BBC exposes the cowboys...

The use of illegal and dangerous practices by electrical firms has been exposed by the BBC TV's Rogue Traders. The programme, aired on 22 February, featured three companies based in the south-east that were each called out to repair simple domestic electrical problems. The firms all provided excessive quotes for the work and several illegal practices were noted.

The first firm was called to the BBC house to repair an overloading problem in the kitchen. The fault required that two circuit-breakers be swapped. However, on inspection the electrician, who was charging £45 per half-hour, said that a new part was needed, which he would need to buy. A BBC reporter followed the contractor, who drove to a nearby car park and waited for an hour. After returning to the house, the contractor swapped the circuit-breakers and presented a bill for £265.

A second firm was called to deal with the same problem. This time the electrician said that the components were burning out and new parts would be needed. On reviewing tapes from hidden cameras, the BBC team found that the electrician had taken a cigarette lighter to the parts and caused the damage. The final bill for the job came to £250, with 30 minutes labour deducted this leaves £205 for parts. The BBC team went shopping and bought identical parts for £25.

  A third contractor presented with the problem proceeded to make an inspection that involved a tour of the entire house. The tradesman then told the 'owner' that electrical sockets would have to be smashed in order to carry out tests. Eventually, the electrician decided that the entire kitchen needed a rewire that would take two to three days; the final quote came to £1240.

This kind of cowboy working has been recognised as affecting the reputation of the industry as a whole and has caused the government to seek to introduce a recognisable badge of competence for the public – the Quality Mark scheme.