Questions
Questions people askbefore they ring.
If yours is not here, ring and ask — it costs nothing and plenty of problems get solved on the phone.
Call-outs and charges
The usual ones
How quickly can you get to me?
For urgent faults in and around Witney it is usually within the hour, and Oxford within 90 minutes. You will get a real time when you call, and a text if anything changes.
What if you cannot fix it?
If I cannot find or fix the fault, you do not pay the call-out. If it needs a part I am not carrying, I will make everything safe and come back with it at an agreed price.
Are you registered and insured?
Yes — Part P registered with [scheme], qualified to the 18th Edition of the wiring regulations (BS 7671), and covered by [£X million] public liability insurance. Happy to send the certificates over.
Do you work evenings and weekends?
Yes — 7am to 9pm, seven days. Overnight is kept for genuine emergencies: no power at all, water in the electrics, or anything burning.
How do I pay?
Card, bank transfer or Apple and Google Pay on the day. Landlords and agents can be invoiced.
My fuse board keeps tripping — anything I can try first?
Switch every breaker off, reset the main switch, then put the breakers back on one at a time. If it trips on a particular one, leave that off and unplug everything on that circuit. If it still trips, or you would rather not, give me a ring.
Is there anything you will not touch?
Anything on the supply side of the meter belongs to the network operator, so a cut-out fuse or an incoming cable fault goes to them — I will tell you who to ring and make the house safe in the meantime.
Do you charge for quotes?
No. Quotes for planned work are free and in writing. Diagnosing a fault is the call-out, because that is the work.
Safety checks and certificates
Paperwork
What is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report — an inspection and test of the whole installation, with observations coded C1, C2, C3 or FI. Only C1 and C2 make it unsatisfactory. More on safety checks.
How often does a rented property need one?
At least every five years, and at the start of a new tenancy if the existing report has expired.
Do I get a certificate for a small job?
Alterations to an existing circuit get a Minor Works Certificate. New circuits and fuse boards get a full Electrical Installation Certificate, notified to building control through my Part P scheme.
Is my old fuse box illegal?
No — existing installations are not made illegal by newer regulations. But a board with no RCD protection will usually be coded on an EICR, and it is the first thing worth upgrading. More on fuse boards.
Still not sure?
Ring and ask. No charge for a conversation.