[littlejack]

I hope the headline gets some attention.

Hi there, I would like to ask what you all think of a licensing system for the rest of the U.K.?

Does the Scottish system work?

If not, could and should a better system be brought in?

As a newbie...I think most of the users here are Pro's, and I haven't found a debate about this issue,  in fact,  I didn't even know the Scots were licensed untill I found this & other forums in the last few days.

It may have been debated before, and I havn't gone far enough back. If so I apologise.

Would it reduce "cowboys?"  What about H&S issues.

Would it create a level playing field?...(Pricewise)

Are the Scots - ( Police) vetted.  Like taxi drivers?

I am interested what your views are

Thanks.

[Peter Fogwill]

No it doesn't work. It is police vetted, but criminals have an easy way round it, they just don't get licensed.  No one has ever asked to see my licence in over 20 years of cleaning windows in Scotland.  

I once applied for a list of licenced window cleaners in my area for marketing purposes.  Out of five known window cleaners working in my village, only one was licensed.

Peter

[littlejack]

Interesting.. Is there a Scottish Fed?  

What about the Council?  Do they enforce anything?  

Should it be scrapped, or more vigorously enforced?

[Peter Fogwill]

No, there is no Scottish Fed.

No the council don't enforce the licence.  If tendering for council work they don't even ask to see it.

More vigorously enforced I would say, but if not scrapped.

Peter

[williamx]

Do we need a licence! I don't think so.

As peter has said, in Scotland where there is one, the "window cleaners" take no notice of it, and it seems that no apparant action is taken against them?

If the rest of the UK did follow Scotland and introduce them what would happen? the local councils would generate more money to waste and the cowboys would carry on regardless.

Unless of course you could send these cowboys to prison for the rest of their working life (let them out when they 70 or so) it won't stop them. The main reason is "joe public".

If the public can get somethink cheaper, then the marjority would do so.  You only have to see people getting into private hire cars that they hav't pre-booked which is against the law and more dangerous than someone cleaning windows.

What we need to do is EDUCATE the public on the benefits of using a Professional Window Cleaner and this takes Money and Political Clout.

The money is easy, the Window Cleaning Federation collect quite a lot over the year from their members and they don't seem to be able to spend it all.  Of course the general public must be advised to only USE federation members and not anybody else.

The political clout is where we all play a part, if we all canvessed our MPs to this effect for long enough they would take notice of us.  The federation would also be lobbying both houses of parliment to this aim.

[littlejack]

Many thanks for replies so far.....At least with taxis.. the unlicensed ones cannot get Council & Health authority tenders etc:

It seems as if licensing will only work if there is a will from.
A. From the trade
B. From the Authorities

E.G. Do the Scots ever complain to their licensing authority about the unlicensed cleaners.

I mean, the system was obviously introduced with good intentions.

Has it collapsed because no-one (including the trade) let it go?

[George-Reid]

You are  correct it is down to the trade to insure it is used correctly. If I see a new competitor the first thing I do is ask to see his licence. If he does not have one I tell him he needs it as we should all be on a level playing field. I give him 6 to 8 weeks and ask again if still no tell him to cease tradeing or I will report him. If you are caught without a licence you will have great difficulty geting one in the future. In my line of work the licence is only one of several pieces of paper they should have and without these they will not get licence. Once they look into it they generally give up as it is not easy or cheap to comply.
Why 6 to 8 weeks this gives them a fair chance to comply but they will also have attracted a number of customers in this time which we will easily pick up.

Yet again an example of the trade doing the councils work for them.

Cheers
George