The Medway Handyman wrote:
Hi

Just an idea. Is there much involved in PAT testing? I'm vaguely thinking
of offering it as a service to the 200+ business's on a local estate - if I
can earn a few bob doing so.

Testers seem to be available for around £250 with a basic pass/fail
function.

Do I need to be certified? (you know what I mean :-) )


I did a PAT (not a PAT testing) course a few years ago at work and it
was a piece of ****, a waste of two days. If I were wanting to set
myself up as you do I think that I would teach myself and just take the
exam.

I think you need to spend about £400 for a reasonable tester though in
practice 90% of faults are found on visual inspection - frayed cords
and wrong fuses. I think that a Go/NOGO tester is perfectly adequate
but the full tester with results entered into a form will make the
customer feel that he is getting a more professional service :-)

The whole process is as much about record keeping as about technology..

Another thing to consider is your attitude to failed appliances. A
lot of customers will expect you to repair the failed appliance.
Whilst that isn't practical for major failures, being prepared to
change a fuse or replace the plug mcould give you an advantages over
competitors who stick to the "you only pay for the testing" line.

And you will get irrate customers who just don't believe that grandads
old reading lamp can possible be unsafe.