Blog

Smart Electrics appreciate there are great concerns in the Basingstoke community and around the globe relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how best we can protect ourselves, our families, friends and work colleagues.

We want you to know we are doing everything we can as a business to protect all of our customers. We are also particularly mindful of those in our community that are most susceptible to catching COVID-19, such as the elderly, or those with pre-existing medical conditions.

We are a small family business that is 100% committed to minimising the spread of this virus. We have already implemented numerous measures to safeguard our customers and our small team. These measures are being reviewed regularly and in line with government and medical advice.

About Smart Electrics & Our Work for You

We are a small family business based in the village of Oakley on the Basingstoke outskirts and do not have an office which people can visit. Our business administration is all managed from our home office.

Our Health & Commitment to You

We are monitoring our health on a daily basis to ensure that we are fit for work. If we feel any symptoms associated with COVID-19 emerging, we will remain at home to ensure we don’t put our customers at any risk.

If we are advised to stay home or need to self-isolate and this affects upcoming work we will advise customers as soon as practically possible. We will call or contact you via e-mail to discuss job re-scheduling options. If your job is an electrical emergency and we are unable to attend, we will do our best to provide a referral to a trusted electrician within our network.

Our company mission and values at this time are more important than ever:

Our Mission: Keeping your world powered, connected and secure at an affordable price.

Our Values: Reliable, Friendly, Efficient, Honest, Safe, Respectful, Ethical, & Innovative

International & UK Travel

As you would expect with a small family business the majority of our time is spent working or at home. We have not travelled abroad in recent months and neither have any of our direct family.

We do not use public transport.

Hand Washing & Personal Hygiene

We’re taking the necessary precautionary measures:

• Hand sanitiser in our work vehicles which we use before and after each job
• Thoroughly washing our hands with soap and water whenever possible
• Keeping face masks and gloves in our vehicles to wear, should they be required

‍Checks During Customer Bookings

Please appreciate our need to ask you additional questions when we book your job in. As you would expect at this time we need to ensure our customers are well and haven’t been in contact with anyone that has contracted COVID-19. You are also very welcome to ask us the same questions.

Checking with you helps us to reduce the risk of spreading the infection and will keep us healthy so we can continue helping all customers that need us.

As at 20^th  March 2020 the World Health Organistion website showed the following information pertaining to ‘ What are the symptons of COVID-19?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell. 

Checks on the Day of Your Job

We will endeavour to send you a text on the morning of your job to re-check that no-one in your home is experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.

Please – if you are experiencing symptoms, or have been overseas or in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, we ask that you are honest and notify us immediately.

‍Physical Contact & Distancing Measures

Please accept our apologies that at this time we won’t offer to shake hands with you or your family members when we arrive at your job – normally we would not be this rude!

We are closely following social distancing advice not only from the UK but around the world as the situation develops. This means keeping a specified* distance away from people – it may therefore be necessary for us to follow distancing precautions in your home whilst we undertake work.

* At the time of writing this customer update, the UK Government advice is to stay more than 2 metres from others outdoors. In Australia their government is currently advising 4 square metres provided per person in an enclosed space, in a room – therefore 2 metres by 2 metres.

No Need for Refreshments!

Whilst we normally appreciate our valued customers making us numerous cups of coffee there is no need to offer during this time.

Job Estimates & Payments

Where possible we’ll provide estimates over the phone or electronically to minimise the need for multiple visits to your home.

We allow a cooling off period unless it’s an emergency. In an emergency it’s all about getting you back up and running safely and as cost-effectively as possible.

Please appreciate at this time we are unable to handle cash payments. Smart Electrics accept all major credit and debit cards and PayPal. We can also accommodate Google Pay, Android Pay and Apple Pay. We can take payment at your home (our card reader is wiped with sanitiser after every use), over the phone and via BACS. Our invoice will show our banking details. If a payment method isn’t listed or shown please feel free to ask us.