Frequently Asked Questions
MCS Overview
How long does it take to get MCS?
Waiting times for an assessment can vary depending on the Certification Body you choose and their current waiting times. On average, it’s usually around 4-6 weeks. We advise to ensure you have all the appropriate training qualifications in place first, then book your assessment and use the waiting time to start your service with us and get prepared.
How much is Easy MCS?
Easy MCS prices start at £625+VAT for a 12 month subscription covering one technology. This includes full access to the Installer Toolkit. Additional technologies are £100+VAT to add on.
Do I get the Toolkit included?
Yes, the Installer Toolkit is included with every Easy MCS subscription. You’d just need to register for that separately, and once you’ve paid, we’ll ensure your access lasts as long as your Easy MCS service.
MCS Certification
Why do I need MCS certification?
Your company needs MCS to be able to offer financial incentives to your customers such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Smart Export Guarantee. Read more here.
How much does certification cost?
It depends how far along the process you are. Appropriate training qualifications for your Nominated Technical Person are usually around the £500-£700 mark if they’re not already holding a recognised qualification, registration with a Consumer Code costs upwards of £200 depending on who you choose, assessments with a Certification Body can start at around £600-£700 but can be much higher, again depending on who you choose.
What is a quality management system (QMS)?
A Quality Management System (QMS) is a series of documents and procedures that sets out how you will operate as a business to comply with certain requirements. We will design a fully bespoke QMS for you which complies to the regulations and requirements of the MCS.
How do I become certified?
To become certified, the installer will need to do the following things:
- Have a compliant quality management system (we provide this and training on how to use it).
- Have the relevant technical competencies (right qualifications, proof of competence etc.).
- Register with a recognised Consumer Code (RECC, HIES) and ensure you have that in place to demonstrate at assessment
- Have an assessment by a Certification Body. The assessment consists of an onsite assessment (they review an installation completed by the installer to check quality and competence) and an office assessment (where they review the QMS and make sure that the installer completes the correct paperwork).
What qualifications do I need?
Depending on the technology you’re going for approval for, you’d need either relevant electrical or heating/plumbing qualifications to begin with. You’d also need an MCS-recognised qualification in the particular technology, these are usually a QCF-aligned course that are run by BPEC, LOGIC, HETAS or equivalent. Check with your chosen course provider that the qualification will be recognised by an MCS Certification Body.
What happens once I’ve been given my QMS?
Once we’ve assigned all your documents and created your QMS, we’ll email you to let you know. We then arrange for your personal consultant to contact you a few days later, just to give you a chance to have a look around and get the lay of the land. Your consultant will contact you to go through the initial ‘Consultant Call’ which is an intro to the QMS, takes you through where everything is, and what’s expected of you. It’s a good time to ask any questions you may have and to get to know your consultant. They’ll then send you some training assignments to complete, which take you through the preparation for your assessment. They’ll be on hand for any questions you have as you go through this process.
General
Why can’t I log in?
There could be several reasons. If you’ve forgotten your login credentials, there are options:
- Forgot your password? Try the ‘forgot password’ option on the login page
- Forgot your username? Contact us and we will remind you.
You might not be able to login because your subscription has expired. If you’re getting redirected to the ‘Billing’ page, it’s most likely because your access has expired. Just get in touch to reinstate your subscription.
Remember, your login to the Easy MCS dashboard may not be the same as your login to the Installer Toolkit, as they’re separate platforms, so keep your login information handy for both.
I can’t upload documents to my records
If you can’t upload documents to your records, it could be because the document format is unsupported or too large. Try it in Word, PDF, JPEG or PNG first, remove any large images, and then if it’s still not working, just contact your Consultant who can look into it for you.
I’ve paid my fee, now what?
Once you’ve paid us for your subscription, we will send you a ‘Company Information Form’ to complete so that we can build your QMS. This will contain data relevant to your business, such as where you go in the case of a fire alarm, where you keep accident books, your company details, who is responsible for health and safety, that sort of thing. When filling in this document, you should make sure that everything is spelled correctly and is grammatically correct, as this is how it will appear on your documentation.
Once you’ve completed this, you send it back to us with a copy of your logo and we create your QMS, usually within 2-3 days of receipt (once you’re outside of your cancellation period). The longer you take to complete it, the longer you’ll have to wait for your documents, as we can’t create your QMS without the information we ask for in that document. If you have any issues or questions while completing it, we’re on hand to help.
My documents won’t download, what do I do?
ll of our documents are currently Microsoft Word or PDF. You’ll need both Adobe Reader or some sort of programme that allows you to download and read PDF documents, and a version of Microsoft Office that allows you to read and edit Microsoft Word documents. If you’re on a Mac computer, you’ll need ‘Office for Mac’.
What if I pay my fee and then change my mind?
We offer a standard, seven working day cancellation period once you’ve signed up for our services to change your mind and receive a full refund. As it’s a 12-month service, once you’re outside of this cancellation period, no refunds will be offered.
Separately, if you decide you’d like your consultancy to start within your cancellation period, you should indicate this to us but at this point, you waive your right to cancel. This also applies if you decide you want your documents created within the seven working day cancellation period – at the point that we create your QMS and make it available to you to download, your right to cancel within your seven working day cancellation period has been waived.