I know it may sound like sour grapes, but believe it or not, price competition is not ALWAYS a healthy thing. I am sure you have heard the old adage: "You get what you pay for" - well, we think that is largely true. But these days the prices seem to be going down and down in in our industry, and sadly for the client, this is not a good thing. Standards have become shabby, repairs are not being done, and you the client are being fleeced out of your hard earned cash. In other words your appliances may be "TAGGED" - easy and quick to do (and looks convincing) but are they properly "TESTED"??
What am I basically saying? WE HATE "TAGGERS"!! - in other words, a company who send people in to clear huge numbers of appliances a day and never check anything properly.
Any company out there who has received a bad experience from your pat testing, please let us know. We are compiling examples and we will be lobbying the major organisations to stop bad practice. Here are some basic pointers:
- don't forget, the price you will be quoted is usually per appliance - so the longer we spend doing a test the less money we earn. This is BAD news for the "TAGGING" cowboy companies. They will want to do as many tests as they can in the shortest possible time and make you pay as a result. You need to be sure that the company you employ follows the correct procedures. If all you want is a bit of paper at the end of the day, then go ahead and get the cheapest company you can find. Sure, they will give you the bit of paper you want, but please don't expect to feel safe after they have visited - they will have ripped you off, and you won't even realise.
1. Watch out for companies who say they have new equipment which can speed up the process of testing, sometimes clocking up to 200 tests a day per engineer. Maybe they have got new equipment, but you can be sure there will be no proper visual examinations carried out on your electrical appliances. Trapped and damaged cables will stay where they are, and these guys will not be looking at how equipment is used in its environment, they will be more concerned with how much money they are earning.
2. Get a visit from the company representative or engineer prior to testing. Are they keen just to send you a quote, or do they want to look first hand at the environment and access of your appliances? If you are offered a visit free of charge, take it. You can weigh up the company by seeing who they send and what they are interested in. If they are not interested in the type/environment and accessibility of appliances, they won't do proper visual examinations.
3. Don't always go for the cheapest price! This is tantamount to being ripped off. Confused? They may give you the cheapest bill, but please be sure that they won't look at anything properly, or test it properly either. They will spend less time at your business than anyone else, and most of your damaged equipment and fire hazards will remain exactly where they were before the company came in.
4. Ask to look at such things as: a method statement, example of results certificate, insurance, client testimonial, etc. Ring another company who they have dealt with, and ask what the service was like. How detailed is their reporting? These are all questions you should be asking before parting with hard earned cash.
5. Large companies who offer a multitude of services are NOT NECESSARILY the people to ask to carry out your pat testing. They have probably got more skilled and profitable work to do, and you could be left with a sloppy job done and absolutely no attention to detail. It's better to call in a company who specialize in pat testing, and know the ropes (as well as the regs).
6. Beware of price led advertising, particularly offers of free plug and fuse replacements, and also those who maintain they do the best job for the least price. These two claims simply do not go together. Remember, if a company offers you free plug replacements, how many plugs do you think they will replace? It takes time and effort, and deserves a little compensation if done properly.
At KTS we are passionate about doing a good job. If you want to talk about pat testing, have us look at your report or results, or want us to call in and see you, even if your pat testing is not due or don't even want a quote just now, we will be only too pleased to help and advise.
Call our office or mobile - until then we wish you a safe and profitable month.
Grant Foster
Copyright 2008 KTS ltd. All rights reserved.
