A wood burning stove installer has been ordered to pay more than £7,000 after he was prosecuted by Caerphilly Trading Standards for falsely claiming he was registered with industry body HETAS.
Dylan Jones, 40, of Ilan Road, Abertridwr, who trades as Castle Fire and Stoves, on Nantgarw Road, Caerphilly, admitted four offences contrary to the Fraud Act 2006 and two offences contrary to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
The offences were connected to the supply and fitting of five stoves in the homes of customers from Caerphilly, Bedwas, Newbridge and Hirwaun.
Jones falsely claimed that he was a current registered HETAS installer when in fact he was not. Newport Magistrates’ Court was told that he had previously been registered and that while none of the installations were unsafe, distress and financial loss was caused to the customers he had misled.
At a hearing on January 12 this year Jones was fined a total of £3,920, ordered to pay costs to the council of £1,518.75, compensation to consumers of £1,538.40 and a victim surcharge of £73.
Sentencing Jones, Brian Wallis chair of the magistrates’ bench, said: “The amount of fines is substantial because we took into account the fact that you had previously been registered with HETAS, so you understood its need and purpose, and that it is there to predominantly protect the public.
“Our paramount concern is the potential of harm to the public.”
Linked to this case, 44-year-old Robert Evans who traded as Reds Property Maintenance, of Penybryn, was also convicted of one offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Evans, who was a HETAS accredited installer, was asked by Jones to supply a certificate for one of the installations, although having initially indicating he would do, did not. He was fined £500, ordered to pay £360 costs to the council and a £50 victim surcharge.
Cllr Eluned Stenner, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Protection said: “Our Trading Standards team work very tirelessly indeed to ensure that unscrupulous traders do not get away with duping customers and therefore ensuring that our residents remain safe in their own homes.”
Update on Friday, February 2, 2018
In a statement posted on Facebook, Castle Fires and Stoves said: “There are two sides to every story. This article makes us look very bad.
“Although we have made some mistakes and put our hands up to it. We believe we have been punished enough and took our punishment. We are here to face up to any mistakes made, all new companies have teething problems.
“We have done many installations along with many building projects with very happy customers. This article doesn’t say any of the good points, which is out of several jobs inspected, no unsafe installations.
“Out of 44 installations contacted by Trading Standards, all but three customers stuck up for us and are very satisfied with all works done.
“The three mentioned was not bad work or unsafe installations, but an issue with certs. We have worked hard with HETAS to put everything right and will have a new registration by the end of the month. We would like to thank all existing, on going customers and HETAS for they’re hard work.
“All existing and on going customers will receive a HETAS cert through our company. Any concerns please contact us.”