Pimlico Plumbers, one of the UK's largest independent heating and plumbing companies, is calling for the introduction of a ‘US style' registration of trades people to eradicate ‘rogue traders', increase professionalism within the industry and provide legislative protection for the consumer.

The Lambeth-based firm, which employs over 100 qualified tradesmen and completes over 60,000 jobs a year, is taking the unique step of introducing internal registration. Details of the tradesmen and women, including their picture, qualifications and experience, is soon to be available on its website, www.pimlicoplumbers.com.

Based upon the American system of compulsory registration, Pimlico believes that mandatory registration will increase greater transparency within the industry and inspire a new level of trust from customers.

Plumbers in the USA are legally required to apply for a licence from the Contractors State Licence Board (CSLB), without which they are unable  to work with the public. Potential customers can check plumbers' credentials as well as instigating any legal action or voicing complaints against them on the CSLB website.

In addition, licence holders have to obtain a permit from the Department of Building and Safety for any job worth approximately £250 plus.  An inspector from the department visits the job at least three times to check its status and finally sign-off the completed work.

Charlie Mullins, Managing Director of Pimlico Plumbers, said: ‘We operate in an industry which in reality is largely unregulated and rife with problems as a result. Only Corgi provides mandatory regulation, but only in gas related situations. The Institute of Plumbing does a reasonable job, but membership isn't compulsory and current legislation isn't strong enough for it to be realistically effective. We must create a system which has real teeth and operates under one banner. It has to possess the power to strike off rogue plumbers and tradesmen and with severe penalites for those who claim continuing registration. It should be fairly simple to link registration to a web site where the public could establish authenticity. There have been too many schemes and themes from government and trade bodies, which haven't worked and cost too much. You don't have to be too bright to work out who pays for it in the end!'

‘Quite simply customers want to be able to trust trades people, feel comfortable welcoming them into their homes and be sure they are receiving the quality of service they are paying for. They must have the ability for recourse if things go wrong.'

Pimlico's stance on stronger penalties and mandatory registration was further vindicated in a recent court case in Surrey where an Ashtead plumber was convicted and tagged. As a Pimlico manager caustically pointed out it is somewhat hard to reconcile how a four month tag and curfew eliminates a day time rip off.

Mr Mullins concluded: ‘I find it amazing that we can follow the Americans into a major conflict such as Iraq and yet seem to be unable to adopt one of their better ideas and offer a simple system of registration to protect the British public and inspire the confidence in British tradesmen and tradeswomen. We are very serious in taking this self regulated initiative and hopefully other quality contractors will follow suit and the government will take the idea on. Governments are very quick to extract money from taxpayers by every means possible, and are subsequently guilty of wasting huge amounts ineffectively. I should like to see them taking a greater interest and responsibility in protecting the people who put them there.' 

Pimlico's company web site page highlights some of the precautions that should be taken when commissioning any of the trade services.