Gas Safe Engineer doing a foreigner - what should I ask?

[Anthony Pearce]

My step mother has had several quotes for a boiler replacement.

The first one was from Homeserve as she had boiler insurance. This quote is a minimum of 30% higher than the other quotes she has received when you add in the fact that it is for installation only (boiler is free!!).

One of the alternative quotes (the cheapest by £500) is from a Gas Safe registered Engineer (this is at the moment an assumption) but one doing a foreigner from his day job.

I would normally recommend that she sticks with a company but she wants me to check the guy out and see if there is any problem with using him.

What should I ask him, what are the pitfalls, should I steer clear and if so why.

I'm not sure how the Gas Safe registering works and if it is for the individual or the individual working for a company. Do you have to have public liability insurance if you do self employed installs?

I want want to dismiss the guy completely before I know what I'm talking about.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Burger]

Yes but you can't turn up at someone's house and show them your acs certificates can you. You have to be registered to legally work as a business, but it also shows your customers you are competent to work on gas.

Yes I get that as well. Businesses whether self employed or not carrying out gas fitting work for financial reward or gain (which is what he’s doing) must be a member of an approved class of persons - currently gas safe.

 

[Riley]

So I’m not sure I get your argument we are in agreement that in this case the bloke can’t do the job and that was the question. I’m sick of the competent grey area

 

[Burger]

So I’m not sure I get your argument we are in agreement that in this case the bloke can’t do the job and that was the question. I’m sick of the competent grey area

It’s not an argument, just quoting what is in gsiur. We agree on the fact that the bloke can’t do the job because he’s earning money from it without his own registration yes. However I don’t have my own gas safe registration, I work for a company who is registered, yet if I leave it doesn’t make me incompetent.

 

[Riley]

But again I don’t disagree with you mate??? I’d hope you wouldn’t carry out work without your own card though

 

[Burger]

But again I don’t disagree with you mate??? I’d hope you wouldn’t carry out work without your own card though

No I wouldn’t.

 

[Stigster]

I think the most important thing apart from actually being competent, is proof of competence and a gas safe registration does that, in theory at least and legally speaking that is enough.

 

[firemant]

Still never paid that.

Depends on when you started. I joined CORGI when it first became mandatory, in about 1990, so have a 5 digit number. Cost was fairly minimal IIRC

 

[Harvest Fields]

Depends on when you started. I joined CORGI when it first became mandatory, in about 1990, so have a 5 digit number. Cost was fairly minimal IIRC

Joined the year before the change over.

 

[oz-plumber]

Its all about insurance and warranty's
We have the same issues over here.

You can work for a company as a registered plumber and you are covered by their insurance.
You work for yourself, you have to have insurance for the work that you do.

Plenty of registered Plumbers have come unstuck performing work they are covered for working for a Boss, but not covered for working for themselves on the side.

Home owners aren't going to hush up if there is an insurance claim, or warranty claim, on their property regarding work done by a non insured plumber. They will fess up to who did the work and sue him / her for costs of repairs.

 

[Millsy 82]

Its all about insurance and warranty's
We have the same issues over here.

You can work for a company as a registered plumber and you are covered by their insurance.
You work for yourself, you have to have insurance for the work that you do.

Plenty of registered Plumbers have come unstuck performing work they are covered for working for a Boss, but not covered for working for themselves on the side.

Home owners aren't going to hush up if there is an insurance claim, or warranty claim, on their property regarding work done by a non insured plumber. They will fess up to who did the work and sue him / her for costs of repairs.

Problem is pay cash no receipts etc no proof they have worked in your property then then case to sue them.

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Depends on when you started. I joined CORGI when it first became mandatory, in about 1990, so have a 5 digit number. Cost was fairly minimal IIRC

Don't see so many 5 digit numbers these days...ours is 5 too Not entirely sure when we joined though.