Workers affiliated with the Malta Professional Waterproofing Association should be in possession of a card proving their qualifications.Workers affiliated with the Malta Professional Waterproofing Association should be in possession of a card proving their qualifications.

Workers offering waterproofing services should present their clients with a card proving they have the necessary qualifications, the Malta Professional Waterproofing Association said. The association issues such cards.

This newspaper reported last week that a father and son who for years had been ripping off clients – charging them for waterproofing services that fell short of what they promised – were back on the scene.

The association is now urging clients to ask for a card which is issued to “competent and trained installers”.

“In this way one is guaranteed that the people carrying out the works are traceable and have proper knowledge and help from the association to carry out works according to the trade,” association spokesman Antoine Bonello said.

Condemning the two men and their actions, Mr Bonello said the pair were not in any way affiliated with the association and had never been issued such a card.

Following claims by a couple who were swindled out of €2,000 in April by the two men who identified themselves as Carmel and Marphil Gauci, a number of other people came forward with similar claims, saying they were forced to fork out thousands of euros for works that were incomplete or below par.

In this way one is guaranteed that the people carrying out the works are traceable and have proper knowledge

Two years ago, the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority issued warnings to the public about waterproofing services offered by the Gaucis.

At the time, the pair would regularly advertise their services under different names, making it difficult for the watchdog to keep tabs.

The men would carry out the work, charging thousands of euros only to then allegedly deliver part of what their customers would have paid for.

Contacted last week, the MCCAA said that while the warning issued two years ago still applies, anyone with more information should contact the authority.

claire.caruana@timesofmalta.com

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