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Yet another Trade Association…………
It was discussed a while ago Martin and I have spoken to them.
It doesn’t apply to us (yet) and would cost a fair bit to be a part of.
K.
Re: Trustmark
I remember some members saying they’d been accepted at Trustmark ages ago. I’ve just been looking at the trustmark site whilst looking into local builders and have noticed there aren’t any appliance repairers showing.
There isn’t even an appliance repairers section in the drop down list. The only reference i can find is “Fitted Appliance Repair” under Electricians.
Aren’t any UKW members trustmarked?
Re: Trustmark
andy_art_trigg wrote:Aren’t any UKW members trustmarked?
I seriously doubt it Andy. Trustmark is linked directly to certain local councils and trade associations. Primarily centred toward the building trade and ancillary trades, large companies with big workforces. There’s only around 15 – 17 trade associations linked to the scheme and even less local authorities.
The so called “Government endorsed standards” they promote you will find are out of step also with current enforceable legislation. For example: They have not as yet acknowledged last years BERR ruling on ‘Cancelling Contracts in the Consumer Home or Place of Work Regs 2008’. :rolls:
Their work standards requirements bears little relevance to the domestic appliance repairs trade either or indeed the general way this our trade actually operates. Especially with regard to the current ‘health & safety in the workplace’ regulations. Simple proof of adopted health and safety procedures cannot be proven or established for the most part in order to attain certification. Hence (I reckon) why this trade is not represented within the Trustmark scheme.
The other, and more likely reason this trade is not on the list is simply because so far there has been no controllable legislation that will cover the trade. No adopted system, no all encompassing NVQ standards set out within schools and colleges. No one manufacturer either that wishes its field service workforce to comply to any laid down Trustmark or BERR procedures. In truth an almost un-governable melee of machine fixers that live by their own rules and likely as not always will.
As for the “Fitted Appliance Repair” listing, well as you’ve already sussed it’s blank, there ain’t nobody there……says it all really. 😉
Re: Trustmark
Is this another association that accepts cowboys and Indiots to join.
Not a fan of them.
Re: Trustmark
This one is supposed to be run by gov dept, non profit making. So it should in theory be more reliable than any of the plethora of subscription-based and run for profit schemes that are all fatally flawed because of the built in conflict of interests.
Of course repairs@ is also good.
Re: Trustmark
andy_art_trigg wrote:This one is supposed to be run by gov dept, non profit making. So it should in theory be more reliable than any of the plethora of subscription-based and run for profit schemes that are all fatally flawed because of the built in conflict of interests.
Well the point of Trustmark is not lost on any right-minded person, group or association that’s for sure. But the underlying problem of any scheme of this nature is that regulation is purely voluntary, vaguely regulated and for the most part still does little to encourage public confidence.
And as for being a “government run department”, well the respect the government has these days hardly generates confidence toward the man in the street. Therefore a company brandishing a TRUSTMARK badge fairs little better than brandishing a PRIMARK carrier bag!
As I said earlier, if our trade fell within a category that could be openly regulated (like gas repairers have to belong to the GSR) then and only then could ‘regulation’ and ‘association’ be compulsory. Fixing ovens and fridges doesn’t come within that framework so it’s open season for all that dare venture. And, likely as not will always be so. Megger or no megger, screwdriver on the top of the bright yellow van or whatever……… Wearing a fancy badge that that says ‘We’re a good firm we are’ holds as much water as that Primark bag I referred to earlier.
The only true regulation our humble trade has is from the customers themselves. They make the rules and we must comply. They practically dictate how much our labours are worth and pay no more in order that the job gets done. If you can’t fix it tomorrow they will go to someone who can. If it’s BER they will get another one…..simple economics dictate the only regulation our trade needs….and twas always thus.
Amen….
😉
Re: Trustmark
andy_art_trigg wrote:I remember some members saying they’d been accepted at Trustmark ages ago. I’ve just been looking at the trustmark site whilst looking into local builders and have noticed there aren’t any appliance repairers showing.
There isn’t even an appliance repairers section in the drop down list. The only reference i can find is “Fitted Appliance Repair” under Electricians.
Aren’t any UKW members trustmarked?
you msut have been asleep at the meeting when they gave the presentation Andy. I was!
Re: Trustmark
iadom wrote:Wasn’t that at Prestwich, Sept 2006 just before they wheeled out the Titan. 😀
where the hell is Prestwich? I really must have been asleep!
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