Given the number of groups/bodies/organisation involved in HIP’s, the PCCB’s involvement with (and in turn endorsement from) Trading Standards does seem a little odd!

Trading Standards should have audited the HIPs if they were doing an investigation, they are responsible for policing HIPs and EPCs and have everything they need to do this- the HIPs regulations that are quite clear in the requirements.

To allow the PCCB to be involved and then to let them create propaganda is scandalous and if the ownwers of the HIPs weren’t asked for permission then probably illegal as well!

Even the statements released were typically wrong from the PCCB, what is a “less than satisfactory HIP”, a HIP is either compliant or it isn’t, there is no in between!

Or are they less than satisfactory if they aren’t procuced by PCCB registered Companies ( which the vast majority of HIPs aren’t )

The situation in Birmingham was tainted once the Trading Standards used the PCCB to audit HIPs and then follow it up with propaganda for their own organisation, talk about conflict of interests!

All IPPA members HIPs have to carry their contact details within the HIP and all members have to have a suitable complaints procedure in place before they are allowed membership of IPPA.

Unfortunately IPPA can’t make the rest of the Industry follow it’s high standards but can only make sure that it’s members follow the highest standards, at least the PCCB now audit their members which they didn;’t in the first few years, I’d like to think that was in response to IPPA’s lead!

I do find it strange that a compulsory document by legislation can basically be supplied by any Tom, Dick or Harry.

IPPA have lobbied the CLG for some kind of “quality standard” by legislation encompassing all areas of the HIP production including T & Cs, Complaints procedures and quality of the HIP itself, obviously with HIPs being in a precarious situation at the moment nothing is likely to happen in the near future but should HIPs be saved by the result of the GA then IPPA will continue to lobby for improved and enforced standards throughout the HIPs Industry.

Our only hope is that the torys come in and get rid of them all.

A recent Trading Standard’s investigation in Birmingham examined the issue of buyers’ being left with no idea of who to contact, should they have a cause for complaint regarding their HIP.

Should HIP’s continue, what does the IPPA feel it could do to help improve the complaint/redress procedure, for HIPs buyers?