NHIC PRESS PACK | MEMBERS ARTICLES | SPRING 2003
APHC - GET TO KNOW YOUR PLUMBER AND PREPARE YOUR CENTRAL HEATING
SYSTEM FOR AN UNEXPECTED COLD SNAP:
It's everyone's nightmare scenario A freezing spring day burst
pipes, water seeping through the ceiling and, worse still, if
you've only recently moved into the area, where do you find a
good plumber?
So what do you do? Pick up the load directory - and make a choice
it's almost like playing Russian Roulette do you get a 'cowboy
or a professional installer? - After all, size of advertisement
is no indication of the quality or capability of a plumber that
you'll be inviting into your home!
The Answer is APHC's Licensing Scheme which is mandatory to all
members of the Association and requires member firms to undergo
an annual assessment to ensure that they are meeting the strict
Business Standards imposed by the scheme. These standards are
designed to ensure that member firms are established, reliable
businesses, who employ fully trained staff and have a commitment
to high levels of customer service.
This commitment is reinforced by members being required to operate
an approved Customer Complaints system.
Customer Charter
The APUC Customer Charter, to which all members must adhere to,
sets out the minimum terms that members must offer their customers,
including:
Written estimates/quotes
Specification of works
Any exclusions
Terms of Payment
licensed Plumbers can be accessed through the Licensed Plumber
Hotline 0800 542 6060 or by reference to the web site: www.licensedplumber.co.uk.
The APHC Domestic Guarantee of Work
The Domestic Guarantee of Work Scheme* provides a 24 month guarantee
on workmanship to complement any manufacturers warranty on product.
In the event that a fault in workmanship appears within 24 months
of the work being carried out, the APHC member 'will remedy the
situation or, in the event that the member refuses or is unable
to carry out remedial work, APHC will pay for an alternative member
to carry out the work. The Guarantee also covers the consumer
in the event that the member firm goes out of business before
the work is completed, when again, the Association will arrange
for an alternate member to complete the work.
Working with Trading Standards to 'beat the cowboys'
The APHC are very concerned about the 'cowboy element' In the
industry and we work hard to try and make life as difficult as
we can for them.
We actively promote our Licensing Scheme throughout the country
and we have protected both our logo and name with Trade Mark.
If we become aware of any firms who are claiming to be members
of the Association when they are not, we actively pursue them.
As a Corporate Affiliated member of the Trading Standards Institute
we work closely with Trading Standards departments throughout
England and Wales (our sister organisation SNIPEF looks after
Scotland and Northern Ireland) to try and help consumers to get
the best deal possible.
Our website - www.aphc.co.uk - has an interactive search engine
that allows the public to locate their nearest APHC Licensed Plumber.
The Business Performance Standards cover a 'wide number of areas
of a firm's operation to ensure that they are committed to high
levels of service. Among the areas assessed by the Association's
staff are:-
The business must have been trading under its current name for
at least 2 years
All operatives must be able to demonstrate suitable levels of
competency
The business must carry at least £2m of Public Liability Insurance
They must offer the APHC Domestic Guarantee of Work Scheme
They must work to the APHC Customer Charter
They must operate a documented Complaints Handling Procedure
They must meet the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings)
Regulations Approved Contractor Scheme
They must produce evidence of Financial Probity
For more details of APHC and its Licensed Plumber Scheme, call
024 7647 0626
Terms and conditions apply.