[ian harper]

Well Done NCCA got me thinking about rejoining

http://www.ncca.co.uk/news_article.php?ID=17

My take on trust trader sites

http://www.chelmsford.cleaning-carpet.co.uk/carpet-cleaning-chelmsford/fake-reviews/

[david@zap-clean]

Yes,

The NCCA have worked hard over the years to raise the standards and profile of carpet cleaning in the UK -

It's our industry, and the NCCA is our nation trade association.  Why would you not want to be a member I ask?

Support the NCCA - join now.

[*Hector*]

I left it years ago, way before I went LM only...

It did nothing for me then......

and continued to do the same for me since....

[Carpet Dawg]

Yes,

The NCCA have worked hard over the years to raise the standards and profile of carpet cleaning in the UK -

It's our industry, and the NCCA is our nation trade association.  Why would you not want to be a member I ask?

Support the NCCA - join now.

What will I get for my money?

[*Hector*]

the legal right to advertise the NCCA on your van.  which means that customers will say to you "what does that mean?" 

[Mike Halliday]

its worth the cost of the membership to be able to put this logo on your marketing material.

 you tell a customer that you are endorsed by an official government body and you can justify a much higher price, I bet the £20 a room guys won't be going to the trouble of applying for it.

[Adam P]

i was (for the first and hopefully last time) agreeing with hector until i read what you just said mike.

i'd say this is the only plus point to joining NCCA though and it's only just happened. what would happen if you used the material without joining? how would ncca know, would they have the ability to make you stop and lose anything other then some leaflets you now can't use?

How long's it been going for? I haven't noticed any changes to the industry. if i, a carpet cleaner, haven't noticed anything, what chance is there that my customers would have?

EIDT: opps i got NCCA confused with TACCA, the other organisation improving standards for carpet cleaning

[Simon Gerrard]

Carpet cleaning isn't included in the 34 trades you need to be involved in to be eligible to become a member.



http://www.fairtrades.co.uk/TrustMark?gclid=CjgKEAjwuMmdBRDljdfi2_qQpxkSJADDCRwsaejDIdoSGUjQ5IiOMufUDlPuJGKq7h6ccJwJkr9XU_D_BwE

Simon

[david@zap-clean]

Carpet cleaning isn't included in the 34 trades you need to be involved in to be eligible to become a member.



http://www.fairtrades.co.uk/TrustMark?gclid=CjgKEAjwuMmdBRDljdfi2_qQpxkSJADDCRwsaejDIdoSGUjQ5IiOMufUDlPuJGKq7h6ccJwJkr9XU_D_BwE

Simon

It didn't used to be, but the NCCA have been working with TrustMark for a long time to get it listed:
http://www.trustmark.org.uk/

You can only join TrustMark (as a carpet cleaner) if you are an NCCA member.

[Adam P]

i am right in thinking if i pay to join NCCA (which only requires a payment to join and nothing else?) then i can use the trustmark logo?

[david@zap-clean]

i am right in thinking if i pay to join NCCA (which only requires a payment to join and nothing else?) then i can use the trustmark logo?

No!
Read the requirements here: http://www.ncca.co.uk/joining_the_ncca.php

The NCCA is for professionals, interested in furthering the standards within the industry, and themselves.
And... they've tightened up on the entrance exam I believe.

[*Hector*]

_{The NCCA is for professionals, interested in furthering the standards within the industry, and themselves.
And... they've tightened up on the entrance exam I believe.}

Or ... it is a bunch of sycophantic back scratchers, who hope to get out more than they put in.. and be a member of a jolly boys club.

You can't join their club unless you do their exam, which you can only do at the end of their course. If you are too dim to pass their exam at the end of the course.... They let you do it by post bit by bit, with the aid of the course notes....

You may have been in the industry 20 years, and be the best carpet cleaner in the world... but you ain't joining their club until you have done their course....

Not saying which I think is the correct definition...... or that David's version is any more correct than the alternative that I have suggested. People can work out their own ideas....

I was a member once as I have said... 

[stuart_clark]

You also forget to say it costs you extra to use the trustmark logo



stuart

[garry22]

If someone (not qualified) was to use that logo

1/ What would be the sanction?

and

2/ Who would enforce it?

Let's face it. There are plenty of unscrupulous people that would do something like that.

[david@zap-clean]

If someone (not qualified) was to use that logo

1/ What would be the sanction?

and

2/ Who would enforce it?

Let's face it. There are plenty of unscrupulous people that would do something like that.

...and a potential customer checks them out on the TrustMark website, finds they're not listed - but finds that ZAP-CLEAN is = new customer for me = RESULT!

[Craigp]

NCCA do take action if they catch people using the NCCA logo, I believe they have taken people to court. I'm sure the same will be true of the TrustMark logo.

You cannot join NCCA and become TrustMark straight away, part of the criteria is you have to be NCCA member for 2 or 3 years (can't remember which) before you can apply, plus you need extra courses, and also references (not from friends or family or you can be kicked out if ever found out)

Your need to pay a yearly fee of £180 on top of your yearly NCCA £260.

[Craigp]

Oh then you have to take at least one course every 3 years to stay registered. (I think)

[Mike Halliday]

Does being a member of the NCCA for 2-3 years mean you are a more reliable and better carpet cleaner? If not why do you need to be before having access to becoming trust mark reg'd?

Length of membership should have no bearing on eligibility, it should be solely  based on qualifications.

This limitation shows the true colours of the NCCA, it says it wants to promote professionalism &  integrity, if this is so why the time limitation? ...... unless it's about making people pay membership for a longer period. Or is it about 'rewarding' existing members by excluding new members.

[Craigp]

It may be that they want you to be a full member before joining TM, as NCCA  have the new 'graded' membership. Or maybe it is experience, I remember reading something about if you had a lot of complaints to NCCA you may not be eligible, perhaps they want you to have time to give a proven track record.

I just become TrustMark myself, but I don't know the reason for the time period criteria.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Did you become trust mark with out doing it through the ncca?

Shaun