Five Rogue Boiler ‘Engineer’ Signs

It’s becoming increasingly common for people to get a boiler installed or serviced in spring. This is due to it being a less busy period for engineers, which ultimately leads to a discount. However, the public needs to be on their guard, as there are many rogue boiler ‘engineers’ who are keen to take advantage.

This is bad for you as the customer, as it can leave you with a below-standard finish and an overpriced bill. It can also be very dangerous. To work with gas, you need the correct accreditations; someone without these could cause a potentially deadly gas leak.

Fortunately, there are ways to identify rogue boiler engineers. Boiler Expert Joshua Houston has revealed five signs.

1: No proof of qualifications

All work carried out on a boiler must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. So, if you begin to notice any red flags, ask them to show you their Gas Safe ID card. This will allow you to know if the so-called ‘engineer’ is qualified for the job or not. A rogue trader will try to convince you that you’re wrong or deflect the conversation away from that subject. Always stand firm until the ID has been shown; it is your right as the customer.

2: Lack of safety precautions 

Installing or servicing a boiler can be dangerous, so engineers require a lot of safety precautions. These include gloves, heat-resistant clothing, safety glasses and steel-toed boots. If they aren’t wearing these, then this could be a sign that something isn’t quite right. However, there might be a reasonable reason why they aren’t wearing specific personal protective equipment (PPE). So make sure to ask for their Gas Safe ID to make sure.

3: They don’t ask for the boiler’s model or history

A proper engineer will ask for your boiler's model and history before conducting any work. This will allow them to assess the situation to properly service your boiler or give it the repair that it requires. If someone doesn’t ask for this information, then this is another sign that they could be a rogue engineer.

4: Refusing to provide references

It’s common for customers to ask for references before hiring someone to do an expensive job. Good tradesmen will be proud to provide you with glowing references. Refusing this is a sign that they might not have previous customers who were happy with their work. It’s always best to go with an engineer with good references over one who has none or only a few.

5: Cash-only payment

If an engineer insists that you must pay them in cash, then this could be because they want to avoid official record-keeping or tax obligations. Rogue traders will often take cash payments so that unhappy customers can’t track them after to get a refund. It’s advised that a credit card should be used to pay an engineer, as you can get your bank to charge back for a refund if there are any problems.

Joshua Houston, Boiler Expert at GreenMatch:

‘’The last thing anyone wants is for themselves and their family to be in danger. Unfortunately, a rogue boiler ‘engineer’ can leave you in just that situation. Even if they do a semi-decent job, you will often end up paying over the odds for the privilege.

Follow the five signs I’ve revealed above; they should help you identify any potential red flags.’’