COC/Test report a legal document

[Isetech]

Is a COC/test report a legal document?

Would it be treated as a criminal case if reported to the police?

[Isetech]

If your COC/test report is not filled in correctly, the visual inspection and test results are not completed correctly, would it not be fraud?

If it is fraud could the customer open a criminal case against the person who signed the COC document or would it be a civil case?

Considering there are a lot of non compliant COC's doing the rounds and to add fuel to the fire, people who had installation completed in the late 2022 and during 2023 paid as much as R50 - R100 000 more for installation than people are paying now in 2024, even though the exchange rate hasn't really dropped, yet the equipment prices are dropping by the day.

It has left a really sour taste in their mouth, the fact they they paid the highest rate ever for a solar installation and there is a good chance the COC is actually not worth the paper it is written on.

[Dave A]

If your COC/test report is not filled in correctly, the visual inspection and test results are not completed correctly, would it not be fraud?

Laying a charge of fraud has requirements far beyond just proving errors in a document.

[Isetech]

Surely if the document is not filled out correctly that should be regarded as fraud, what more do you need to prove?

Laying a charge of fraud has requirements far beyond just proving errors in a document.

[Isetech]

We are fortunate the public have no idea what is going on with the COC/test reports, even though they are responsible for the electrical installation and insurance are way ahead of the game, they loose anyway you look at it, just pay pay pay.

You just have to look at the ques outside home affairs to realize how tolerant the public choose to be.

I suppose we shouldn't complain, it is like taking candy from a kid, eating it and making the kid pay for it. the best part, chances are being held accountable for doing it, less than 1 %.

I dont know why I waste my time complaining about it, the smart people get rich

I have 5 years to retirement, Its time I got smart and stopped wasting time complaining, if you cant beat them join them. I went rogue from around 2012 till 2015 and boy did I make money, that is when I cut back on all my expenses, like insurances, registrations, bargaining council registration, put my head down and made a killing.

Thank goodness I jumped on the solar band wagon when I did, that really turned things around, now I just have to get smart and start sub contracting all the work out. That way I dont take responsibility for anything. It seems the be the way forward in the solar industry.

It is also why I am busy creating a new consulting company, find a youngster who will be the face of the company, if the shyte hits the fan, I just slide out the back door, close it down, take the money and walk away. 2024 bossiness ethics

[Isetech]

The definition of fraud

wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
[COLOR=var(--IXoxUe)]"he was convicted of fraud"
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[Thys LOW Elektries]

Doing a COC for R500, without an inspection and sucking a bunch of numbers out of your thumb is fraud and corruption in my eyes. Buildings can burn down, and people can lose their lives, in my eyes, it is a serious offense and the law must act to bring order and justice to those fraudulent COC operators

[Isetech]

Another reason why I started this thread, there is making mistakes (we all do) but when you are presented with a COC which clearly shows indicates that it looks like the person who completed the document didn't even get the information correct, surely there has to be so sort of punishment.

You given a COC, the document (I wish I could post it on this forum) is clear indication of how bad this industry has got, the customer contacts the person who did the installation ( not sure that the person signed the document has been to site) says the rules have changed in the past year, so they will return and fit indicator light, fuse disconnects, wireways on the solar cable, just to mention a few of the non compliant items.

Then a new COC is issued and this time, but this time as a member of the ECA, this is where the fight is going to start. I have forwarded a copy to another member of the ECA and requested they review the information.

At least the person has invested in a meter that can test Neutral loop impedance, so instead of posting "no meter" in the last COC, this time there is a reading.

It is like the last COC, there has to be a limit or line draw for our mistakes, having a socket outlet within arms reach of a bath tub (300mm), not connected to a safety supply nor an ELU, should be a criminal offence, not a quick call the contractor to go fix it, what happens if I didn't identify the problem, I wasn't even doing a COC'/test report. I just noticed the socket outlet while looking into something else. I immediately disconnected and cut the wires too short and isolated the wires, so that it could not be reconnected it without even asking the customer. Probably one of the most dangerous non compliant COC I have come across to date.

There is going to have to be some form of checking system implemented to verify that at least some of the COC's being issued are worth the paper they are printed on. Someone mentioned, but they must be correct because they are now done digitally, clearly that has not made any difference, you are going to have to get in a vehicle drive to the site and verify the COC's are being done properly.

[Isetech]

The problem with COC's is not the level of competence, it's the fact that we all know that it is a numbers game that we play, the chances of getting is so small that it is worth the risk.

You can write anything on a COC/test report and get away with it, I dont know of 1 COC that has ever got to a point that a case number was even opened.

Which is good news for the elctrical industry, it has become a quick in and out way to make good money, if things are quiet you could just add to the fault list, who is going to know, I dare you to try it with one of my customers, chances are you will be back to fix "all " the non compliant items on the list.

This people is why I encourage the public to get a second opinion and not to sign the transfer documents until you are 100 % sure your COC is worth paper it is written on.

We busy with one right now, the contractor was back on site fixing all the... let me get this right... the regs that have changes since 04/2023.

Stuff like apparently wasn't code last year, DC fuse disconnect for the batteries, double pole isolators for the DC, indicator lights, earth spikes for the inverter supply, neutral earth bond to mention a few.

I have learnt just shake my head and smile.

the bonus is it is a even quicker way to make good money, because you can bill the customer a decent rate and they can claim it from the contractor

The last job the member of an associassion is still whining about the R5000 charged for 4 hours while I sat and watched them fix the non compliant stuff.

[Isetech]

When are the public going to step up and demand this industry get their shyte together, surely people like Carte Blanche could do some investigations into this industry and the COC/test report racket, which by the way is costing the public hundreds of thousands if not millions of rands.

I know there are people out there who dedicate their time and effort into improving the industry, but clearly we need some form of accountability to kick in.

This is one of the reasons I am going to be joining the ECA in July when the new year opens for registrations, one to protect myself when I make mistakes, but also to join an industry that has been around for a long time and attempt to assist to make an positive impact in this industry, instead of just throw stone from the side line.