[DASERVICES]

Coming soon the only directory that contains legit window cleaners in Scotland, this will be advertised in all newspapers and hopefully Council websites to get public backing and make unlicensed window cleaners a thing of the past.

http://www.slwcn.org/window_cleaning_scotland.htm

Still under construction.

SWLCN helping legit window cleaners in Scotland

[Jason Atwell]

ALL newspapers?!? how much is that?

[markybop]

Keep up the good work..............

[Jason Atwell]

Just looking at your site, why is it that different councils charge different amounts to get a 'license', i always thought the license was coming from you,

[markybop]

I know, you would think there would be just one standard set price for a licence no matter what areas u work in........

but that's just too simple.........

A licence for the council to print money i think...........

[Jason Atwell]

Another thing that stinks is, To get a license, you need a police check,Quote from website, if there is a history of violence you will never get a license.
This is a bit harsh, so someone who has had trouble in the past, could be a long time ago, is now not allowed to get a ladder and wet and then dry some ones windows, come on? :

[DASERVICES]

It is up to the Police to recomend if the person applying should not be granted a licence, if refused they then have the chance to go before a committee who will then decide if they should be granted a licence. Only in extreme cases will they be refused.

It stops the bogus and those who give window cleaning a bad name.

[Jason Atwell]

What other trades have a 'license'?

[DASERVICES]

taxi, street traders, market traders

[Jason Atwell]

What about painter and decorators, plumbers, electricians, joiners, carpet fitters,
all these actually spend time in the persons home, so does an electrician from newcastle who quotes to work in glasgow need a license, or if a w/c firm from lets say Fleetwood quoted for work in scotland,  would we  need a license?

[DASERVICES]

Anyone who operates in a licenced Council area has to be licensed whever he is from Mars or Scotland . So yes the likes of OCS need to licence their work force and are taking the mickey hence they are now feeling the heat.

I take your point with other trades bu the problem is w/c are at the property week in and out whereas other trades are not. However from speaking to my customers they should to stop the rip off merchants.

[DASERVICES]

Window cleaning directory is now complete, now to advertise this to the general public and businesses to only use legit window cleaners. Getting there slowly

http://www.slwcn.org/window_cleaning_scotland.htm

Any licensed window cleaners that want to be added please register first on the how to join link

http://www.slwcn.org/join.php

Another step forward to helping our industry.

[Clive McDonald]

Market and street traders do not have a licence, this is a fact.

Pedlars do have a licence.

[DASERVICES]

Don't know where you live but in Scotland you do, here is a link :-
http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/regulation/civiclicences/

If you scroll on the "licence type" you will see a list of trades that are licensed, window cleaners are still to be added onto this list as Clacks have just introduced it.

[Andy@w.c.s]

I have a question
What if somewhere in the not to distant future the councils start to try to impose some sort of pricing system on the licenced traders
to try and standardise the industry
the reason i ask is that this week i had a customer try and quote to me that he had done some research and found that the national average was £7.50 for his 3 storey town house, if a standard rate is published we will all be in for some flack
don't get me wrong i do think that some sort of licence is a good thing
 but if you look now at the current level of health and safety we are seeing  standard pricing as with the taxi drivers could only be a few years away
Andy

[DASERVICES]

Not all Taxi drivers have their fees set by the council only the ones that operate within the town centre, the ones that operate from bases can charge what they want.

This is my veiw and not the SLWCN, to impose a fixed fee is harmful to the economy. For example if you set the fee for a 3 bed house at £5.00 then the Council and government will be subsidising the window cleaner, as he will not be able to earn enough money so he will then claim council tax allowance and receive high tax credits. What they should be doing is helping the likes of us in treating our work as a business. This means more money for them if we charge what should be a business rate and not what a lot of us do is charge what we live on. This would be my arguement to them backed up with reports etc.. in by doing this they are loosing out.

If this was to happen then the SLWCN would fight tooth and nail to protect their members but speaking words and writing mails do not work. You need to spend a lot of time and research and then issue a report at the highest level to discredit this proposal if they decided to go ahead.

The Taxi Federation have fought tooth and nail about this and got now where with it, hence they are now looking very closely at us to see what impact we will make. We are already making an impact as we have not gone to the office girl in the licensing ofiice but to the legal side and have hit them with facts and figures which stand out a mile. And the likes of OCS nad Mittie who think they are exempt watch this space.

We are all for competition but each one must be on the same level, my only worry is if we are successful at this and it runs smoothly then the councils will start looking at other trades.

Hope I have made sense, personally I would love to see all window cleaners in Scotland hitting £30 an hour with their prices and hopefully what we are doing will help them with it.

Doug

[Clive McDonald]

Had a a look ,Market operator requires a licence and this is not the same as market trader. Street trader i think is what we call a pedlar.

I agree with the thrust of what you are saying though and would support similar in England.

[williamx]

You state that having a licence makes you legit, but what happens to the cleaners who break the hse rules? is their license cancelled or are they invited in front of the committee to explain their actions.

What about the customer who employs an unlicensed cleaner, are they prosecuted?

Having a license doesn't make you totally legal.

[DASERVICES]

Like England the HSE are not enforcing it but certain council conditions are now stating that you have to work in a safe manner. As far as I know No they have not started being strict on it but time will tell.

The problem we have is that customers are unaware about the licence so this is another one of our tasks. Most Councils do not enforce it and the few that do do not enforce it properly in turning a blind eye on National comapnies. So it's the poor sole trader who gets it.

This is where the SLWCN comes in by trying to get the councils to have accross the board a fair system for all window cleaners. If a licence is required the they should make sure the public are aware and it is enforced.

It was not set up as a Council money making scheme but was introduced by the Police to stop those who damage our trade.

[macmac]

what about here in the eastern borders doug (berwickshire) ?

tony