Tackling Rogue Installers

HETAS continues to work with enforcement agencies tackling rogue installers, most recently to bring about a suspended jail sentence for Caerphilly stove fitter.

Glyn Norman Mayne, 45, of Ogmore Court, Caerphilly who traded as ‘Nostalgia Home’ – a business claiming to specialise in the fitting of solid fuel burning stoves – came to the attention of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team after a customer contacted them with a complaint. The main complaint was that Mayne was claiming to be registered with the Heating Equipment Testing and Approved Scheme (HETAS) when in fact he wasn’t.

As the investigation continued, 10 different customers came forward, not only from Caerphilly but from all over south east Wales, and every person who contacted Trading Standards complained about poor workmanship and that they had all believed Mayne to be HETAS registered when he was not.

Trading Standards had all the stoves installed by Mayne examined by HETAS inspectors, and found that six of the installations were actually dangerous. Additionally, one customer had paid Mayne £2,700 to purchase an appliance which he never supplied.

Court Appearance

Glyn Norman Mayne appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on 20th July 2016 for sentencing, having previously pleaded guilty to one charge of fraud and 15 charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. He was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment suspended for two years, ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay compensation totalling £4,950 to be paid to 8 of the customers, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100.

His Honour Judge Fitton QC heard both the prosecution case and mitigation on behalf of Mr Mayne. In sentencing, he considered that ‘the defendant had held himself out as HETAS registered, when he was not. He was competing with those who were genuinely qualified and registered, and this was unfair competition, devaluing those other engineers’. He also considered how ‘the work was shoddy and in some aspects dangerous. This was due to incompetence, rather than a deliberate cutting of corners to increase his profit’. Credit was also given for Mayne entering early guilty pleas.

Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Protection said, “The irresponsible actions of Mr Mayne could so easily have resulted in an extremely serious, potentially dangerous incident, particularly as six of the installations were found to be in a dangerous condition. It was fortunate that the customers had the foresight to contact our Trading Standards team so that this could be looked into.

“Customers expect to pay a fair price for a quality service, and our officers work tirelessly to fully investigate any such issue that is brought to their attention. I’d encourage anyone with any information on individuals carrying out illegal, dangerous or unfair practices in Caerphilly county borough to get in touch confidentially with our Trading Standards team to report it”.

Get in Touch

HETAS always wants to hear about businesses falsely claiming to be HETAS registered, or appear to be misusing the HETAS brand. As a Primary Authority HETAS works in partnership with Gloucestershire Trading Standards and Trading Standards nationally to bring about enforcement action. Please get in touch with our team with any concerns you might have.