New Cons In UK Training To Avoid

[pinky]

Following a number of emails and PM messages asking about training people have spotted, and is this true or a con, ive listed some of the most common below.

1 ) Ive been asked about the various courses in Alarm Installation

although a nice skill to know, all you can really fit is wire free systems in the uk , unless you are or you use a qualified electrician to connect it all up for you.
Also its pointless paying for the shoddy courses on this subject, as unless narcoss trained and approved/accredited then no insurer will recognise an alarm fitted by you for your customers insurance purposes

This is a pointless waste of your time and money unless you do it correctly through proper accredited organisations.

2 ) Lock Fitting Training

again on examining the courses offering this, its overpriced and doesnt go into enough depth, for these courses The MLA run the only full training courses on this subject that cover enough of the lock types required.
For the basics, it is far more cost effective and thourough to attend your local adult education centre, as these run short weekend and evening courses in basic carpentry, teaching you the basics of fitting locks, repairing and replacing frames and hanging doors. you are probably eligible for up to an 80% grant on course fees and these courses are thourough and well taught.

3 ) Lock Drilling Training

I cant believe that people will pay to learn this, as its the easiest thing to learn yourself, by drilling all you old locks from lock changes, measure them up to find the drill points, drill on both sides and open, this is all these courses will get you to do.

4 ) Auto Training

Outside of the MLA the only honest course found is that run by mike byham MB auto locksmith , this is a basic course but covers the basics for a novice well, and mike is the only auto trainer that can prove more than 2 years trading as an auto locksmith in the private sector training.
Its not even worth your while training in this field unless you have at least £20 K to invest for set up.

5 ) UPVC Training

To date the only worthwhile course available in upvc repair, upgrades and fitting is the courses run by DG supplyline in southend, no other course currently offered comes close.

Dont Pay out for Training you dont need, and dont believe the hype of easy money.

[kwc]

Hi Pinky,
Good advice to all, As you know i work in the alarm trade and just like you locksmiths we too have lots of cowboys.
At least we have the NACOSS to help regulate the work.
I wish they had a good body to regulate the locksmith industry with only approved companies allowed to trade.

I heard today on the news about a new scheme which will give customers a way of detecting the good from the bad.
companies will be issued with a sort of "kitemark" sign to show the public they are decent companies.
I think this will be for all trades and not just for locks, alarms or builders etc.

Things can only get better for the good ones.
Kev

[gee252]

The only dealing i have had with NACOSS gave me the impression that they had no teeth(may be wrong). When i moved in to my new home the alarms fitted was by an NACOSS approved company and i wanted an extra keypad fitting at my back door so i contacted the alarm company.
They didn't seem too bothered about coming out to do this and wanted to charge a fortune when they had the time. I told them not to bother and asked for the engineer code so i could fit and reprograme they wouldn't give me this so i got the info of a friend and reset the panel.
when i opened the panel up i was amazed what i saw not one of the tampers was connected up and the instalation was a mess. After no joy from the alarm company i contacted NACOSS and it seemed it would be a whole lot of hassel for me to persue it .
I suppose the alarm industry is like alot of others out there and just because they are members of one body or another doesn't realy guarantee the quailty of the workmanship and realy you cannot beat recomendations.

[kwc]

Hi Gee252,
I bet i know which company installed that job. Biggest national i think.
we get most of our work from other customers putting our good name forward as well as taking over the crap this firm puts in.

we get checked every six months by NACOSS and they look at everything.
(if our paper work says the detector will be at 1.2 m from the floor and its 1.1m they mark it as a failure to comply!)
We then have 21 days to recify each failure.
we take over other National companies work and they ALL fail on one thing or another.
I work for these for 11 years and never saw a NACOSS inspector.
My current small company i have been visited every 6 months for the last 6 years!
Who says the nationals have no sway.
Kev