Back in March, Watchdog reported that since 1 April 2009, domestic gas engineers in England, Scotland and Wales have had to bin their old Corgi cards and sign on to the Gas Safe Register. Anyone who's carrying out work on a gas appliance will need a Gas Safe registration card. This is to prove your gas engineer is competent and qualified. Unless they're registered with the Gas Safe Register, they're not legally allowed to do any work.
But, since we told you about the new scheme, Watchdog has heard from gas engineers unhappy about how the new cards have been introduced.
Gas engineer Mark Taylor applied for his new card in early March. But by 1 April 2009 - the day the scheme came into force - Mark's Gas Safe card hadn't arrived. He had no choice but to start refusing jobs. His card finally turned up three weeks later. But when he checked the back of the card he realised there was a problem. He found that three of his qualifications are listed as only being valid until the end of the month, even though they are valid far beyond that.
Charlie Mullins, managing director of Pimlico Plumbers, a company employing 150 engineers also says the changeover's been a problem. They say 20 per cent of their gas engineers have had difficultly obtaining their photographic card and their certification.
Charlie was also concerned that the general public aren't aware of the change from Corgi to Gas Safe Register.
Confusion about new card
There did seem to be some confusion among the members of the public Watchdog spoke to. To add to the confusion, the new card isn't being introduced everywhere in the UK. In Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, the old Corgi card is still in use.
If the qualified engineers can't get the cards, and the public don't recognise them, then maybe this changeover hasn't gone quite as smoothly as it might. We'll leave the Gas Safe Register to sort out the cards. But we can help clear up any confusion. If you book a gas engineer and you live in England, Scotland or Wales then this is the card you need to ask to see:
When Watchdog contacted the Gas Safety Register it said: "The contract to run the scheme was awarded in September 2008 and gas engineers have been able to register with Gas Safe Register since 19 January 2009. More than 54,000 businesses employing around 115,000 gas engineers have registered to date.
"The typical time for producing and distributing a card where all of the relevant data has been supplied and verified is 5 -10 working days. In cases where data supplied to us has been incomplete or requiring verification we work with the applicant to establish the areas for clarification and issue the card as soon as possible.
"We have issued in the order of 115,000 cards and the overwhelming majority of engineers and businesses have encountered no difficulties. For the small minority who have had problems we have a number of systems and processes in place to ensure we quickly identify any issues and address them - we recognise the importance to businesses in having accurate and up to date information.
"In Mr Taylor's case the process is to withhold a card if a valid qualification is not held on the system. We only received the details of his updated qualifications in the last 24 hours; without these we were unable to issue a new card. We will be speaking to him to explain the process and how we validate data when we receive it from external bodies, we have also arranged for his new card to be dispatched to him by Tuesday."
Promoting the new Register
"Gas Safe Register exists to protect the public from unsafe gas work, so before issuing an ID card we must be certain that the engineer's qualifications and other information is complete and correct. This is essential to protect and keep consumers safe.
"Since 19 January, 115,000 gas engineers have registered with Gas Safe Register. The vast majority have received their ID cards without a problem.
"A few engineers have experienced a delay and we apologise for any frustration this has caused. However, it is essential that we maintain consumer confidence by only issuing cards once we have complete and verified information. We are all working hard to ensure that registrations are completed as safely and as soon as possible. However, any gas engineers that have not received a card but are registered can still undertake gas work.
"Householders should always ask to see the card, but this is not the only way they can check their gas engineer's credentials. You can also find this information on our website or by telephoning our free helpline on 0800 408 5500.
"We have undertaken a major publicity campaign to reach engineers and consumers which has included the extensive use of TV, radio, outdoor and newspaper advertising. We also begin a series of roadshows starting in Glasgow next month. The important thing to remember is that Gas Safe Register launched on 1 April and is the only register of legal gas engineers that are properly qualified to work with gas."
Problems with Gas Safe cards
But, since we told you about the new scheme, Watchdog has heard from gas engineers unhappy about how the new cards have been introduced.
Gas engineer Mark Taylor applied for his new card in early March. But by 1 April 2009 - the day the scheme came into force - Mark's Gas Safe card hadn't arrived. He had no choice but to start refusing jobs. His card finally turned up three weeks later. But when he checked the back of the card he realised there was a problem. He found that three of his qualifications are listed as only being valid until the end of the month, even though they are valid far beyond that.
Charlie Mullins, managing director of Pimlico Plumbers, a company employing 150 engineers also says the changeover's been a problem. They say 20 per cent of their gas engineers have had difficultly obtaining their photographic card and their certification.
Charlie was also concerned that the general public aren't aware of the change from Corgi to Gas Safe Register.
Confusion about new card
There did seem to be some confusion among the members of the public Watchdog spoke to. To add to the confusion, the new card isn't being introduced everywhere in the UK. In Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, the old Corgi card is still in use.
If the qualified engineers can't get the cards, and the public don't recognise them, then maybe this changeover hasn't gone quite as smoothly as it might. We'll leave the Gas Safe Register to sort out the cards. But we can help clear up any confusion. If you book a gas engineer and you live in England, Scotland or Wales then this is the card you need to ask to see:
When Watchdog contacted the Gas Safety Register it said: "The contract to run the scheme was awarded in September 2008 and gas engineers have been able to register with Gas Safe Register since 19 January 2009. More than 54,000 businesses employing around 115,000 gas engineers have registered to date.
"The typical time for producing and distributing a card where all of the relevant data has been supplied and verified is 5 -10 working days. In cases where data supplied to us has been incomplete or requiring verification we work with the applicant to establish the areas for clarification and issue the card as soon as possible.
"We have issued in the order of 115,000 cards and the overwhelming majority of engineers and businesses have encountered no difficulties. For the small minority who have had problems we have a number of systems and processes in place to ensure we quickly identify any issues and address them - we recognise the importance to businesses in having accurate and up to date information.
"In Mr Taylor's case the process is to withhold a card if a valid qualification is not held on the system. We only received the details of his updated qualifications in the last 24 hours; without these we were unable to issue a new card. We will be speaking to him to explain the process and how we validate data when we receive it from external bodies, we have also arranged for his new card to be dispatched to him by Tuesday."
Promoting the new Register
"Gas Safe Register exists to protect the public from unsafe gas work, so before issuing an ID card we must be certain that the engineer's qualifications and other information is complete and correct. This is essential to protect and keep consumers safe.
"Since 19 January, 115,000 gas engineers have registered with Gas Safe Register. The vast majority have received their ID cards without a problem.
"A few engineers have experienced a delay and we apologise for any frustration this has caused. However, it is essential that we maintain consumer confidence by only issuing cards once we have complete and verified information. We are all working hard to ensure that registrations are completed as safely and as soon as possible. However, any gas engineers that have not received a card but are registered can still undertake gas work.
"Householders should always ask to see the card, but this is not the only way they can check their gas engineer's credentials. You can also find this information on our website or by telephoning our free helpline on 0800 408 5500.
"We have undertaken a major publicity campaign to reach engineers and consumers which has included the extensive use of TV, radio, outdoor and newspaper advertising. We also begin a series of roadshows starting in Glasgow next month. The important thing to remember is that Gas Safe Register launched on 1 April and is the only register of legal gas engineers that are properly qualified to work with gas."
Problems with Gas Safe cards