CWI Shakedown

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I guess I'm naive about this stuff so I was really shocked when it happened. Our company has been asked to provide a few WPS's for the various processes that we run on the customer's sites. Generally, we reinforce cell towers and a lot of these jobs require welding stiffeners at the base. We've been doing work for this GC for a few months now and have submitted and re-submitted the documents. Every time the 3rd party inspection company that is in charge of reviewing our documentation and field inspecting our welds has returned our documents as unfit with very vague reasons.Today I got a call from one of the CWIs in this 3rd party company who told me "as a big favor to me personally" he would send me 5 WPS's that I could put our company info on and he guaranteed that he would approve them when we send them back.... ...for $1000.00 in a personal check to him. Nice guy huh? The same guy that either approves or denies our paperwork will sell us his (on the side) so that he will approve it and let us keep working.Our welds have never failed visual, MT or UT inspection from this company so that's not the issue. Its basically, "pay up if you want to work for this GC". What a joke. Kind of makes me want to re-think my goal of working as an inspector if this is really what its all about. What a racket! AWS D1.1 Certified SMAW 3G Unlimited, Open Root                             FCAW-G 3G Unlimited, w/BackerCellular Tower Reinforcement Welding on the frozen tundra of the greater Mid-West
Reply:Hi Swede.Have you thought of purchasing the reviewed and validated  Standard Welding Procedure Specifications SWPS from AWS? They have several FCAW to choose from. They range from $186 for members, and $248 for non-members. I can't see him denying AWS. See page 22 and 23.http://www.aws.org/catalogs/PubCat_Spring_2014/#/26/.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:This sounds like something that would interest your local Attorney General.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Originally Posted by nadogailThis sounds like something that would interest your local Attorney General.
Reply:Welding_Swede  -  BD worst than VD'The down side' - he is helping himself.You don't want to get in bed with this guy - conspiracy to . . . is a Business Disease that is hard to recover from.'The up side'  -  he is helping you.He is acting as a CWI consultant, and upright.  If legitimate, his WPS will be on his Credentialed Letterhead for all to see.Trust your nose: and the oversight bodies, of regulatory minions.Opusps   shovelon's AWS recommendation may be the side-answer - "I can't see him denying AWS."  If your work is good - but your WPS is inadequately written - here, you be . . .
Reply:Lousy puke! Gives us inspectors a bad rap. Copy everything, send him a check, wait for it to cancel and request a copy of the canceled check. Add it all up and go to his company and the AWS.Sent from my SGH-M919 using TapatalkLong after the price is forgotten, the quality will remain.Both of my Poppy's 1954 Short Hoods -Third generation to weld with it and teaching a fourthSA 2## - Bought and sold more than I can remember or care to list, 8 in the shop right now
Reply:Something sounds fishy. Did you contact them about the reasons they were not approved?TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:I'd report it and destroy the guy, he's costing you and the GC time and money by not approving your submittals and then offering to give you an approval if you pay him money. That is about as clear cut as corruption gets. Keep every correspondence you have with this guy and go the AWS, his employer, the GC and anyone else you can think of to show them what kind of person you are dealing with. The GC and project owner will be very interested in knowing why things have been getting delayed and that their 3rd party consultant/inspector is holding you hostage for personal gain.I would submit an AWS approved SWPS and see if it comes back denied and go right to the AWS. People like him have no place in the industry and should be tarred and feathered.
Reply:First of all, I would never do what the CWI in question is doing. That being said, I would love to hear his side of this story. Your work is obviously not being held up because your welds "always pass" ut, mt etc... If I were him you wouldn't be welding at all without a proper WPS. As to him not giving you a specific reason your WPS's don't cut it for him, I would have to see what it is you're giving him. It could be so far off he doesn't know where to start. He's not there to train you to do your job.
Reply:Originally Posted by rdop2001First of all, I would never do what the CWI in question is doing. That being said, I would love to hear his side of this story. Your work is obviously not being held up because your welds "always pass" ut, mt etc... If I were him you wouldn't be welding at all without a proper WPS. As to him not giving you a specific reason your WPS's don't cut it for him, I would have to see what it is you're giving him. It could be so far off he doesn't know where to start. He's not there to train you to do your job.
Reply:Ok now I see why they think they should just do it for you and charge for their time. I think everyone else will see too.
Reply:WooHoo!I bet I've been (attempted, never with success) shook down by more cwi's than you : )Structural WPS's are quite a bit simpler than piping. Get the Prime/Owner involved. They have a very vested interest in a smooth, on schedule completion. Anytime ANY inspection authority hits a speed bump, I need a face to face (with all concerned parties represented), and ask very specific questions to every hiccup they seem to have. In writing, with signatures.People will tell you all kinds of stupid things, ask that they put it in writing and sign it, many times they are backpeddling like a man in a rowboat going over Niagra Falls : )It's legal in my state to record phone calls without notification. You'll get a more honest discussion if you inform all parties that you are recording the call. Never underestimate the crookedness of some people, when dollars are involved.Personally, I'd talk to the owner of the inspection company, WITH the GC/Owner, with the thousand dollar inspector in attendance and iron it all out so the work can get done and any underhanded folks get their due.I'll write you all the prequalified, simple structural WPS's you'll ever need, for way less than 1k.But get used to the shakedowns, they happen all the time. If you're prepared, and ready for them, they always fail spectacularly.If you and your cwi are just stupid, as one cat suggests, then it will be a learning experience. If not, the stupidity will get cleared up fast and you can get to gettin' it.JT
Reply:Welding Swede,This is likely a violation of AWS' QC-1 code of ethics. When you accept a CAWI or CWI you agree to uphold a certain level of ethics. I am quite sure AWS would be very interested in this.http://www.aws.org/certification/docs/QC1-2007.pdf11.4.2 The SCWI, CWI, or CAWI shall not acceptcompensation, financial or otherwise, from more thanone party for services on the same project, or for servicespertaining to the same project, unless the circumstancesare fully disclosed to all interested parties or their authorized agents.
Reply:Jay-BonesWelcome to the forum - with thanks.Your 'first post' brought statute to the smell.Opus
Reply:Originally Posted by rdop2001First of all, I would never do what the CWI in question is doing. That being said, I would love to hear his side of this story. Your work is obviously not being held up because your welds "always pass" ut, mt etc... If I were him you wouldn't be welding at all without a proper WPS. As to him not giving you a specific reason your WPS's don't cut it for him, I would have to see what it is you're giving him. It could be so far off he doesn't know where to start. He's not there to train you to do your job.
Reply:Originally Posted by JD955SCThe game this 3rd party CWI/company is playing is "pay me a nice chunk o' cash and I'll grease the skids for you so everything goes nice and smoothly and you can get to work right away...and everybody is happy" with the unspoken "I'll make this job difficult or impossible for you if you don't". Kind of how like if you visit many third world ****holes bribes will get you farther faster than "correct paperwork". It'll be interesting to see what the reaction is when the OP presents his CWI's work. It's a very dishonest yet time honored tactic and you will see it elsewhere in life.