Two Electricians fined in Newbury – The Importance of Getting Registered

Two Newbury electricians are having to pay £3,000 between them for deceiving a customer over notifiable electrical work.

The case against them was brought to the Reading magistrates court on Monday 8th September 2014 after an investigation by West Berkshire Council trading standards officers. They found that Aaron Howe, aged 31, and Jamie Warren, aged 25, of Mountbatten Close, who were trading as Bright Sparks Electrical, deceivingly carried out notifiable work (not to 17th edition standards) although they were not registered with a Government approved competent part p scheme provider to do this. As a consequence it has cost their customer hundreds of pounds to get it fixed.

The court was told that the customer had complained that Aaron Howe and Jamie Warren charged £400 to fit a circuit breaker in his consumer unit and gave him two NAPIT (National Association for Professional Inspectors and Testers) test result forms, which were fake and deceivingly implied they were registered electricians with NAPIT.

When a registered electrician found out what had occurred and gave the customer the correct information about the paperwork, the customer contacted the 2 defendants who failed to provide any alternative paperwork.

Both Aaron Howe and Jamie Warren admitted one offense of failing to provide information to trading standards officials when required and one of unfair trading and have both been fined accordingly.

Nigel Best, Managing Director of Electrician Courses 4U says: “It’s important to note that there are consequences out there for those trying to take shortcuts and not register under a competent person scheme.”

For people who think they are involved in a similar situation, you should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Line on 08454 04 05 06.

If you want to find out more about Part P and registered electricians, refer to our handy guide for what to look for when hiring an electrician!