In the light of recent reports on Facebook and A Current Affair about the appalling practices of plumbing businesses, we want to remind all members of The Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of WA about our Code of Conduct and why it is so important.

The Facebook story

This involves a Mandurah woman who engaged a plumbing business, which we have chosen not to identify here, to replace a leaking tap.

The plumber who attended charged the customer $790 plus a $141 callout fee to do a job that we think should have cost no more than $250. To rub salt into the wound, the job wasn't done correctly.

The unpleasant experience continued when the customer got the same individual back to rectify the installation. According to her post on Facebook, he refused to show her his licence and said his first attempt did not meet plumbing standards because he "hadn't quoted on that."

During both visits, the customer felt intimidated by the plumber's attitude and behaviour, which included a demand to pay on the spot by bank transfer.

The story on A Current Affair

On 16 November, A Current Affair reported on Fergusons Plumbing Group, an east coast business that charges excessive amounts and engages in threatening tactics to silence customers who complain.

There is no need to repeat all the details here because they are readily available at Notorious plumbing company's heavy-handed attempts to silence unhappy customers.

Let's just say it is a terrible story that reflects very badly on our industry.

A different story - our Code of Conduct

Members of The Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of WA have a Code of Conduct that sets out the standard of business behaviour we expect.

One section of the Code says, "All members shall be completely honest in all transactions. This includes, but is not limited to, avoiding the use of false or misleading advertising, false titles, ambiguous statements or misleading claims."

That's clearly the opposite of the behaviour shown by the plumbing businesses mentioned above.

The Code sends consumers a powerful signal that members of The Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of WA have honourable business ethics. So, rather than thinking of the Code as an obligation, think of it as a valuable point of difference that sets members apart from non-members.

See the online version of the Code of Conduct or download a printable version.