Let’s consider a question:
If you go shopping do you always go for the cheapest product no matter what the quality?
No, you don’t, because quality of the product you buy is often more important than the price
Or
If you are buying a smoke alarm do you go for the cheapest every time?
Again, the answer is no – the cheapest may not work correctly, and as a result your house may burn to the ground.
So how about this:
When you search for a PAT tester do you look only at price and always pick the cheapest? Many, many businesses do, and what are they getting? They are getting the answers to the two previous questions:
There is a good chance the quality will be very poor and if the quality is poor the testing won’t be done correctly, which means a fault may not be discovered and your business may burn to the ground.
Think about that when you need a PAT Tester next. We’re not saying pick the most expensive because he will be the best, because he too may be no good, but look at the service you are getting and make your decision based on service.
Think about these 5 important questions every time you get a PAT Testing quote:
What tests will be undertaken?
The PAT Tester should conduct an inspection of each appliance, which includes checking inside the plug, and an electrical test on each appliance tested.
Will the labels tally with the certificates?
The labels applied to the appliance should have their own unique reference number which not only must tally directly with the log and certificates you are given later, but also with the database held by the PAT Testing company.
Will the certificates be downloaded from a computer or hand written?
The one thing with downloaded results is that they can only be genuine, as there is a papertrail and it’s easy to check. Most insurance companies will only accept this type.
Will the results have the electrical readings or just the words Pass and Fail?
Electrical readings on the results ensure one important factor – the electrical test has been completed correctly and the PASS result means exactly that. If there is no electrical result recording how do we know the ‘pass’ result is correct?
How often will we be PAT Tested?
The final question to find an answer to is when the PAT tester will come back. It’s not as straightforward as every year and you should always discuss this with your PAT Tester. Do you want to pay to be tested annually when it’s needed only every 4 years?
These 5 questions are very important factors in your search for the right PAT Tester, and 5 questions you need to ensure you get the correct answer for, only then can you decide which contractor to accept.
If you get 2 quotes, answering the questions correctly, one for £2 per item, and one for £1 per item – which would you pick? You can pick the cheapest now because you’ve done your research and made an informed decision.
When you come to get a PAT Testing quote, then you could save time an effort by using a company with a good reputation who correctly answer each of these 5 questions, you should speak to Richard at DRA Electricals.
