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Hi Guys, I am new to this site. just found it by chance really. I belong to alike forum in the UK. i am South african but UK standards Trained. Did my trade out there. I am currrently going through the channels of getting Units Stds and Ins. Rules etc. Its a long story anyway....
what I'd like to say is that everything you guys are mentioning here has been regulated in the UK. Unfortunately you never going to stop PIRATE electricians, and being SA the cheapest is always favoured! Unfortunately,getting qualified electricians to do a good job for the same Pirate prices is going to be hard to achieve. And Qualified tradesmen shouldn't have to adjust their prices because of what 'time wasters' are doing to the industry. We trained hard for where we are today and our industry is always being challenged. Every new Regulation change will require a new exam eventually. Its not fair and we get nailed and still have to make ends meet being self employed. Why should we charge R100 ph because the client can get it cheaper some place else?
I am horrified by some of the standards I have seen here. I saw a brand new house valued at R5.5mil with electrics that i would have condemmed in the UK! these people pay all that money for THIS! And when their house burns down and insurance doesnt pay due to negligence installations. Doesnt make sense. And who is signing off these COC's or are they legit?
As someone says, this is the tip of a very large ice berg, but how do we moderate it. I know how they do it in the UK but you guys will be horrified about the amount they pay for affiliations and registrations. They can recoup that money back. When a sparks goes out and prices between £35 -£65 per hour for domestic, people dont flinch! Then you charge R300 ph out here and they OOOH AHHH thats a little high. OK then, get someone for R100 for the job and call me when you standing on your driveway, watching your house burn down. It happens, and clients dont realise that they paying for the guarentee that you have done a good job and not left something potentially harmful or destructive out.
this whole ECA is a joke. we had it there in the UK.Paying stupid amounts for registrations. They are not worth the money the command, they send you forms to sign CoCs off with and thats about it. They do come out and inspect 2 of your jobs but to be honest, I knew of a polish guy who had another sparks do the work, and the CoC and he got the credit for it. So in actual fact, he was useless but got the affiliation.
Its a very rocky road the ECA are venturing down. They wont ever stop piracy, anyone who does a bit of electrics will deem themselves an electrician, and they'll still believe they can do the job until they reach 'that point'.
i have done my trade and I know what i do is far superior than what i have seen here, yet, I cant classify myself as a sparks. i still have to float through the channels again.
This industry needs a serious wake up and shake up.
The regs in the UK are the same as here but standards are higher and more regulated. Uk sparks are regulated more than doctors are!! What for?
I thought the Program on C.B was good, it highlighted that there are sharks out there, and lets be honest, there are some A*holes that make a very bad name for us.We dont want these people around! The things that went through my mind when I was watching CB was: this is good for the industry and what it is uncovering BUT its bad for electricians as we not get tarnished by the bad taste from these contractors. Even ECB registered guys are at fault. They employ unqualified guys to do qualified jobs, and they dont check it. So where do we draw the line? Maybe people (staff) should be graded on a competency test (more costs and money-how do we recoup this at R100ph?) Or employ qualified electricians? (More cost-how will the boss /company make money?) Its all money based people. We need a precident set and all stick to it or else we'll never get anywhere.
There are so few electricians signing up anymore, and I understand why.
At some point someone needs to set a standard and hourly fee to ensure both client and contractor are protected.
I'm sure I'll be on here again, Looks like you are a decent bunch of guys.
I hope my thread was enlighting?
Regards
what I'd like to say is that everything you guys are mentioning here has been regulated in the UK. Unfortunately you never going to stop PIRATE electricians, and being SA the cheapest is always favoured! Unfortunately,getting qualified electricians to do a good job for the same Pirate prices is going to be hard to achieve. And Qualified tradesmen shouldn't have to adjust their prices because of what 'time wasters' are doing to the industry. We trained hard for where we are today and our industry is always being challenged. Every new Regulation change will require a new exam eventually. Its not fair and we get nailed and still have to make ends meet being self employed. Why should we charge R100 ph because the client can get it cheaper some place else?
I am horrified by some of the standards I have seen here. I saw a brand new house valued at R5.5mil with electrics that i would have condemmed in the UK! these people pay all that money for THIS! And when their house burns down and insurance doesnt pay due to negligence installations. Doesnt make sense. And who is signing off these COC's or are they legit?
As someone says, this is the tip of a very large ice berg, but how do we moderate it. I know how they do it in the UK but you guys will be horrified about the amount they pay for affiliations and registrations. They can recoup that money back. When a sparks goes out and prices between £35 -£65 per hour for domestic, people dont flinch! Then you charge R300 ph out here and they OOOH AHHH thats a little high. OK then, get someone for R100 for the job and call me when you standing on your driveway, watching your house burn down. It happens, and clients dont realise that they paying for the guarentee that you have done a good job and not left something potentially harmful or destructive out.
this whole ECA is a joke. we had it there in the UK.Paying stupid amounts for registrations. They are not worth the money the command, they send you forms to sign CoCs off with and thats about it. They do come out and inspect 2 of your jobs but to be honest, I knew of a polish guy who had another sparks do the work, and the CoC and he got the credit for it. So in actual fact, he was useless but got the affiliation.
Its a very rocky road the ECA are venturing down. They wont ever stop piracy, anyone who does a bit of electrics will deem themselves an electrician, and they'll still believe they can do the job until they reach 'that point'.
i have done my trade and I know what i do is far superior than what i have seen here, yet, I cant classify myself as a sparks. i still have to float through the channels again.
This industry needs a serious wake up and shake up.
The regs in the UK are the same as here but standards are higher and more regulated. Uk sparks are regulated more than doctors are!! What for?
I thought the Program on C.B was good, it highlighted that there are sharks out there, and lets be honest, there are some A*holes that make a very bad name for us.We dont want these people around! The things that went through my mind when I was watching CB was: this is good for the industry and what it is uncovering BUT its bad for electricians as we not get tarnished by the bad taste from these contractors. Even ECB registered guys are at fault. They employ unqualified guys to do qualified jobs, and they dont check it. So where do we draw the line? Maybe people (staff) should be graded on a competency test (more costs and money-how do we recoup this at R100ph?) Or employ qualified electricians? (More cost-how will the boss /company make money?) Its all money based people. We need a precident set and all stick to it or else we'll never get anywhere.
There are so few electricians signing up anymore, and I understand why.
At some point someone needs to set a standard and hourly fee to ensure both client and contractor are protected.
I'm sure I'll be on here again, Looks like you are a decent bunch of guys.
I hope my thread was enlighting?
Regards
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