A builder and electrician have been fined for carrying out dangerous (not to mention shoddy) electrical work on a domestic property in Dudley.
Kevin John Wakefield, trading as Beta Homes Improvements and Paul Lloyd, trading as P Lloyd Electrical both pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court on 11 April to offences including a banned practice, misleading actions and professional diligence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
It followed an investigation by Dudley Council’s Trading Standards team and NICEIC.
The court heard how Wakefield was hired to build an extension and install electrics at a house in Dunns Bank, Quarry Bank in 2016. When he finished the job, the householder was plagued with problems which led to an electrical fire.
After complaints from the homeowner, Wakefield asked his ex-brother-in-law Lloyd to check the electrical work and issue the necessary certificate.
Lloyd issued an Electrical Installation Certificate displaying the NICEIC logo even though he was not, and never had been, registered with the voluntary body.
The home owner continued to have issues and asked another electrician to test the electrical installation.
The electrician found a host of problems with the installation including no RCD protection on some of the circuits, and one of the circuits being considered so dangerous it had to be disconnected.
The electrician also highlighted various errors, missing information and inconsistencies with the certificate, provided by Lloyd.
NICIEC was alerted to the concerns and contacted Lloyd about the complaint. Lloyd never responded to the allegation so the matter was passed over to Dudley Trading Standards.
Wakefield, of Beeches Close, Kingswinford, was fined £2000 also ordered to pay £1,144 costs, £819 compensation and a victim surcharge of £170.
Lloyd, of Gospel Ash Road, Bobbington, was also fined £2000 and ordered to pay £1,144 costs, £569 compensation and a victim surcharge of £170.
Martin Samuels, Dudley Council’s strategic director for people said, “This result should be seen as a warning to any trader tempted to use logos or quality marks that they have no right to use – a practice specifically banned by law.
“In this case, shoddy electrical work could have put the residents’ safety at risk and it is right that these traders have been brought to task.”
Kevan Parker, managing director for Certsure which operates the NICEIC and ELECSA brands added, “We take a dim view of those who pretend to be registered electricians when they are not.
“They pose a danger to the public and we will work with the appropriate authorities to protect those contractors who are legitimately registered and have the quality of their work assessed on a regular basis.
“Anyone thinking about using our logo fraudulently will be caught and dealt with appropriately by the courts.”