[Ryan @ Transparent, Carlisle]

i live on the england scotland border. and while all my work is in england, i was thinking of canvassing a small scottish town.

I know i need a licence to work.

do i still need the licence just to go canvassing? As it seems a bit of a waste of money to apply for a license, and getting little to no work. leaving me with a licence, and no work?

Is there any form of cheaper, 'temporary' license  i can apply for while trying to build a round

[mci services]

depending on what part of england you are in makes a difference. as dumfries and galloway council do enforce the license and borders dont. so it depends on what border you are crossing

[george formby]

just had a look on the site there is only 3 window cleaners have got one in dumfries galloway only were are all the large firms if there that strict

[Ryan @ Transparent, Carlisle]

i will be looking for work in dumfries & galloway.

So, do i need the licence to do the actual canvassing?

[JSMC]

you only need licence when working mate. TBH all the large cleaning firms dont give  aflying feck about it really. I am fed up seeing them roll into my town and nothing get done yet the small guy like myself and others get grief from police and some guys ar eup in court i have been told. I used to inform SLWCN on the larger firms on jobs which w euse dto do and lost to them but nothing gets done so feck it from now on. Seemingly the scottish parliament is cleane dby a comapny without a licence LOL

[mci services]

i will be looking for work in dumfries & galloway.

So, do i need the licence to do the actual canvassing?

technically yes. i read somewhere that if you clean, canvass or collect money you must be licensed.

but in reality it would be hard to prosecute for canvassing. and i would.

just bare in mind it take at least 4 weeks for a license to be approved so you wouldnt

be able to clean till it came through.

but as jsmc says it can all be a bit of a farce anyway so take your chances or not

also from what ive read dumfries and galloway are having a crackdown as there are very little licensed window cleaners

[alticry]

I just got a licence from dumfries and galloway, cost 295 quid for three years did, police checks ect .I can assure you that there is much more than 3 licenced cleaners in this area. I think they are a good idea as they can put custys mind at rest that you are legit and insured which you have to have to get the licence.

as for canvassing without one ,not illeagal but you cant clean the windows without one and it takes 2months to go through.

[JSMC]

licence is just another tax. i know of major firms taking work from me who dont have them and yeah they also clean the police station LOL. the same place which houses the officers who pull muggins and others on the street. you couldn't make this stuff up

[daz1977]

has any one actually had a customer ask to see there licence

[mci services]

no :

[JSMC]

nope and they dont really care either TBH. It doesn't stop people with criminal records getting them either. the licence system could work good but councils dont enforce it as far as i know. i have 2 licences for different areas. The odd case gets done but the big firms dont. this is what needs to be done. big firms just take work form little guy and councils dont bat an eyelid to it.

TBH i am sick of seeing big firms roll up into town on jobs i used to do and not have a licence for it.

[george formby]

when you get approved you go on dumfries galloway site i had a look only two must be working well?

[daz1977]

i use to be a plumber and got a lad to do some work for me  who turn out not to be qualified gas worker (corgi) unless he was working for the company he was employed by,  cut along story short he ballsed up and all corgi said to he was as long as hes not advertising that he is corgi there is nothing they can do,  all they want is money off people

i think we will end up getting licence in england soon and they will make haveing a nvq part of it, but like they say, it does stop joe bloggs beer money window cleaner, from working, just the legit wc who pay tax

[JSMC]

i use to be a plumber and got a lad to do some work for me  who turn out not to be qualified gas worker (corgi) unless he was working for the company he was employed by,  cut along story short he ballsed up and all corgi said to he was as long as hes not advertising that he is corgi there is nothing they can do,  all they want is money off people

i think we will end up getting licence in england soon and they will make haveing a nvq part of it, but like they say, it does stop joe bloggs beer money window cleaner, from working, just the legit wc who pay tax

no it doesn't trust me. if the big firms can do it without licence then so can other guys.  know of a few who clean without licence and have done for years and years

[mci services]

just read this update on the slwcn site on dumfries and galloway and changes are happening



The meeting started very well with the Chief Executive openly asking what we wanted and we would get it. To cut a long story short here are the requests we made and would be looked into.

To be looked into
1) 1 year licence
2) List of licensed window cleaners to be more informative, business names etc...

Accepted
1) 100% licensed window cleaners in the area from sole trader to national
2) Any licensed window cleaner caught employing an unlicensed window cleaner will get a warning with further risk of loosing their licence
3) Advertising campaign in local press, 3 press releases agreed
4) Closer working with Police, Council and SLWCN members

Other pointers that will be looked into which we highlighted and I expect big changes
1) The licensing of window cleaners will be taken away from Annandale Committee, the Council will look into having 1 committee with set standards
2) Internal investigation of Council member


From the meeting I can expect huge changes with licensing and targeting of unlicensed window cleaners.

That's it in summary.

[daz1977]

sorry that was meant to say doesnt not does

[alticry]

There are currently 113 licensed window cleaners in DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY.

[mci services]

There are currently 113 licensed window cleaners in DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY.

i think the guy that said three window cleaners is looking at the list of slwcn members and not the list of actual licensed window cleaners. i just checked and you are spot on

[alticry]

yes and i am one of the last on the list.ive just looked up the slwc website and registered im sure i will get some good info there which will be put to good use.