You have to be CORGI regiregistered to work on gas?

[Rick Hughes]

There have been frequent threads on this group relating to CORGI .. Usually with the result that the requirement is for being Competent to undertake the work is all that is required and CORGI registration while one way of deeming competency is not the only way.

Heard the recent spate of adverts on the radio where CORGI are stating that illegal for anybody to work on a gas supply unless they are CORGI registered, and encouraging listeners to phone in and shop anyone who is working on Gas and is not a CORGI member.

This changes the view . as their claim would not be allowed by Advertising standard Authority unless it could be substantiated, has the position moved and that CORGI's claim is now the legal position.

Rick

[Al Reynolds]

Depends on what you mean by "work". Position has always been that you need to be CORGI if you are being paid, for the work. Otherwise, you just need to be competent.

The ASA do not pre-vet adverts. As such adverts are regularly misleading, if not completely untruthful, but the advertisers often get away with it.

Al Reynolds

[Steve Jones]

Surely they mean someone who is working for profit. I mean you wouldn't phone in and shop yourself would you!

Steve

[Tony Bryer]

Or a mate is doing the work for you cash-in-hand. So although the ad might be argued to be factually incorrect, it would in practice only pull in the people they are looking for, i.e. non-CORGI people who are plying for trade.

[IMM]

There is an authority that deals with radio ads. They should be contacted.

[RichardS]

This probably doesn't change anything - it's unlikely to be at odds with the stuff that is stated on CORGI's website.

The ad might be misleading, though technically acccurate if "work on" is interpreted as "do work on another's supply/appliances in the course of your trade".

Whilst it might be possible to complain, it might not be in the interest of gas-competent DIYers to do so, ie don't prod the gimp, so to speak. If the ad was referred to the ASA and it was found to be misleading, then this would spark medja interest. "Loophole in the law allows DIY bodgers to tinker with gas appliances. Millions at risk. Stop this lethal loophole" would be the translated headline in the Maily Dail, Sun, et al.

Part P shows that the current government would NOT be a friend to the competent DIYer, and may well act to change the situation.

[Andrew Gabriel]

Actually, I have no problem with the notices in B&Q and other things like this which say you shouldn't do gas work unless you are CORGI registered or whatever. That probably puts many people off who really shouldn't be doing gas work. Those who are competent to do it themselves will know what the law actually says, as that's one part of being competent.

I haven't heard the advert, but no, I probably wouldn't complain about it. One way to fix it would be to change the law to match the advert, and I wouldn't want that to happen, and wouldn't put it past 'them'.

[Dave Stanton]

I don't think thats strictly true, plenty of companies have been hauled over the coals after putting out adverts which were not correct. You have to complain first.

Dave

[Rick Dipper]

Back to good old Dyson ..........

[BigWallop]

The optimum wording here is "Supply". To work on the gas supply usually needs CORGI registration. But what about an unregistered plumber in his own house? Or someone who has a lot of plumbing experience in their own home? If they are competant at making gas tight joints in pipework, then why can't they do their own gas?

The CORGI registration is for people who want to make profit from the instalation of gas fueled equipment. If a joiner came to me and said that he was going to fit my gas cooker back to the meter, then I'd want some kind of guarantee that he was competant in doing that particular type of work. Wouldn't you?

[IMM]

They can.

[Al Reynolds]

Isn't it great when people answer rhetorical questions?

[Peter Ramm]

Asda advertised that "mangoes are a great source of vitamin C and beta carotene which are good for healthy eyes and skin. Their antioxidant properties help to fight cancer". They have been fined £5000

[raden]

In message , Rick Hughes writes

It will remain that way until challenged - i.e. peoples' perception will be that their assertion is correct as any retraction would, to be sure, reach many less people than their original claim.

It's not the first time it's occurred, is it

I complained to the BBC about false reporting on the same subject a couple of years ago, and, listen to this, "You should only buy parts from CORGI registered merchants". I gave up in the end.

[G&M]

Advertising

The Sunday Times keeps saying that with the new Part P only a NEICC (or whatever it is) electrician can do any work on your system. I've e-mailed them umpteen times but they don't seem to listen.

[Andy Hall]

I expect that NICEIC told them that.

It isn't true. Take a look on the ODPM web site and all the info is there.

[G&M]

I know. But 2.5 million ST readers probably don't read uk.diy so somebody is going to be raking it in for a while

[MBQ]

So now you know not to believe them (or at least take a large dose of csepticism) when they say we're all going to die from global warming, passive smoking, MMR, salt or myriad other scares...

MBQ

[G&M]

Nah. We're all going to die from rabies carried by 'cuddly' foxes.