NICEIC has welcomed the Consumer White Paper recently published by government. In particular, its commitment to work with enforcement authorities, business and scheme operators to help raise awareness of schemes designed to safeguard the consumer has been seen by NICEIC as a step in the right direction.
The Paper also outlines new powers for the courts to ban persistent rogue traders, a national specialist team for internet enforcement to tackle scams which con consumers on the internet, a central ‘fighting fund' to tackle rogue traders operating on a large scale and a pilot scheme giving Trading Standards officers powers to help consumers get money back.
"This White Paper is good news for the consumer and commits Government to bring industry, authorities and schemes together to provide clear messages on the roles and benefits of different schemes and the benefits of dealing with accredited scheme members," said Emma McCarthy, chief operating officer, NICEIC Group. "For many years NICEIC has called for more action from Government to communicate the benefits of competent persons' schemes. Now this document commits the Government to encouraging consumers to make informed decisions about home improvement traders as well as finding good advice and information."
Competent persons schemes assess technical competence and procedures on an annual basis with complaints procedures in place, should something go wrong, all backed by an Insurance Backed Warranty. NICEIC Group operates competent person's schemes covering, electrical, plumbing, heating, energy efficiency and ventilation work as well as a UKAS accredited microgeneration scheme. Since Part P of the Building Regulation's launch in 2005, NICEIC has issued over 3.5 million building control certificates.
