New Consumer Unit - post installation test cost

AJMCK

Hi,

We had an electrician quote for and install a new consumer unit for £330 (Z2 London). He then conducted an EICR (further £300) that identified that the earthing was very high and quoted £850 to install a new TT earth, which we thought was far too high. We had another electrician install it at a much more reasonable price (NICEIC registered with all paperwork).

The first electrician is now asking for a further £250 to test the system again (after first saying a second EICR for £300 was needed) before he will register the installation of the new consumer unit with building control.

I think this is completely unreasonable but interested in people's views on this.

Thanks

warmhands.coldheart

I suppose at the end of the day he's testing someone else's work..... What about the other spark who fitted the TT Earth, would he not do it and at what cost?? Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't believe the person conducting the EICR has to have done the actual installation work. They just have to be suitably qualified and check it all over and "sign it off". In a way it's better to get a different person to the one that did the work to check it, otherwise they are essentially policing themselves.....

AJMCK

Thanks for the response - yes, I think we could get the second electrician to verify the work, but that means paying him to do so. From everything I have read it seems that the first electrician that installed the consumer unit should be the one to register it with building control as a basic part of his job (as NIC EIC registered) without charging me a further £300 to re-test the consumer unit that he installed.

My understanding is that an EICR is not required pre or post any new installation works - it is just a useful thing to get done to see if there are any other problems.

2013yearofthehouse

How were you quoted? As separate jobs? Does the £330 for the new consumer unit include testing it and certifying it? It should do - a sensible electrician would do a few basic checks before changing the consumer unit and then if anything is found to be unsafe the CU shouldn't be changed until the other "making safe" work is agreed upon (and obviously he would then do further testing after installation, as not everyone has an EICR done and this is part of the job/cost of having a new CU installed). Ideally since you were having an EICR done as well, it should have been done first as this would have shown up any problems - then the electrician (or any other electrician) could have quoted for the remedials and CU change at the same time. I wonder if he did it "his" way round as it means customers end up feeling stuck and paying the £850 (or whatever) seems the only way out, leaving the electrician to charge a higher amount than reasonable. Or maybe I'm just being overly suspicious!

How exactly was the work detailed/quoted? Also, have you tried contacting the NICEIC?

AJMCK

Thanks - on his recommendation he said to replace the consumer unit first (£330 - I had specifically asked that all necessary paperwork/certification be provided) and then do the EICR (£300) as it would automatically fail the EICR if done the other way round. In hindsight this was clearly not the right way round as the EICR is not what is needed to certify something has been installed properly. I did call the NICEIC and their view was that the EICR is just a health check that can be done at any time but that it is up the installer of the new equipment to certify that it is installed properly.

Ectophile

An EICR is an inspection on an existing system. It's recommended that you have one done every 10 years or so, but there is no legal requirement to have it done at all.

If an electrician has installed a new consumer unit, then they should have tested it as they were doing the work. Having installed and tested everything, they should issue you with an installation certificate. As an NICEIC member, they should have notified the NICEIC, who will then have informed the council for their records.

I get the impression that the first electrician is taking you for a ride. He should not have done the work without testing it properly, and he should not withhold the certificate for the work he had done.

I would make a complaint to the NICEIC that he has done the work and is now refusing to provide you with an installation certificate.