Misleading claims

A member of ARGI recently emailed and complained to Gas-News "Have you seen the latest statement by Mike Thompson where he says that Corgi is representing Gas Installers ? Now that is a real cheek."

Yes it is a 'real cheek' and is confirmed by the CORGI website, which has yet another URL, if you can keep up with them, which suggests that Registered Gas Installers (RGI) are 'Members' when they are not. Certainly yours truly is not, and has no wish to be. That is yet another CORGI lie.

CORGI's lies and propensity for gross exaggeration is now the stuff of legends. We call as first witness, their blatant lies that preceded their Installer-Live show in 2005. Spin we all expect and can make allowance for, but downright lies is yet another. Shameful, misleading and illegal actually. Commitments at that time prevented us referring the matter to the ASA.

It is simply another manifestation of CORGI's fantasy world where they appear to dream of weilding absolute power throughout the gas industry, when their only tangible contribution is as registration body, on behalf of the HSE. In much the same way as the DVLC issues licences to drivers; CORGI has no powers whatsoever.

The truth

RGI are registrants, not members of CORGI. The self-aggrandising claims frequently made by CORGI do not stack up. Many consumers we have met with regard CORGI as a club or old boy network, where RGI meet to control the industry and of course prices.

Indeed Gas-News receives sarcastic emails from time to time, suggesting RGI, with CORGI, are deliberately endeavouring to control the influx of new entrants, in order to savour all the work and maintain a high level of income for 'Members'.

We all know that is not true and CORGI registration is a mandatory requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, as it has always been. Just as it is a mandatory requirement under the Road Traffic Acts, to hold a valid driving licence. There is no difference and RGI who drive are not 'Members' of DVLC.

It is the HSE not CORGI that set the ground rules for industry new entrants. CORGI do not make any regulations. Those are devised by real technical experts in the gas industry, including the IGE. CORGI is 'the body currently approved by the HSE ...' for administrative (registration) functions only.

We object to CORGI suggesting RGI are members, when they are not and have no wish to be, given CORGI's routinely unethical PR, which RGI have no control over. They do not want to be identified with any of that hugely embarrassing stuff. They cannot vote as a member could to influence CORGI in any way, in order to curb their disturbing behaviour in society.

Self-certification

CORGI, and others, have been awarded some status as a self-certification body, in support of the Building Regulations. Let us make it clear that yet again, the role is wholly administrative. As confirmed to Gas-News by the (then) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, neither CORGI (nor anyone else) have any Building Control functions. We emphasise the role is wholly administrative, essentially harvesting information.

One of the many organisations to be awarded a role as a self-certification body, is the APHC, a trade association for plumbers. That move may be one of self preservation as membership (real membership) has suffered decline in recent years.

It is a matter for the members of the APHC whether they continue in that role, which some might argue could conflict with their principal role as a trade association. Not everyone is necessarily in agreement with the self-certification model but it would be difficult for members to object, if at the same time, those members are seen to be participating.

CORGI ambitions

If a trade association is able to secure a role as self-certifcation body, and that role co-existing with another, perhaps conflicting role, then there appears to be nothing stopping CORGI doing the same.

The difference of course is that APHC members can have a vote if they become unhappy with the conduct of their trade association. We have no information on or off the record which would suggest that any member is unhappy with the APHC.

However, if CORGI suddenly decide to accord all their 'trapped' registrants, member staus, there is no means of dealing with that sorry state. RGI are 'trapped' by definition. They cannot migrate elsewhere, as CORGI uniquely, has a monopoly on gas self-certification, as recently confirmed by the HSE Gas Safety Review.

It is easy to see that CORGI could accord membership status, initially for free, and then in time, once they have a firm grip, milk that for all it is worth. We know CORGI is allegedly a not-for-profit organisation but the management are certainly profit making animals as we all are, but we are constrained by ethics and of course competition.

There is only one answer to this awful situation.