Well, I suppose that is how it is written ...
That is my point. Unfortunately, at least strictly speaking, when it comes to legislation "how it is written" is "how it is". Even the highest court in the country cannot over-ride "how it is written", if it is 'clear' (although they can urge legislators to later "how it is written").
but are you saying that an incompetent report must be accepted and a subsequent competent correct one ignored?
I'm simply indicating what the legislation appears to say - but agree with your implication that it is ridiculous if one can't do anything about an 'incompetent' (i.e. 'incorrect') report.
How does one correct defects that are not defects?
That one is probably not so straightforward. An EICR may well just indicate that certain things 'need to be done' (e.g."replace CU", "install bonding" etc.). One could comply with such 'requirements' without consideration of whether or not they have anhything to do with 'defects'.
What are medical second opinions for?
The same thing as second opinions are in any other field - for situations in which one is unhappy/uncertain about a 'first opinion' and/or wants reassurance that the first opinion was correct. As above, I agree that, with very few (if any) exceptions), there should always be provision for 'appealing against' something which one believes to be incorrect.
I suppose one of the concerns (e.g. with EICRs) might be that if one allows people to have an unlimited number of 'bites at the cherry', then they might go through several which confirm the findings of the first one but, eventually, might get one which (incompetently and incorrectly) fails to detect a serious defect that all the others have reported.
For what it's worth, since you raised the issue, I've seen this with 'medical second (or "Nth") opinions" - patients who keep on going and getting 'further' (similar) opinions (usually 'privately') until they eventually stumble across one (quite possibly incompetent/incorrect) 'opinion' which corresponds with what they wanted to hear, sometimes resulting in inappropriate diagnosis, treatment or management!
Kind Regards, John