On 8th September 2014 Jamie Warren and Aaron Howe, who traded as Bright Sparks Electrical, each pleaded guilty to falsely implying NAPIT membership and one offence of failing to provide a Trading Standards Officer with information. They were fined nearly £3,000 in total under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
The company had advised and installed a new consumer unit with a residual current device, and provided their customer with a NAPIT Electrical Certificate for Installations and Modifications and an Electrical Test Sheet. The householder followed this up with NAPIT, who confirmed that neither men nor Bright Sparks Electrical were registered, leaving the customer with no option but to pay another electrician to verify the work.
The prosecution occurred as a result of an investigation undertaken by West Berkshire Council’s Trading Standards Service team.
Commenting on the case, David Cowburn, managing director of NAPIT Registration, said, ‘We welcome the prosecution of the two men and work closely with Trading Standards organisations to help stamp out uncertified work within our industry. The dangers of using unregistered installers cannot be overstated – it could cost unsuspecting householders a lot more than just to repair potential unsafe installations.
Here at NAPIT, we are working tirelessly to raise awareness of electrical safety and Part P of the Building Regulations to the general public and strongly urge competent, registered installers to do likewise. If we all work together to improve the standards within our industry, prosecutions like this could become a distant memory.’
Any person that requires further advice or wishes to report a Trading Standards related matter should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Line on 08454 040506.
For more information about NAPIT visit www.napit.org.uk
