We had pending law returned in 2013 in Washington State that would have stopped fake advertising of plumbing services to the patron via those that were now not licensed but… We in no way got it handed. The cause it failed turned into that nobody however the cheaters had any interest in the bill.
Lack of powerful plumber license enforcement in Washington residential plumbers State is reworking a skilled certified change into a business con game costing customers and skilled craftsmen dearly.
The Issues Affecting Licensed Plumbers and Plumbing Contractors:
1. Unlicensed Plumbers – useless enforcement of plumber licensing
2. Fake Plumbing Companies – General Contractors Advertising Plumbing Services
3. The Cost of Advertising – Is pretty high due to unfair opposition from the unlicensed
4. Lack of Consumer Awareness – They don’t know that real plumbers are an authorized exchange. (Drain cleaners are not plumbers)
5. Other trades wishing to perform plumbing services – i.E. Builders, General Contractors and the HVAC trades
The plumbing change is a regulated industry in Washington State. All plumbing paintings should be completed by those with a certificate of enjoy; in different phrases – a license. Over the years there can been a concerted attempt by means of those now not inside the plumbing change to violate the law that restricts who may have interaction inside the change. The assault on the plumber and the plumbing contractor has come from a couple of directions.
There isn’t always one enemy of the licensed plumber, but many. The most great root cause of the plumber license dropping credibility and cost over time is the passivity and inattention of the licensed plumber. As a rule, once we’ve the license in our hand we don’t suppose tons approximately it aside from to whinge approximately the renewal expenses or the imposition of the continuing schooling requirement.
A plumber license represents years of look at, certified schooling and professional permission to interact in a regulated career. The dictionary defines license as “a permission granted with the aid of ready authority to engage in a commercial enterprise or career or in an interest in any other case unlawful”. A license excludes others by way of law.
If enforcement of a law is susceptible or ineffective – no person will obey the law.
Today the plumbing industry is under attack from those that wish to be engaged inside the business of plumbing with out a license. The sad truth is that there hasn’t been tons resistance from the ones folks which might be most affected i.E. Licensed plumbers, plumbing contractors and homeowners. The plumbing industry has been invaded through every body that wants to represent themselves as plumbers with out the license because no one has had a eager interest inside the enforcement of plumber licensing.
Who is violating licensing legal guidelines? Answer: Anybody who wants to…
The following trades and organizations all promote it plumbing offerings today – correctly violation of current regulation:
1. Rooter businesses with out a certified plumbers or best a token plumber
2. General contractors advertising plumbing offerings
three. Plumber trainees that abandon their schooling and put it up for sale as contractors
four. Handymen with or without contractor registration
five. Fraudulent internet site plumbing agencies with faux registrations
6. HVAC businesses marketing water heater income and installations
7. Water heater companies marketing set up of water warmers
eight. Hardware shops providing water heater installations
nine. Building upkeep provider groups presenting plumbing upkeep.
10. Retail Stores – Home Depot, Lowe’s
eleven. Marketing Companies with fake websites selling leads
12. Third Party Referral Services that promote plumbing corporations with out a licenses
thirteen. Website re-dealers
14. Amazon is now promoting plumbing offerings on their website (2016)
It is a long listing…
As a licensed plumber for over thirty five years, I have to admit that I had no idea how without difficulty my license ought to emerge as a worthless piece of paper till I noticed my telephone traffic drop off and clients traumatic that we suit costs from unlicensed competition. I did not realise that the value of a license is primarily based solely upon what others assume it to be. It’s like cash. Money is simply a chunk of paper with ink on it. It best has cost if you and I agree that it has some representative price. A couple of hundred years ago a dollar turned into a day’s wages. Today a dollar may purchase you an afternoon-vintage doughnut. That dollar bill is simplest worth what we’re willing to exchange it for. My father defined Italians at some stage in the Second World War hauling lira in wheelbarrows to alternate at the financial institution for a few US bucks.