thanks guys is there a body i can phone to gain advice like this, eg iet or niceic etc, a guidance helpline or somethnig?
Yes, if you are changing consumer units and doing other involved electrical work then you obviously are a member of one of the schemes that permit you to self certify your work.
Your scheme provider (NICEIC, NAPIT, etc) will have a technical helpdesk that can advise you.
If you are doing notifiable work and are not notifying then your only redress is to ask questions on forums like this one, but you'll get short shrift from registered sparks, like me!