Changing the MCS

[MickW]

Ok, I've calmed down a little bit now

A decent bit of coverage for the campaign in an environmental mag:
Small businesses not involved in microgeneration drive

 

[CES]

Just sent a stinger of a mail to my MSP and the prime ministers office directing them to your blog Mick. Ill probably hear back around April next year!

 

[MickW]

Just sent a stinger of a mail to my MSP and the prime ministers office directing them to your blog Mick. Ill probably hear back around April next year!

Hahahah!! Thanks for that, it actually made me laugh out loud!

 

[Flamethrower]

Looks like "head in the sand mentality" avoidance if I can put them off long enough they might go away!
Having just gone through the long drawn out process of MCS and the QMS (which is totally OTT for small businesses),
I become more convinced that it just another instance of them that can do do and them that cant (just watch,and charge us for the privilege!

 

[MickW]

According to somebody called Mark Weston:

"Making MCS a free for all for small installers would destroy the industry over night, flood it with smaller companies who possibly couln’t cope (ie. didnt have a structure for growth in place which MCS creates), possibly were out to make a fast buck and weren’t bothered about customer protection or best practice."
mg_smile:

Needless to say, I have responded ...
Trade Only: Over-regulation is the Biggest Barrier to Renewable take-up

 

[Toddyplumb]

Right all you guys who are members of CIPHE go onto the CIPHE forum and have your say there as well as here . The president is singing Micks praises , but unless the membership start expressing their views on there I fear the institute will do nothing but blog.

 

[MickW]

Right all you guys who are members of CIPHE go onto the CIPHE forum and have your say there as well as here . The president is singing Micks praises , but unless the membership start expressing their views on there I fear the institute will do nothing but blog.

What are they saying on the Baxi forum, Toddyplumb? (not allowed on there..grumble..moan...grumble)

 

[CES]

RE: Micks Blog & Mark Weston
I think this guy has been drinking MCS "Kool-aid". The consumer protection that MCS provides?? uh.. I think that will be REA listing nothing to do with MCS QMS. He seems to think that because someone is MCS accredited then the consumer will get higher standards of installation? I reckon Unguided could show him a few "high standard installations".
Its noticeable to see that out of the posts that are on Micks blog, only this individual is against the arguments for it to be reconsidered.

 

[markfxy]

How is the Government going to achieve the renewables target set by Europe without getting the small firms involved I know people would rather use someone from a recommendation rather than a large company with a glossy ad.
We should all write to our MP's and state that we will from now only be promoting the use of gas and oil boilers and persuade customers not to use renewables as the standard of installation from MCS registered companies is very poor and massively overpriced, If enough plumbers did this maybe they'd take notice.

 

[ecowarm]

I have replied to Mark's message on Mick's blog with this,

Some of the MCS certified companies that I have had dealings with are installing Solar Thermal and ASHP's with no previous experience of plumbing, they are a detriment to the industry. And to say small companies would be in it for a fast buck is a joke, the like of "fit the best" double glazing companies aren't! I see they can offer 35% discount in the summer sale, well as a small company I'm sure if I was MCS certified and then added 400%
to my £3000- £4000 for solar thermal I could then have a summer sale!!!!!!!!! Oh and yes they do try to charge £18k for a small domestic solar system!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SimonG]

Does anybody have a draft of a letter sent to an MP?

 

[ecowarm]

It would probably be of best use written on ANDREX

 

[SimonG]

What about san izal toilet roll from school, it was more like sanded greaseproof paper.

 

[markfxy]

I know all of our MP's are whiter than white and totally honest but just imagine if they decided to invest in renewable energy companies to cream off some of the massive profits being made from solar PV they wouldn't want too many small installation companies undercutting them would they!
Of course it would never happen in this country would it:smilewinkgrin:

 

[CES]

Well, I just ranted on the CIPHE forum, hopefully I haven't upset anyone! lol

 

[Toddyplumb]

CES , so you have , you will be lucky to upset anyone hardley anyone uses it , so come on you CIPHE members go rant.
Mick , the chap at Baxi who instigated the course and had experience of MCS has left the company

 

[ecowarm]

CES , so you have , you will be lucky to upset anyone hardley anyone uses it , so come on you CIPHE members go rant.
Mick , the chap at Baxi who instigated the course and had experience of MCS has left the company

Where in the CIPHE forum is it?

 

[CES]

Its in the private members forum, You need to login to the private forum using the password in the members section of the main website.

 

[ecowarm]

I don't have that option. only just registered on the forum

 

[MickW]

Its in the private members forum, You need to login to the private forum using the password in the members section of the main website.

Arrgghhhh! Another bloody Baxi forum, I suppose - only registered installers allowed!!

I'll go and look!

 

[MickW]

Mick , the chap at Baxi who instigated the course and had experience of MCS has left the company

Wonderful! (Mind you, his experience was with solar pv, which could provide far greater profit margins than solar thermal - different ball game, although that may be changing shortly!)

How are you getting on with their QMS Template?

 

[Flamethrower]

To deal with the MCS and customise your QMS I can recommend the services of www.supermac.biz freelance PA who offers back office support for small businesses made my life a lot easier!

 

[unguided1]

To deal with the MCS and customise your QMS I can recommend the services of www.supermac.biz freelance PA who offers back office support for small businesses made my life a lot easier!

Not much point putting that on this thread Flamethrower, were trying to do away with the need for any QMS for small businesses so cmon and join the fight for a fair deal for small independant businesses and put some encouraging words on Mickw's Blog, we hope that in the long run it will save us a fortune and put us on a better footing when pricing against the real cowboys that are big business. With a bit of luck it may also save our industry from being splintered further if the retards who invented the MCS actualy listen to the real people who actualy do the real work in our industry

 

[fuzzy]

how do you propose we eliminate cowboys?

 

[Kimou]

MCS don't want you, the small guy, to have any part of their industry. All the excuses are groundless as they only want to keep the prices high and make a shed load of money. They are part of the Summit Skills quango. These people are the ones who wanted to implement 6129 plumbing in schools for 14 year olds about 5 years ago. They don't check your work they check your paperwork and catch you out on this to fail you. They failed this guy who my teacher knew on an import ticket he submitted of a pellet boiler.
It is changing and you will be able to access it more easily. I will find out more info regarding how and bring it here to you all. At present I don't have exact information. Only bits and I don't wish to confuse anything.