I've been with the NIC for many moons and to be honest it's only because they seem to be the most recognized body for tender etc. Within the last 5 years, at least, I have only had recourse to their helpline twice. I have just decided to change my company name for the sake of better advertising. They sent me a package which for the sake of keeping a story short seems to contain far more to do with parting with money than anything else. Ok they have on their terms and conditions and application fee pages the fees for application for transfer of registration..... something until today I have never really took any notice of. What gets up my back though is that they expect me to pay £60 just for someone to sit behind a computer and type in my new company name. Well enough is enough and I have decided that I can do without any of these registration bodies and go it alone. I don't need anyone to tell me that I've spelt something wrong on a certificate or that my Health and Safety Policy is a bit out of date. I don't need anyone to register work with the LBC for me and I certainly can do without their logos and over expensed certificates. In my mind I think the NICEIC has nothing to give towards the safety of the electrical industry, they just interested in making money. Rant finished. Have a nice day.

Well said that man
However it could be worse you could be with Elesco now they are bad

MrP

Left the NIC for the exact reason , all they wanted was your money and was for you to keep buying things
Joined NAPIT alot better and leave you alone,assessor chap nice bloke as well.

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Jason

I have been with the ECA for several years now and have to say they are superb! We get slight issues with the old council only excepting NIC etc - but with a prompt call to the ECA - they soon allow ECA as well.

Have to say - not so pleased with Elecsa, however - Technical at the ECA more than make up for that!!

I'm with Elecsa and not had any problems up to now. I can however understand anyone wanting to jump ship what with registration fees and assessments (that make you feel like a school kid by the way) but how do get round lining the pockets of the LABC. In my neck of the woods you've to submit a building notice (fee - £150.00 last time I looked) before you start. Some work you've got to register doesn't even come to that so how do say to someone it will cost say £120.00 for the work and £150.00 for the LABC almost doubling the cost?

I'm with Elecsa and not had any problems up to now. I can however understand anyone wanting to jump ship what with registration fees and assessments (that make you feel like a school kid by the way) but how do get round lining the pockets of the LABC. In my neck of the woods you've to submit a building notice (fee - £150.00 last time I looked) before you start. Some work you've got to register doesn't even come to that so how do say to someone it will cost say £120.00 for the work and £150.00 for the LABC almost doubling the cost?

I'm with Elecsa and not had any problems up to now. I can however understand anyone wanting to jump ship what with registration fees and assessments (that make you feel like a school kid by the way) but how do get round lining the pockets of the LABC. In my neck of the woods you've to submit a building notice (fee - £150.00 last time I looked) before you start. Some work you've got to register doesn't even come to that so how do say to someone it will cost say £120.00 for the work and £150.00 for the LABC almost doubling the cost?

If it makes you feel any better FR, changing my trading name recently with Napit also cost extra. £30 in my case and all done on the phone apart from a confirmation/proof which came in the post.
But £30 for which I got some friendly service. That's the thing isn't it?

Zs

Afternoon all.
Being registered is beneficial and NIC have been giving me an acceptable level of service.I have found no problem with any of my annual assessors even though there appears to be differing opinions and reasons on the way certain things are done but that is life! When an issue arises it seems that NIC have problems dealing with them straight away which annoys me.
BUT;
I understand where you are coming from FR but please watch you dont cut your nose off to spite your face.

I too have been with NIC for many a year now. I find being registered with them has brought many a job my way and despite all the costs and I earn more from being registered with them than if I wasnt.
£60 is excessive to change a name but in the UK we are battered by costs what ever we do.
For example; £7.50 processing fee cos I pay BT any way but direct debit, excessive agent and booking fees on tickets and airlines,
extortionate postage fee from Amazon I could go on.

Napit,Elecsa,ECA etc are all as good if not better than NIC as an organisation but you cannot fault NIC and their associated ESC for fine efforts at marketing its brand and it is the marketing side that gets your 'foot in the customer doors' and that counts for something in this day and age.
Thats the difference between being NIC and with any other I think.
Regards
Antric

"I have just decided to change my company name for the sake of better advertising. They sent me a package which for the sake of keeping a story short seems to contain far more to do with parting with money than anything else. Ok they have on their terms and conditions and application fee pages the fees for application for transfer of registration..... something until today I have never really took any notice of. What gets up my back though is that they expect me to pay £60 just for someone to sit behind a computer and type in my new company name."

How much has it cost you in time and money to change:

Bank details
Direct Debits and Standing Orders
PL Insurance
PI insurance
Commercial Vehicle Insurance
DVLA
Signwriting
Stationery
HMRC
VAT
Accountant costs
Credit accounts
Customer accounts
Leases
Finance
Credit card
etc, etc?

It is not just a simple matter of typing in a new name, the declarations you make may have to be checked...........

Regards

BOD

A rose by another name ...............................


makes you think!

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Regards,
Ebee (M I S P N)

Knotted cables cause Lumpy Lektrik

I`m not one of those who are daft enough to pay good money for a silly number plate that maybe (or maybe not ) spells your name out.
Although I did find it woulda been cheaper to change my name to Foxtrot 823 Delta Kilo Uniform as it would have instantly given me such a personalised plate.

It was about the time I broke off the car ariel , bent it a couple of times and used it as a coat hanger.

Never bought a diary either, I just get the free telephone directory and cross out the names and addresses of folk I don`t know.

All money saving ideas

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Regards,
Ebee (M I S P N)

Knotted cables cause Lumpy Lektrik

"I`m not one of those who are daft enough to pay good money for a silly number plate that maybe (or maybe not ) spells your name out.
Although I did find it woulda been cheaper to change my name to Foxtrot 823 Delta Kilo Uniform as it would have instantly given me such a personalised plate."

You really ought to "let it go" Ebee, as the red paintwork after 10 years of SORN on your loved estate car is probably a shade of pink now!

I confess to liking some of the cherished plates that have been kept for 50+ years from their original issue (NAB and JCB of well known owners) but not the vanity plates that were never issued such as 55 CJ or the personalised ones like R17 CH* that have illegal spacing and use of fixing bolts to try and spell names........very sad.

Regards

BOD 1

Just going through my emails, have a look at this from Trustmark

"Starlings
A new television show has been launched on Sky 1 called Starlings and it follows the lives of a typical working-class family who live in Derbyshire. Granddad has recently moved in, following an incident at the old folks' home. And rather than see him unhappy, Terry and his kind-hearted wife, Jan, decide to move his father into their already crammed family home.

TrustMark was approached by the production company of the series about ten months ago saying that the main character was to be an electrician and they were keen to show him to be hard working and skilled. To support this character they asked us if we would allow them to feature the TrustMark logo on his van. After studying the programme script and character we agreed. NICEIC were also approached and both of us have our logos clearly displayed in the programme.

Starlings has a number of well known faces including Brendan Coyle, a Bafta nominee for his role in Downton Abbey, and Matt King from Channel 4's award winning Peep Show; and it's produced by Steve Coogan"

Andy

Trustmark; now there's another waste of money.

Hi , I must be the newest member the NICEIC has because I was accepted on their approved contractor scheme last week after my full day assessment.

After many years of staying away from the schemes I realised that it was a case of " if you cannot beat them then join them ".

I mainly deal with commercial work and had to turn down so much domestic.

With the way things are I do not think I can keep turning down the domestics.

And I have also found that even if you notify some councils ( Lambeth for one ) they will still ask for an NICEIC certificate.

It is getting much harder out there if you are not a member , even some of my long term clients are aware of the NICEIC.

Sorry but must get back to football !

Am I just becoming more and more grumpier the older I get???????//

I laughed out loud. I've had my little van ( Mifanwy, because it's me van and it's wee), for years now. Only last summer JP asked me how much I had paid for the index plate? Err, nothing it came with that why? It says DNO on it and I'd always thought it said 'dunno'...

I think I should send you a diary unc,

Zs

LoL - well, Cariad, you'd better not spell it like that for your part time boss, if he's welsh -

regards

OMS

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Failure is always an option

Well I'm not sure about the recognised bit. People ask for them, but NAPIT are only ones with a scheme for council registers... not sure of its usefulness though.... Actually based on amount of notifiable work I've opted for NAPIT just today and doing the paperwork now.... simply cos its less hassle in relation to organising customers around assessments which this year proved fatal as non entry to one wanted to charge me £358 to redo cos the assessor (new to me) wouldnt hang on for 50 mins for the landlord to come from his work, it has happened before on one property once but the assessor knew my work and was OK about it........ not too happy with that I thought NAPIT probably do more for me in terms of what registered for and joining them saves me £348... actually a bit more cos the initial transfer fee is cheaper than my NICEIC renewal by a fair bit, might be as much as another £90 or so but cant remember the fee............... Bit of a no brainer to me.... Now its the NAPIT experience for me.....

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Experience can sometimes show that cost prevails over quality and safety, such little self-value that people hold.