Trade Body Warns Of Logo Abuse

The Property Care Association is urging householders to be vigilant to the problem of unauthorised contractors using its logo.

Last year the PCA had 32 reported cases of logo abuse and 17 cases to date in 2012.

Steve Hodgson, general manager of the PCA, said: “We take logo abuse and false claims of membership very seriously.

“As a well-established and recognised trade association, it is only natural that many companies aspire to join us, but some unscrupulous people and organisations try to do so without undergoing our strict criteria for membership.

“It is important the public is aware of logo abusers. If a member is not listed on our website then they are not part of the Association.

“Alternatively, if there is any doubt, members of the public should not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to confirm a company’s membership to them.”

The PCA represents the UK’s building preservation industry, working within the structural waterproofing, wood preservation, damp-proofing, flood remediation, invasive weed control and structural repair sectors.

It has highly-trained members across the UK able to tackle property issues including damp and condensation, the control of invasive plants such as Japanese Knotweed, the creation of basement conversions and the repair of properties after flood damage – all working to the Association’s stringent guidelines and procedures.

As well as delivering a trusted repair procedure, PCA members are also able to carry out specialist surveys as part of the house-buying procedure – to identify potential problems.

The PCA is also a member of TrustMark, the Government-backed scheme which aims to help consumers find reliable and trustworthy tradesmen when making improvements or repairs to their homes.

Mr Hodgson, added: “When choosing a member of the PCA, consumers can be certain that they have undergone rigorous, ongoing checks to achieve and retain membership.

“An expert assessor with a wealth of experience and technical knowledge has audited every member and checked the quality of their work on site, carrying out comprehensive technical, financial and operational verification visits.

“As a result all members are qualified and operate within established companies – and are able to offer high quality service and peace of mind that can be supported by independently insured guarantees.

“Ultimately, selecting a Property Care Association member means consumers benefit from choosing a specialist who has already proved their ability.

“That tradesperson or company has put themselves through a rigorous process to be accepted into membership of the Association, and then continued to deliver a competent and quality service to maintain that membership.

To contact the PCA call 0844 375 4301 or log on to www.property-care.org

ENDS

Press release written by Jane Shepherd, Shepherd PR Limited, 01538 308685/07985 129315

[email protected]

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