Licencing

[Colley614]

Hi Guys,

This is something I feel quite strongly about. I think when you come into the industry that you should have to gain a licence. When you first start out you should have to attend a course (There are plenty of free ones.) Once you have passed your course then you can go to somebody Like the Federation and apply for you licence. I think this way it would cut out a lot of fall from ladders and all the rogue traders that plague our industry.

 

[MyLittleCleaningCompany]

It would be very difficult to regulate but I completely agree on the principal

 

[Colley614]

Yeah I agree it would be very hard to police but I'm sure if we helped it would be a little easier. For arguements sake if you where working an area and somebody said "We use this guy, he charges £5." and you think to yourself that it was an hours work then you had a number on your licence that you could call.

The view I'm taking is that I'm only recommending something that already exists in the Taxi industry or so I'm led to believe.

 

[Iain]

I think there's something like this in Scotland? It may be a bit different but there's some kind of registration process you have to go through with the local council.

Good idea to get this industry regulated as there's too many cowboys out there giving the professionals a bad name.

 

[Paul]

The one in Scotland is just a street traders licence I think.

I totally agree with you on this colley 100%

 

[mr shine]

id love to see regulation being introduced at the moment theres a load of dole merchants going around and they take a lot of work that we should be getting the sad part is most of them are out for drink or drug money.

 

[rcproperty]

im up for it! get rid of all the cowboys wont be that hard to police tho, as long as people know what to look out for and ask for id card it will be fine. works for gas fitters!

 

[MyLittleCleaningCompany]

im up for it! get rid of all the cowboys wont be that hard to police tho, as long as people know what to look out for and ask for id card it will be fine. works for gas fitters!

The thing is with gas fitters is the dangers of getting things wrong from the customers point of view is a little more dangerous compared to a dirty window so there would be a lot of people who wouldn't care if you had a licence. And he would pay for it to be regulated? That would come our way, this would probably work out more expensive then loosing those few customers to dodgy windies.

 

[Iain]

The one in Scotland is just a street traders licence I think.

I totally agree with you on this colley 100%

I don't know whether this is actually enforceable or not but Scottish Licensed Window Cleaners Network website says that some councils in Scotland require window cleaners in their constituency to be registered with them.

 

[windyman]

I'm in Scotland, yes we have to be registered. The cost depends on the council in which you live, but mine is about £150 for 2 years I think.

You have to apply to the council and they do a police check and check your insurance then issue licence.

I have used it when going in for commercial jobs, and I try to mention it as often as possible as I'm paying for it. Problem is there's loads of guys out there that aren't licenced, but nothing seems to be done.

If I lose a customer due to price, I always tell them to check the new guy has a licence.

 

[M.K Cleaners.co.uk]

I don't know whether this is actually enforceable or not but Scottish Licensed Window Cleaners Network website says that some councils in Scotland require window cleaners in their constituency to be registered with them.

They work with fife council, Its against the law not have have a window cleaning licence here. You cant get a licence without public liability and or employers liability.

I like thise guys there though, one call and the sort the cowboys out. Ive only used it once but after 3 days the police were at the guys door demading to see licence, insuracne documents etc. Ive also had a few jobs from there site.

 

[MyLittleCleaningCompany]

They work with fife council, Its against the law not have have a window cleaning licence here. You cant get a licence without public liability and or employers liability.

I like thise guys there though, one call and the sort the cowboys out. Ive only used it once but after 3 days the police were at the guys door demading to see licence, insuracne documents etc. Ive also had a few jobs from there site.

This is how it should be done!

 

[M.K Cleaners.co.uk]

This is how it should be done!

I agree, they also have a list of all thw window cleaners that have licences on that site, so if you get the persons name/address you can have a look and check and see if they have a licence

 

[rcproperty]

The thing is with gas fitters is the dangers of getting things wrong from the customers point of view is a little more dangerous compared to a dirty window so there would be a lot of people who wouldn't care if you had a licence. And he would pay for it to be regulated? That would come our way, this would probably work out more expensive then loosing those few customers to dodgy windies.

i know, but was just using that as a example thats all.

 

[Colley614]

I'd pay £150 every 2 years if all the cow boys dissapeared. I'd say most of the domestic work in my area is done be lads in their early 20's. Wearing trainers, tracksuit bottoms, hoodie and cap. I'm not saying they are cow boys but do you stand on your customers drive with your hand down your pants, spitting and smoking a *** like your John Travolta? I also see young lads out in new vans with their own t-shirt on with water fed pole gear these could just as easily be cow boys. I'm sure there are a lot of cow boys in my area though as people expect to pay peanuts for me to clean their windows and I always point out I could earn more in asda stacking shelves where I wouldn't have to worry about insurance and tax but it would destroy my self respect.

 

[Posh]

Great idea. The only problem I could see is as we will be maybe helping the goverment by getting rid of most of the tax dodgers and benefit cheats working on the side our goverment is so greedy it would probably see it as a scheme for making more money & would charge us the earth. What maybe they could do is make it compulsory that if a customer takes us on or a gardener ect they have to by law to cheque our insurance card which we all get. Make it law that the person doing work for you has to be insured. I reckon that would stop 75./' of them or they would have to get insurance which is gonna show up somewhere and arouse suspicion.

 

[Paul]

I think a traders card would work better and to get one show insurance and proof of self employed, thing I'm going to ring the primeinister in the morning /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[rcproperty]

I think a traders card would work better and to get one show insurance and proof of self employed, thing I'm going to ring the primeinister in the morning /emoticons/biggrin.png

you got our backing!!!

 

[harunh]

They should bring this in to force immediately.... it would get rid of the dole wallers taking over our trade in the summer....

Also Scotland do a street traders license... that would still be good... anything to get rid of them dole lads....

Im happy to pay £150.00 every 2 years /emoticons/smile.png

Get a petition up to bring this in ! /emoticons/tongue.png lol

 

[M.K Cleaners.co.uk]

They should bring this in to force immediately.... it would get rid of the dole wallers taking over our trade in the summer....

Also Scotland do a street traders license... that would still be good... anything to get rid of them dole lads....

Im happy to pay £150.00 every 2 years /emoticons/smile.png

Get a petition up to bring this in ! /emoticons/tongue.png lol

Im not lol

 

[harunh]

lol..