Cowboy Plumbers: 5-Day 'Experts' Rip Off Public

An investigation has revealed that "cowboy plumbers" are offering five-day crash courses to train complete beginners as qualified tradesmen. These courses, costing £395, reportedly focus heavily on instructing students in "upselling," a euphemism for overcharging customers.

Taher Shah, who organizes the "Plumbers Goldmine Academy," boasts of helping thousands with no prior experience earn hundreds of pounds per hour. Instructors allegedly advise targeting British customers over Asian clients, claiming the latter tend to haggle. This exploitative practice capitalizes on the significant shortage of properly trained plumbers across the UK.

Professional bodies, like the Chartered Institute of Plumbing And Heating Engineering, condemn these courses, stating that genuine plumbing training takes four years. They warn that such rapid, inadequate training can lead to dangerous work, costly damage, and serious injuries. Consumers are urged to verify the qualifications of any plumber they hire.