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Corgi and Plumb Centre Say No to Cowboy Plumbers

Corgi and Plumb Centre have partnered up to back a gas safety initiative that would limit un-registered plumbers ability to buy and install gas boilers and parts. Plumb Centre and Parts Centre, both part of the worlds largest plumbing and heating supplier, Wolseley Group, are backing an initiative which was developed in partnership with Corgi (Council for Registered Gas Installers, UK) to crack down on cowboy plumbers.As of the beginning of 2008, Wolseleys hundreds of Plumb Centre and Parts Centre across the country will limit the sale of safety critical gas parts to Corgi-registered plumbers and heating engineers, in order to raise safety standards in the plumbing and heating industry. Plumbers visiting a Wolseley branch will be asked to bring along their plumbers Corgi card in order to buy safety critical gas parts (such as gas boilers of parts). Plumbers showing their Corgi card will further enhance the drive to improve safety standards in the plumbing and heating industry.Corgi ins ...
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Cut VAT, Plumbers Call

The campaign to cut the VAT from 17.5% to 5% has just added a powerful new member. The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) has recently joined the cross-industry Cut the VAT Coalition.The Coalition aims to persuade the government to cut the VAT rate for building repair and maintenance work from the current rate of 17.5% to 5%. The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors is particularly interested in the change as it would undermine rogue plumbers who do not charge VAT and offer more attractive prices to the public.The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors argues that the cut will reduce the number of rogue plumbers and still offer substantial benefits to the general public struggling to renovate their homes, improve their central heating systems or replace an old boiler. The 17.5% VAT rate on plumbing and maintenance work is particularly damaging the weak parts of the population, the APHC said, and prevents them from maintaining their homes.Clive Di ...
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