COMMENT 27* shows the Press Release we received on Wednesday December 4 2002. We published that information then received a telephone call from Gas Shield on Friday December 6 2002. Apparently the Press Release was not intended for publication (?). We were promised further news and received that information by email later in the day.

Bearing in mind we are dealing here with a professional (?) media group, the whole package was due to be launched with the usual balloons, bunting, butties, bubbly and fanfare on Tuesday December 10 2002 at a prestigious venue in the smoke; Too short notice for us fortunately. Nevertheless around 200 made it on the day, so we are told.

But no web site available online Tuesday as promised. Indeed the web site launch was delayed until 20.00 on Wednesday December 11 2002. Curious that ? Not really, they were hurriedly deleting the Installer (Gas Engineer) registration bit from the web pages. Thus Landlords, Tenants, Owner / Occupiers, Letting Agencies, Councils and Housing Associations could all register but not Installers (Gas Engineers).

We know that Gas Engineers were being targeted because in their haste they forgot to update the FAQ section, which addressed Landlords, Tenants and Gas Engineers. The Gas Engineers FAQ page was interesting and does not reflect the certain knowledge that Landlord’s Gas Safety Check work is not especially sought after. Curious again the page was obviously unfinished. A bit sloppy for a media company set up several months ago ?

Before the web site vanished, the home page was hastily revised and the statement that only 1 in 28 Landlords had a gas safety check carried out was suddenly changed to 1 in 10 ? Where did they get their figures from one wonders. We suspect those in authority were not happy to see the 1 in 28 figure broadcast to the world and maybe persuaded someone to revise the figure. Having said that, even if true, 1 in 10 is surely a damning indictment of the system ? Only 1 in 10 Landlords arranging a gas safety check ?

Will it come back ? We do not know, not having their mystical powers. However we are certain the idea would take off like a lead balloon. The whole shambles superbly demonstrates the naïve perceptions held by many who live in that never-never land. The FAQ page delightfully highlights their failure to grasp the most basic concept of Landlord’s Gas Safety Checks.

I recently heard someone describe Installers as low hanging fruit on the tree of commerce but we say not any more.

Editor's note – The website returned after the weekend concerned but it had been offline completely, index page and all.

* Now changed to here

Editor note - Gas-Shield went belly up shortly afterwards