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Consumers

A plumber

Giving consumers the protection they deserve

APHC - Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors - is the leading Trade Association for the Plumbing and Central Heating Industry in England and Wales.

The APHC Licensed Plumber Scheme, which is mandatory on all members of the Association, requires member firms to undergo an annual assessment to ensure that they are meeting the strict Business Standards imposed by the scheme. These standards are designed to ensure that member firms are established, reliable businesses, which employ fully trained staff and have a commitment to high levels of customer service. This commitment is reinforced by members being required to operate an approved Customer Complaints system.

If a consumer cannot get satisfaction from this system, they can use the Association's own Complaints Handling Procedure which is administered by the Plumbing & Heating Licensing Authority (PHLA).

On this website in 'Find A Plumber' you will find an interactive search engine that allows the public to locate their nearest APHC Licensed Plumbers.

Customer Charter

The APHC Customer Charter, to which all members must adhere, sets out the minimum terms that members must offer their customers, including:-

  • Written estimates/quotes
  • Specification of works
  • Any exclusions
  • Terms of Payment

Working with Trading Standards to 'beat the cowboys'

APHC are concerned about the 'cowboy element' in the industry and we work hard to try and make life as difficult as we can for them. We actively promote our Licensing Scheme throughout the country and we have Trade Mark protected on both our logo and name.

If we become aware of any firms who are passing themselves off as being members of the Association when they are not, we actively pursue them. As Corporate Affiliate members of the Trading Standards Institute we work closely with Trading Standards departments throughout England and Wales (our sister organisation SNIPEF looks after Scotland and Northern Ireland) to try and help consumers get the best deal possible.

The Business Performance Standards cover a wide number of areas of a firm's operation to ensure that they are committed to high levels of service. Among the areas assessed by the Association's staff are:-

  • The business must have been trading under its current name for at least 2 years
  • All operatives must be able to demonstrate suitable levels of competency
  • The business must carry at least £2m of Public Liability Insurance
  • They must offer the APHC Domestic Guarantee of Work Scheme
  • They must work to the APHC Customer Charter
  • They must operate a documented Complaints Handling Procedure
  • They must meet the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations Approved Contractor Scheme
  • They must produce evidence of Financial Probity

For more details of APHC and its Licensed Plumber Scheme, call Membership Services on 02476 470626.

*Terms and Conditions apply.