A warning to home air conditioner owners and buyers

[Darren]

To all potential customers: A warning to those wanting to purchase a home
air conditioning system in Sydney Australia.

NEVER use Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road Bankstown Airport,
NSW 2200) - email is echoair@bigpond.com .

My air conditioner went on the blink , at the start of January. It simply
would not turn on. We called the company who installed the Panasonic split
system, 5 years ago - Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd.

The service technician came out to my home, and told me that the split unit
had a faulty circuit board. He said he would have to return (in a week) with
two replacement boards, and added that one circuit board costs $200, while
the other is $600. He wasn't sure which one we would need.

He returned in a week, tried the new circuit boards, and then concluded that
the power supply was at fault. He said he would have to return in TWO WEEKS
because the part needed to be ordered... blah BLAH blah.

I told him to go stick his two week wait where the sun doesn't shine. Two
days after he left, I realised that the Fridge was off. I went around the
side of the house, and LO AND BEHOLD - the air conditioning and
refridgerator were running through the same safety switch. That means the
air-con was incorrectly plugged into an existing circuit - and the
refridgerator no less.

The technician had failed to flick the fuse switch back to ON before he
left, causing a loss of around 200 dollars in spoilt food.

After throwing out a couple of hundred dollars worth of food, I decided to
call another company to get my air conditioner looked at.

They came a few days later. After only minutes, I was told that the power
supply in the Air-con wasn't at fault, there was a burnt out plug and wiring
in the roof.

So, I called an electrician. He went up into the roof, that day, and
reconnected the air conditioning power directly to the circuit box.

Echo Air Conditioning had used a normal socket, which was up in the roof.
They cut the plug of the end of power cable which came with the air
conditioner, and wired up a normal 10-amp plug (like used for appliances).

Not only was the Air conditioner drawing power from a circuit shared with
the fridge, but the plug was not ample for level of current.

The elecrician brought the plug and socket down to show us. The plug was
completely black, with a hole right through it, where the plastic ignited.
The white socket was also blackened with soot.

Once the electrician attached the air conditioner directly to the circuit
board, the air conditioner worked.

So, all up - 1 month without an air conditioner, three service calls (138
dollars each), an electrician, PLUS 200 dollars worth of spoilt food.

THANKS TO Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road Bankstown Airport,
NSW 2200).

Echo Air Conditioning installed the air conditioning in my home incorrectly,
ignoring safety standards by attaching the unit to an existing circuit, and
cutting the plug off the end of the Air-conditioners power cord. None of
their staff acted in a proffesional or competent manner. Including Mr
Neville Page. Give him a holler - echoair@bigpond.com

 

[Peter Johnson]

"Darren" <guess_who_tis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4020730a$0$28867$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...

To all potential customers: A warning to those wanting to purchase a home
air conditioning system in Sydney Australia.

NEVER use Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road Bankstown
Airport,
NSW 2200) - email is echoair@bigpond.com .

My air conditioner went on the blink , at the start of January. It simply
would not turn on. We called the company who installed the Panasonic split
system, 5 years ago - Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd.

The service technician came out to my home, and told me that the split
unit
had a faulty circuit board. He said he would have to return (in a week)
with
two replacement boards, and added that one circuit board costs $200, while
the other is $600. He wasn't sure which one we would need.

He returned in a week, tried the new circuit boards, and then concluded
that
the power supply was at fault. He said he would have to return in TWO
WEEKS
because the part needed to be ordered... blah BLAH blah.

I told him to go stick his two week wait where the sun doesn't shine. Two
days after he left, I realised that the Fridge was off. I went around the
side of the house, and LO AND BEHOLD - the air conditioning and
refridgerator were running through the same safety switch. That means the
air-con was incorrectly plugged into an existing circuit - and the
refridgerator no less.

The technician had failed to flick the fuse switch back to ON before he
left, causing a loss of around 200 dollars in spoilt food.

After throwing out a couple of hundred dollars worth of food, I decided to
call another company to get my air conditioner looked at.

They came a few days later. After only minutes, I was told that the power
supply in the Air-con wasn't at fault, there was a burnt out plug and
wiring
in the roof.

So, I called an electrician. He went up into the roof, that day, and
reconnected the air conditioning power directly to the circuit box.

Echo Air Conditioning had used a normal socket, which was up in the roof.
They cut the plug of the end of power cable which came with the air
conditioner, and wired up a normal 10-amp plug (like used for appliances).

Not only was the Air conditioner drawing power from a circuit shared with
the fridge, but the plug was not ample for level of current.

The elecrician brought the plug and socket down to show us. The plug was
completely black, with a hole right through it, where the plastic ignited.
The white socket was also blackened with soot.

Once the electrician attached the air conditioner directly to the circuit
board, the air conditioner worked.

So, all up - 1 month without an air conditioner, three service calls (138
dollars each), an electrician, PLUS 200 dollars worth of spoilt food.

THANKS TO Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road Bankstown
Airport,
NSW 2200).

Echo Air Conditioning installed the air conditioning in my home
incorrectly,
ignoring safety standards by attaching the unit to an existing circuit,
and
cutting the plug off the end of the Air-conditioners power cord. None of
their staff acted in a proffesional or competent manner. Including Mr
Neville Page. Give him a holler - echoair@bigpond.com

This chopping and changing of 15A plugs with 10A plugs seems pretty rife
within the electrical trade, I've seen it on many occasions. Just recently I
was visiting some friends and they commented the plug and power point on
their new 3KW heater was getting quite hot and I noticed the same trick had
been pulled and they confirmed that the electrician had only replaced the
plug.

The unusual thing in this case was the electrician was a third party and
charged his standard $40 callout rate plus $10 or so for the new plug
without mentioning the possibility of doing the job properly. They're a
quite sensible couple and fairly well off - I'm sure they would have been
happy to pay the additional amount to get the job done properly so I can't
see the logic why he didn't even offer.

Regards,

Peter Johnson, CommLinx Solutions
http://www.commlinx.com.au/

 

[Alan Rutlidge]

"Peter Johnson" <peter@nospam.commlinx.com.au> wrote in message
news:bvq16p$31h4$1@otis.netspace.net.au...

"Darren" <guess_who_tis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4020730a$0$28867$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
To all potential customers: A warning to those wanting to purchase a
home
air conditioning system in Sydney Australia.

NEVER use Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road Bankstown
Airport,
NSW 2200) - email is echoair@bigpond.com .

My air conditioner went on the blink , at the start of January. It
simply
would not turn on. We called the company who installed the Panasonic
split
system, 5 years ago - Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd.

The service technician came out to my home, and told me that the split
unit
had a faulty circuit board. He said he would have to return (in a week)
with
two replacement boards, and added that one circuit board costs $200,
while
the other is $600. He wasn't sure which one we would need.

He returned in a week, tried the new circuit boards, and then concluded
that
the power supply was at fault. He said he would have to return in TWO
WEEKS
because the part needed to be ordered... blah BLAH blah.

I told him to go stick his two week wait where the sun doesn't shine.
Two
days after he left, I realised that the Fridge was off. I went around
the
side of the house, and LO AND BEHOLD - the air conditioning and
refridgerator were running through the same safety switch. That means
the
air-con was incorrectly plugged into an existing circuit - and the
refridgerator no less.

The technician had failed to flick the fuse switch back to ON before he
left, causing a loss of around 200 dollars in spoilt food.

After throwing out a couple of hundred dollars worth of food, I decided
to
call another company to get my air conditioner looked at.

They came a few days later. After only minutes, I was told that the
power
supply in the Air-con wasn't at fault, there was a burnt out plug and
wiring
in the roof.

So, I called an electrician. He went up into the roof, that day, and
reconnected the air conditioning power directly to the circuit box.

Echo Air Conditioning had used a normal socket, which was up in the
roof.
They cut the plug of the end of power cable which came with the air
conditioner, and wired up a normal 10-amp plug (like used for
appliances).

Not only was the Air conditioner drawing power from a circuit shared
with
the fridge, but the plug was not ample for level of current.

The elecrician brought the plug and socket down to show us. The plug was
completely black, with a hole right through it, where the plastic
ignited.
The white socket was also blackened with soot.

Once the electrician attached the air conditioner directly to the
circuit
board, the air conditioner worked.

So, all up - 1 month without an air conditioner, three service calls
(138
dollars each), an electrician, PLUS 200 dollars worth of spoilt food.

THANKS TO Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road Bankstown
Airport,
NSW 2200).

Echo Air Conditioning installed the air conditioning in my home
incorrectly,
ignoring safety standards by attaching the unit to an existing circuit,
and
cutting the plug off the end of the Air-conditioners power cord. None of
their staff acted in a proffesional or competent manner. Including Mr
Neville Page. Give him a holler - echoair@bigpond.com

This chopping and changing of 15A plugs with 10A plugs seems pretty rife
within the electrical trade, I've seen it on many occasions. Just recently
I
was visiting some friends and they commented the plug and power point on
their new 3KW heater was getting quite hot and I noticed the same trick
had
been pulled and they confirmed that the electrician had only replaced the
plug.

The unusual thing in this case was the electrician was a third party and
charged his standard $40 callout rate plus $10 or so for the new plug
without mentioning the possibility of doing the job properly. They're a
quite sensible couple and fairly well off - I'm sure they would have been
happy to pay the additional amount to get the job done properly so I can't
see the logic why he didn't even offer.

Regards,

Peter Johnson, CommLinx Solutions
http://www.commlinx.com.au/

Gee, why doesn't this type of post surprise me? Had a similar problem with
a Perth company with respect to an air-conditioning installation and another
involving a gas hot water system. The bottom line is the incompetent
employees lead by the greedy employers. There is possibly only a couple of
solutions to ridding these cowboys from the industry and that is to make
them and the companies they work for accountable. Self regulation in a lot
of industries / trades isn't working as it should. Does it take a tragedy
to get the attention of the authorities / so called regulatory bodies?

Just my 2c worth.

Cheers,
Alan

 

[trash]

On Wed, 4 Feb 2004 15:24:19 +1100, "Darren"
<guess_who_tis@hotmail.com> wrote:

The technician had failed to flick the fuse switch back to ON before he
left, causing a loss of around 200 dollars in spoilt food.

It amuses me that it took you two days before you looked in your
fridge.
Generally I might notice the light was not on before the next glass
of cold water or a worst the next meal.


- trash

Yes I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.

 

[Gazza Ozzie]

This doesn't only happen in the Air-Conditioning / Electrical
Industry, It happens across all trades why because they are self
regulating. Makes you wonder what the governments are doing with our
taxes. At one stage they had regulatory bodies to police these things
but to reduce cost of government they introduced self regulation. One
would thing this would translate to a reduction in taxes but NO - I
suspect that pollies pay and superannuation may have absorbed the
savings - I could be wrong.

If a Industry has a regulatory body and the tradesperson is registered
with them, then they are generally cover by insurance and who pays for
this -WE do of course.

The days where tradesmen took pride in their work and wanted to ensure
their work was perfect has long gone. The attitude by these people or
the employers these days is get in quick fix and out to make the quick
buck. Of course in some industries the person doing the work doesn't
even have to know what they are doing so long as they are supervised
by a qualified person - this can be by phone which guarantees that
they are really able to assist ( sorry about the sarcasm but the whole
situation is disgusting and really pisses me off).

Gazza


"Alan Rutlidge" <rutlidge*nO-sPaM*@mail.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:4020c148$0$1729$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

"Peter Johnson" <peter@nospam.commlinx.com.au> wrote in message
news:bvq16p$31h4$1@otis.netspace.net.au...

"Darren" <guess_who_tis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4020730a$0$28867$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
To all potential customers: A warning to those wanting to purchase
a

home

air conditioning system in Sydney Australia.

NEVER use Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road Bankstown
Airport,
NSW 2200) - email is echoair@bigpond.com .

My air conditioner went on the blink , at the start of January. It
simply
would not turn on. We called the company who installed the
Panasonic

split

system, 5 years ago - Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd.

The service technician came out to my home, and told me that the
split
unit
had a faulty circuit board. He said he would have to return (in a
week)
with
two replacement boards, and added that one circuit board costs
$200,

while

the other is $600. He wasn't sure which one we would need.

He returned in a week, tried the new circuit boards, and then
concluded
that
the power supply was at fault. He said he would have to return in
TWO
WEEKS
because the part needed to be ordered... blah BLAH blah.

I told him to go stick his two week wait where the sun doesn't
shine.

Two

days after he left, I realised that the Fridge was off. I went
around

the

side of the house, and LO AND BEHOLD - the air conditioning and
refridgerator were running through the same safety switch. That
means

the

air-con was incorrectly plugged into an existing circuit - and the
refridgerator no less.

The technician had failed to flick the fuse switch back to ON
before he
left, causing a loss of around 200 dollars in spoilt food.

After throwing out a couple of hundred dollars worth of food, I
decided

to

call another company to get my air conditioner looked at.

They came a few days later. After only minutes, I was told that
the

power

supply in the Air-con wasn't at fault, there was a burnt out plug
and
wiring
in the roof.

So, I called an electrician. He went up into the roof, that day,
and
reconnected the air conditioning power directly to the circuit
box.

Echo Air Conditioning had used a normal socket, which was up in
the

roof.

They cut the plug of the end of power cable which came with the
air
conditioner, and wired up a normal 10-amp plug (like used for
appliances).

Not only was the Air conditioner drawing power from a circuit
shared

with

the fridge, but the plug was not ample for level of current.

The elecrician brought the plug and socket down to show us. The
plug was
completely black, with a hole right through it, where the plastic
ignited.
The white socket was also blackened with soot.

Once the electrician attached the air conditioner directly to the
circuit
board, the air conditioner worked.

So, all up - 1 month without an air conditioner, three service
calls

(138

dollars each), an electrician, PLUS 200 dollars worth of spoilt
food.

THANKS TO Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road Bankstown
Airport,
NSW 2200).

Echo Air Conditioning installed the air conditioning in my home
incorrectly,
ignoring safety standards by attaching the unit to an existing
circuit,
and
cutting the plug off the end of the Air-conditioners power cord.
None of
their staff acted in a proffesional or competent manner. Including
Mr
Neville Page. Give him a holler - echoair@bigpond.com

This chopping and changing of 15A plugs with 10A plugs seems pretty
rife
within the electrical trade, I've seen it on many occasions. Just
recently

I

was visiting some friends and they commented the plug and power
point on
their new 3KW heater was getting quite hot and I noticed the same
trick

had

been pulled and they confirmed that the electrician had only
replaced the
plug.

The unusual thing in this case was the electrician was a third party
and
charged his standard $40 callout rate plus $10 or so for the new
plug
without mentioning the possibility of doing the job properly.
They're a
quite sensible couple and fairly well off - I'm sure they would have
been
happy to pay the additional amount to get the job done properly so I
can't
see the logic why he didn't even offer.

Regards,

Peter Johnson, CommLinx Solutions
http://www.commlinx.com.au/

Gee, why doesn't this type of post surprise me? Had a similar problem
with
a Perth company with respect to an air-conditioning installation and
another
involving a gas hot water system. The bottom line is the incompetent
employees lead by the greedy employers. There is possibly only a
couple of
solutions to ridding these cowboys from the industry and that is to
make
them and the companies they work for accountable. Self regulation in
a lot
of industries / trades isn't working as it should. Does it take a
tragedy
to get the attention of the authorities / so called regulatory bodies?

Just my 2c worth.

Cheers,
Alan






---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.577 / Virus Database: 366 - Release Date: 3/02/2004

 

[Rod Speed]

Gazza Ozzie <gazzaozzie@hotmail.com.REMOVEIFNOTSPAM> wrote
in message news:6wnUb.43091$Wa.5093@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

This doesn't only happen in the Air-Conditioning / Electrical Industry,
It happens across all trades why because they are self regulating.
Makes you wonder what the governments are doing with our taxes.

Spending them sensibly. Hordes of white coated govt shinybums
inspecting every single change made to anything doesnt qualify, cretin.

At one stage they had regulatory bodies to police these things

Pigs arse they ever did on inspecting every change made to everything.

but to reduce cost of government they introduced self regulation.

Not a fucking clue. As always.

One would thing this would translate to a reduction in taxes but NO

Corse it reduced the amount of taxes spent on hordes of white
coated govt shinybums inspecting every single change made, cretin.

- I suspect that pollies pay and superannuation
may have absorbed the savings - I could be wrong.

Wota terminal fuckwit. Thats a fart in the bath compared with
what's paid out to taxpayer for stupid middle class welfare,
all those child payments, child care payments, etc etc etc.

If a Industry has a regulatory body and the tradesperson
is registered with them, then they are generally cover by
insurance and who pays for this -WE do of course.

Must be one of those rocket scientist fuckwits.

Those wanting the work done ALWAYS pay for it, cretin.

The days where tradesmen took pride in their work and
wanted to ensure their work was perfect has long gone.

Crap. There's plenty that are happy to do
that sort of work if you're happy to pay for it.

The attitude by these people or the employers these
days is get in quick fix and out to make the quick buck.

There's always been plenty of those, fuckwit.

Of course in some industries the person doing the work doesn't
even have to know what they are doing so long as they are
supervised by a qualified person - this can be by phone which
guarantees that they are really able to assist ( sorry about the
sarcasm but the whole situation is disgusting and really pisses me off).

Do the decent thing and set fire to yourself in 'protest' or something.

"Alan Rutlidge" <rutlidge*nO-sPaM*@mail.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:4020c148$0$1729$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

"Peter Johnson" <peter@nospam.commlinx.com.au> wrote in message
news:bvq16p$31h4$1@otis.netspace.net.au...

"Darren" <guess_who_tis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4020730a$0$28867$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
To all potential customers: A warning to those wanting to purchase
a
home
air conditioning system in Sydney Australia.

NEVER use Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road Bankstown
Airport,
NSW 2200) - email is echoair@bigpond.com .

My air conditioner went on the blink , at the start of January. It
simply
would not turn on. We called the company who installed the
Panasonic
split
system, 5 years ago - Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd.

The service technician came out to my home, and told me that the
split
unit
had a faulty circuit board. He said he would have to return (in a
week)
with
two replacement boards, and added that one circuit board costs
$200,
while
the other is $600. He wasn't sure which one we would need.

He returned in a week, tried the new circuit boards, and then
concluded
that
the power supply was at fault. He said he would have to return in
TWO
WEEKS
because the part needed to be ordered... blah BLAH blah.

I told him to go stick his two week wait where the sun doesn't
shine.
Two
days after he left, I realised that the Fridge was off. I went
around
the
side of the house, and LO AND BEHOLD - the air conditioning and
refridgerator were running through the same safety switch. That
means
the
air-con was incorrectly plugged into an existing circuit - and the
refridgerator no less.

The technician had failed to flick the fuse switch back to ON
before he
left, causing a loss of around 200 dollars in spoilt food.

After throwing out a couple of hundred dollars worth of food, I
decided
to
call another company to get my air conditioner looked at.

They came a few days later. After only minutes, I was told that
the
power
supply in the Air-con wasn't at fault, there was a burnt out plug
and
wiring
in the roof.

So, I called an electrician. He went up into the roof, that day,
and
reconnected the air conditioning power directly to the circuit
box.

Echo Air Conditioning had used a normal socket, which was up in
the
roof.
They cut the plug of the end of power cable which came with the
air
conditioner, and wired up a normal 10-amp plug (like used for
appliances).

Not only was the Air conditioner drawing power from a circuit
shared
with
the fridge, but the plug was not ample for level of current.

The elecrician brought the plug and socket down to show us. The
plug was
completely black, with a hole right through it, where the plastic
ignited.
The white socket was also blackened with soot.

Once the electrician attached the air conditioner directly to the
circuit
board, the air conditioner worked.

So, all up - 1 month without an air conditioner, three service
calls
(138
dollars each), an electrician, PLUS 200 dollars worth of spoilt
food.

THANKS TO Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road Bankstown
Airport,
NSW 2200).

Echo Air Conditioning installed the air conditioning in my home
incorrectly,
ignoring safety standards by attaching the unit to an existing
circuit,
and
cutting the plug off the end of the Air-conditioners power cord.
None of
their staff acted in a proffesional or competent manner. Including
Mr
Neville Page. Give him a holler - echoair@bigpond.com

This chopping and changing of 15A plugs with 10A plugs seems pretty
rife
within the electrical trade, I've seen it on many occasions. Just
recently
I
was visiting some friends and they commented the plug and power
point on
their new 3KW heater was getting quite hot and I noticed the same
trick
had
been pulled and they confirmed that the electrician had only
replaced the
plug.

The unusual thing in this case was the electrician was a third party
and
charged his standard $40 callout rate plus $10 or so for the new
plug
without mentioning the possibility of doing the job properly.
They're a
quite sensible couple and fairly well off - I'm sure they would have
been
happy to pay the additional amount to get the job done properly so I
can't
see the logic why he didn't even offer.

Regards,

Peter Johnson, CommLinx Solutions
http://www.commlinx.com.au/


Gee, why doesn't this type of post surprise me? Had a similar problem
with
a Perth company with respect to an air-conditioning installation and
another
involving a gas hot water system. The bottom line is the incompetent
employees lead by the greedy employers. There is possibly only a
couple of
solutions to ridding these cowboys from the industry and that is to
make
them and the companies they work for accountable. Self regulation in
a lot
of industries / trades isn't working as it should. Does it take a
tragedy
to get the attention of the authorities / so called regulatory bodies?

Just my 2c worth.

Cheers,
Alan






---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.577 / Virus Database: 366 - Release Date: 3/02/2004

 

[Alan Rutlidge]

"Rod Speed" <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bvubqs$10ns1o$1@ID-69072.news.uni-berlin.de...

----- cutting what was already said ------

Irrespective of whether government officials or inspectors are shinybums in
white coats...... who is going to keep check on industries / trades that
have gone feral after self regulation? I'm sure every taxpayer is aware
that royal commissions and coronial inquiries are expensive and time
consuming affairs. Deaths or serious injury resulting from faulty
workmanship or poor practices cost the individual and the community heaps.
With most state governments leaning towards privatising the public utilities
(and their associated regulatory bodies) who is left to investigate who when
things go pear shaped? Let them investigate themselves? What a laugh.

Sounds like justice for the rich and otherwise for the less so. If
something seriously goes wrong the consumer is left to fight the battle for
compensation on their pat malone. Rod, what price do you put on your
family? How would you feel about losing a family member or close friend to
a house fire caused by some cowboy sparkie who cuts corners in the pursuit
of greed and profit; and then adding insult to injury by having no
independent and adequately resourced body to turn to?

I feel that the standards in many trades are slipping towards the lowest
common denominator. The rot starts in the TAFE system. Just spend a day or
two with a bunch of 1st year or pre-apprentices to realise their ultimate
goal is just to pass the exams. With many institutions allowing students to
resit exams time after time to get a pass on a competency is just a joke.
Any lecturer / instructor that takes a hard line / minimal compromise
approach to passing a student who hasn't made the grade is often subject to
a "please explain". These days students who are too slack to do the work
just simply complain they were unfairly assessed and somehow get through.

Cheers,
Alan

 

[Rod Speed]

Alan Rutlidge <rutlidge*nO-sPaM*@mail.iinet.net.au> wrote in
message news:402319a9$0$1724$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

Rod Speed <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote

Irrespective of whether government officials or inspectors are
shinybums in white coats...... who is going to keep check on
industries / trades that have gone feral after self regulation?

Its just a neurotic fear. We dont have those checking
all work done on cars and those are MUCH more
likely to cause death and injury if not done properly.

With the original problem, the electrical wiring rules ensure
that the worst thats going to happen when the wrong plug
is used on an airconditioner is nuisance tripping etc.

THATS the sensible approach, not having white coated govt
shinybums inspecting any change made to anything important.

I'm sure every taxpayer is aware that royal commissions and
coronial inquiries are expensive and time consuming affairs.
Deaths or serious injury resulting from faulty workmanship or
poor practices cost the individual and the community heaps.

Yes, but the only sensible approach is to ensure sufficient safety
margin so that the worst that can happen is just a nuisance.

You'll never be able to completely eliminate all
risk, most obviously with stupids lopping trees etc.

With most state governments leaning towards privatising
the public utilities (and their associated regulatory bodies)
who is left to investigate who when things go pear shaped?
Let them investigate themselves? What a laugh.

We've developed perfectly viable approaches to that
sort of thing with areas that have been privatised long
ago, like aircraft and vehicles for example.

We've never been stupid enough to have some white coated
govt shinybum inspecting all work done on vehicles for example.

Electrical wiring in houses is nothing like as potentially dangerous.
We just require that quite rugged cables be used so that some fool
thrashing around in the ceiling isnt likely to cause major problems etc.

True in spades with extension cords etc.

Sounds like justice for the rich and otherwise for the less so.

Mindlessly superficial. The reality is that we actually
have decent safety conditions for almost everyone.

And gradually improve them, like with plugpacks
etc now having to have fusible links to minimise
the risk of them going up in flames on failure etc.

If something seriously goes wrong the consumer is left
to fight the battle for compensation on their pat malone.

In reality the basic approach ensures that hardly
anyone will need to 'battle' for anything. When
say a plug pack fails, you just buy a new one.

Rod, what price do you put on your family?

Dont need to even consider that mindlessly superficial
question when I have noticed that the system as a
whole has ensured that the risk is minimised, without
the insanely expensive approach of having every change
to anything inspected by white coated govt shinybums.

How would you feel about losing a family member or close
friend to a house fire caused by some cowboy sparkie
who cuts corners in the pursuit of greed and profit;

It doesnt happen. The worst outcome is the one the
original poster complained about, nuisance tripping which
can at worst spoil the contents of the fridge or freezer.

Hardly the end of civilisation as we know it, particularly when
that is normally covered by the house contents insurance.

and then adding insult to injury by having no independent
and adequately resourced body to turn to?

The world's moved on. Those resources are STILL deployed
to keep the wiring standards up to date so that even the
cowboys that will always be with us at worst are a nuisance.

Because whatever you do with white coated govt shinybums,
there will always be those who make changes without
notifying the inspection system, and those who make the
changes themselves, deliberately baring their arse at the system.

Plenty of us did that in the days when there were still
shinybums in white coats throwing their weight around at
a considerable cost to the taxpayers for bugger all benefit.

I feel that the standards in many trades are
slipping towards the lowest common denominator.

More fool you. You havent even noticed that the system as
a whole is much more instrinsically safe than it used to be.

The rot starts in the TAFE system. Just spend a day
or two with a bunch of 1st year or pre-apprentices to
realise their ultimate goal is just to pass the exams.

They've ALWAYS been like that.

With many institutions allowing students to resit exams
time after time to get a pass on a competency is just a joke.

They've ALWAYS done that too.

Any lecturer / instructor that takes a hard line / minimal compromise
approach to passing a student who hasn't made the grade is often subject to
a "please explain". These days students who are too slack to do the work
just simply complain they were unfairly assessed and somehow get through.

Plenty hyperventilated like that 50 years ago too.

Thats just the usual problem, hardening of the arterys sees
plenty like you viewing the past thru rose tinted glasses.

 

[Gazza Ozzie]

Must be awful living in a hole isolated from the real world with your
head stuck up your ar#$ but at leats you managed a couple of different
lines to your normal self repeating function key tirade.

Rod Speed worlds expert on everything - you would think he'd get
something right at least once.

Gazza
(the fisherman)


"Rod Speed" <rod_speed@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bvubqs$10ns1o$1@ID-69072.news.uni-berlin.de...

Gazza Ozzie <gazzaozzie@hotmail.com.REMOVEIFNOTSPAM> wrote
in message news:6wnUb.43091$Wa.5093@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

This doesn't only happen in the Air-Conditioning / Electrical
Industry,
It happens across all trades why because they are self regulating.
Makes you wonder what the governments are doing with our taxes.

Spending them sensibly. Hordes of white coated govt shinybums
inspecting every single change made to anything doesnt qualify,
cretin.

At one stage they had regulatory bodies to police these things

Pigs arse they ever did on inspecting every change made to everything.

but to reduce cost of government they introduced self regulation.

Not a fucking clue. As always.

One would thing this would translate to a reduction in taxes but NO

Corse it reduced the amount of taxes spent on hordes of white
coated govt shinybums inspecting every single change made, cretin.

- I suspect that pollies pay and superannuation
may have absorbed the savings - I could be wrong.

Wota terminal fuckwit. Thats a fart in the bath compared with
what's paid out to taxpayer for stupid middle class welfare,
all those child payments, child care payments, etc etc etc.

If a Industry has a regulatory body and the tradesperson
is registered with them, then they are generally cover by
insurance and who pays for this -WE do of course.

Must be one of those rocket scientist fuckwits.

Those wanting the work done ALWAYS pay for it, cretin.

The days where tradesmen took pride in their work and
wanted to ensure their work was perfect has long gone.

Crap. There's plenty that are happy to do
that sort of work if you're happy to pay for it.

The attitude by these people or the employers these
days is get in quick fix and out to make the quick buck.

There's always been plenty of those, fuckwit.

Of course in some industries the person doing the work doesn't
even have to know what they are doing so long as they are
supervised by a qualified person - this can be by phone which
guarantees that they are really able to assist ( sorry about the
sarcasm but the whole situation is disgusting and really pisses me
off).

Do the decent thing and set fire to yourself in 'protest' or
something.

"Alan Rutlidge" <rutlidge*nO-sPaM*@mail.iinet.net.au> wrote in
message
news:4020c148$0$1729$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.au...

"Peter Johnson" <peter@nospam.commlinx.com.au> wrote in message
news:bvq16p$31h4$1@otis.netspace.net.au...

"Darren" <guess_who_tis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4020730a$0$28867$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
To all potential customers: A warning to those wanting to
purchase
a
home
air conditioning system in Sydney Australia.

NEVER use Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road
Bankstown
Airport,
NSW 2200) - email is echoair@bigpond.com .

My air conditioner went on the blink , at the start of January.
It
simply
would not turn on. We called the company who installed the
Panasonic
split
system, 5 years ago - Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd.

The service technician came out to my home, and told me that the
split
unit
had a faulty circuit board. He said he would have to return (in
a
week)
with
two replacement boards, and added that one circuit board costs
$200,
while
the other is $600. He wasn't sure which one we would need.

He returned in a week, tried the new circuit boards, and then
concluded
that
the power supply was at fault. He said he would have to return
in
TWO
WEEKS
because the part needed to be ordered... blah BLAH blah.

I told him to go stick his two week wait where the sun doesn't
shine.
Two
days after he left, I realised that the Fridge was off. I went
around
the
side of the house, and LO AND BEHOLD - the air conditioning and
refridgerator were running through the same safety switch. That
means
the
air-con was incorrectly plugged into an existing circuit - and
the
refridgerator no less.

The technician had failed to flick the fuse switch back to ON
before he
left, causing a loss of around 200 dollars in spoilt food.

After throwing out a couple of hundred dollars worth of food, I
decided
to
call another company to get my air conditioner looked at.

They came a few days later. After only minutes, I was told that
the
power
supply in the Air-con wasn't at fault, there was a burnt out
plug
and
wiring
in the roof.

So, I called an electrician. He went up into the roof, that day,
and
reconnected the air conditioning power directly to the circuit
box.

Echo Air Conditioning had used a normal socket, which was up in
the
roof.
They cut the plug of the end of power cable which came with the
air
conditioner, and wired up a normal 10-amp plug (like used for
appliances).

Not only was the Air conditioner drawing power from a circuit
shared
with
the fridge, but the plug was not ample for level of current.

The elecrician brought the plug and socket down to show us. The
plug was
completely black, with a hole right through it, where the
plastic
ignited.
The white socket was also blackened with soot.

Once the electrician attached the air conditioner directly to
the
circuit
board, the air conditioner worked.

So, all up - 1 month without an air conditioner, three service
calls
(138
dollars each), an electrician, PLUS 200 dollars worth of spoilt
food.

THANKS TO Echo Air Conditioning Pty Ltd (613 Tower Road
Bankstown
Airport,
NSW 2200).

Echo Air Conditioning installed the air conditioning in my home
incorrectly,
ignoring safety standards by attaching the unit to an existing
circuit,
and
cutting the plug off the end of the Air-conditioners power cord.
None of
their staff acted in a proffesional or competent manner.
Including
Mr
Neville Page. Give him a holler - echoair@bigpond.com

This chopping and changing of 15A plugs with 10A plugs seems
pretty
rife
within the electrical trade, I've seen it on many occasions. Just
recently
I
was visiting some friends and they commented the plug and power
point on
their new 3KW heater was getting quite hot and I noticed the same
trick
had
been pulled and they confirmed that the electrician had only
replaced the
plug.

The unusual thing in this case was the electrician was a third
party
and
charged his standard $40 callout rate plus $10 or so for the new
plug
without mentioning the possibility of doing the job properly.
They're a
quite sensible couple and fairly well off - I'm sure they would
have
been
happy to pay the additional amount to get the job done properly so
I
can't
see the logic why he didn't even offer.

Regards,

Peter Johnson, CommLinx Solutions
http://www.commlinx.com.au/


Gee, why doesn't this type of post surprise me? Had a similar
problem
with
a Perth company with respect to an air-conditioning installation and
another
involving a gas hot water system. The bottom line is the
incompetent
employees lead by the greedy employers. There is possibly only a
couple of
solutions to ridding these cowboys from the industry and that is to
make
them and the companies they work for accountable. Self regulation
in
a lot
of industries / trades isn't working as it should. Does it take a
tragedy
to get the attention of the authorities / so called regulatory
bodies?

Just my 2c worth.

Cheers,
Alan






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[Rod Speed]

Some gutless fuckwit desperately cowering behind
Gazza Ozzie <gazzaozzie@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:sbVUb.45555$Wa.15822@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
just the puerile pig ignorant shit thats always pouring from its lard arse.

 

[Gnuthad]

On Thu, 05 Feb 2004 07:18:43 GMT, trash0@hotmail.com (trash) wrote:

On Wed, 4 Feb 2004 15:24:19 +1100, "Darren"
guess_who_tis@hotmail.com> wrote:

The technician had failed to flick the fuse switch back to ON before he
left, causing a loss of around 200 dollars in spoilt food.

It amuses me that it took you two days before you looked in your
fridge.
Generally I might notice the light was not on before the next glass
of cold water or a worst the next meal.

It amuses me to know that the OP's fridge was on a dedicated circuit up until
the time of the installation of the air conditioner. Not having lived in too
many houses I can't say for certain, but in the dozen or so houses in which
I've lived the kitchen has been on a circuit along with a couple of other
rooms, rather typical I would have thought given the average 2-3 power
circuits found in those houses.

Surely the OP is not suggesting that he did not attempt to use any other
applicance in the kitchen or in any other power point on the same cicruit in
those two days....

Gnuthad