Man fined $4500 for advertising plumbing services

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Industry's governing body threatens illegal tradespeople with trip through the courts

An Auckland man has been convicted and fined $4,500 for illegally advertising his services as a plumber and has been ordered to pay solicitor's costs of $226.00 and court costs of $260.

Jody Carden, Director of No Limit Plumbing Ltd, advertised his services as a plumber on Facebook and on his company website when he was not authorised by the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board to carry out sanitary plumbing work.

Plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying are regulated industries in New Zealand and it is illegal for anyone to do this work unless they are authorised to do so by the Board. It is also illegal to advertise that you can do this work if you are not authorised.

There are serious health and safety risks associated with restricted sanitary plumbing carried out by an unauthorised person.

The Board's Chief Executive, Martin Sawyers said: "Advertising may suggest a tradesperson is legitimate, when in fact they are not. All authorised tradespeople are required to carry their current authorisation card. The public should always protect themselves against misleading information and the consequences by asking to see a plumber's authorisation card. "

"Don't risk your family's health and safety or your insurance by hiring unauthorised people."

If a homeowner believes that work has been done by someone who is not authorised, or has concerns about the competency of tradespeople, they can make a complaint to the Board