
It would be in your interest to consider how you post in future and be more open to reason, it will wind members up when you claim that they are out to rip customers off when all we are doing is complying to requests from various people be it estate agents, insurance requests etc to check and installation and report on its condition ... we do not go around knocking on your door saying you have to have your property tested or else.
