It’s an Emergency. You’ve Never Seen This Person Before.
rogue trader reports annually (Trading Standards)
average loss to emergency callout scams
to verify with Certifyd
The reality of plumbers in the UK.
Identity verification for plumbers is critical because plumbing emergencies create urgency that criminals exploit. Certifyd uses bi-directional authentication — both the homeowner and the plumber cryptographically prove their identity to each other in real time. When a plumber arrives, the system verifies not just who they are, but that they hold an active membership with the plumbing company that dispatched them. The result is a tamper-proof, auditable record of every callout: who arrived, when, where, and under whose authority.
Plumbing is entirely unregulated in England. Unlike gas work (which requires Gas Safe registration), there is no mandatory register, licensing requirement, or competency check for plumbers. Anyone can call themselves a plumber and advertise plumbing services tomorrow. The only exception is work involving unvented hot water systems, which requires specific certification.
Emergency callouts are particularly risky. When a pipe bursts at midnight, homeowners are under pressure to let someone in immediately. This urgency is routinely exploited by rogue traders who arrive quickly, quote inflated prices, and carry out unnecessary or substandard work. Trading Standards receives over 12,000 rogue trader reports annually, with plumbing and heating among the most common categories.
Even legitimate plumbing companies create risk through substitution. When the plumber you booked is unavailable, a replacement arrives — and you have no way to verify they are who they claim to be. Certifyd’s bi-directional authentication closes this gap: both parties verify each other through device-bound cryptographic proof, with the plumber’s organisational membership confirmed in real time.
This is broken.
Here's why.
Emergency callouts create urgency that rogue traders exploit — homeowners let strangers in under pressure.
Plumbing is unregulated in England — no licensing, no mandatory ID, no register of qualified plumbers.
Companies send replacement plumbers with no way for the homeowner to verify the substitute.
Inflated quotes, unnecessary work, and unfinished jobs leave homeowners with no verifiable record of who was responsible.
Simple verification.
Every time.
Plumber arrives — both parties open Certifyd and authenticate via their registered device
Each person’s identity is cryptographically verified to the other — bi-directional, not one-way
The system confirms the plumber’s active membership with their company and dispatch authority for that callout
A tamper-proof record is created: who, when, where, and under whose professional authority
Ready to see it in action?
Book a demo or tell us about your needs.
“I turn up at someone’s house, and they just let me in. They’ve got no idea if I’m really a plumber or if I actually work for the company I say I do.”— Sole trader, plumber
Common questions.
No. There is no legal requirement for plumbers to prove their identity before entering your home in England. Unlike gas engineers (who must be Gas Safe registered), plumbers have no mandatory registration or licensing. This means you have no formal way to verify that the person at your door is qualified, insured, or even who they claim to be — unless you use a verification system like Certifyd.
Emergency callouts are where the risk is highest. You’re panicking, water is flooding, and someone arrives claiming to be a plumber. Rogue traders specifically target emergencies because homeowners are less likely to check credentials. Certifyd works in 30 seconds — fast enough for an emergency. If the plumber can’t verify, that’s the signal you need.
Plumbing companies register as an Organisation on Certifyd and add each plumber as a member with a defined role. Each plumber registers their own device, which is cryptographically bound to their identity. When dispatched to a job, the system verifies not just the plumber’s identity but their active membership and authority within the company — in real time. If a plumber leaves, their membership is revoked instantly.
No. Gas Safe registration proves a person is qualified to work on gas appliances — it does not cover general plumbing, and it does not prove the person holding the card is actually that person. Certifyd uses device-bound cryptographic authentication: the plumber’s identity is verified through their registered device, their company membership is confirmed in real time, and a tamper-proof record is created. It’s live, verified proof — not a static card.
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Bring verification to your plumbing business
Book a demo to see how Certifyd works for your team, or tell us about your verification needs and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Read: The Doorstep Fraud Problem