- Reaction score
- 2,441
It is partially self selecting because the only ones that come to us for second opinions are already either obviously dodgy or involve high quotes, but every EICR I've had reason to see of late has had significant errors or inconsistencies that are clear just from looking at the form, without even bothering to see a photo or go to site.
Things like ticks in boxes that contradict observations, or readings on the test sheet that are clearly not real - and that's before finding that the schedule of test results doesn't even fit what is written on the CU, let alone what is actually the case when you trace circuits.
It's akin to the dodgy MOT ticket that (I perhaps wrongly) think has been made more difficult by the centralisation of their systems.
Not sure how it could work, but if there was a central body auditing these certificates a lot of them would fail purely on a 5 minute visual check over with no need for site visits. I suspect we've all seen a certificate that doesn't pass the 'sniff test'.
The problem is of course that there is apparently never any comeback - Time and cost pressure will always drive a market for the drive by scam artists - but the most recent EICRs I've had to basically explain to a landlord were not worth the paper they were written on were from an NICEIC approved contract and a NAPIT registered tester...
No doubt the 2 or 3 chosen certificates at inspection time will be the ones they know have been done properly.
I wouldn't be surprised if there is a 'scandal' in a few years when the number of quickly and poorly fitted CUs this time round either all fail the next inspection, or there is a serious injury or tragedy and someone finally traces back the paperwork.
The Ltd companies making their money at the moment will no doubt be long gone by then though...
Things like ticks in boxes that contradict observations, or readings on the test sheet that are clearly not real - and that's before finding that the schedule of test results doesn't even fit what is written on the CU, let alone what is actually the case when you trace circuits.
It's akin to the dodgy MOT ticket that (I perhaps wrongly) think has been made more difficult by the centralisation of their systems.
Not sure how it could work, but if there was a central body auditing these certificates a lot of them would fail purely on a 5 minute visual check over with no need for site visits. I suspect we've all seen a certificate that doesn't pass the 'sniff test'.
The problem is of course that there is apparently never any comeback - Time and cost pressure will always drive a market for the drive by scam artists - but the most recent EICRs I've had to basically explain to a landlord were not worth the paper they were written on were from an NICEIC approved contract and a NAPIT registered tester...
No doubt the 2 or 3 chosen certificates at inspection time will be the ones they know have been done properly.
I wouldn't be surprised if there is a 'scandal' in a few years when the number of quickly and poorly fitted CUs this time round either all fail the next inspection, or there is a serious injury or tragedy and someone finally traces back the paperwork.
The Ltd companies making their money at the moment will no doubt be long gone by then though...