Joe the plumber

gerry gill

I'm in his state, and under our strange and bizarr rules only the ''contractor'' his/herself has to be a licenesed plumber..licensed by the state..i hold a plumbing and hydronics ohio license because i own the company..the other guys don't need to license until they want to start their own firms..sounds strange i know..so until Joe the plumber actually decided to by that company he doesn't need the license..so he is legit under our rules..hope that helps and also casts a spotlight on our states stupid licensing methods.

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Rich Kontny_3

Joe the Plumber????

As some of you know I take the plumbing industry very seriously and have held licenses in Georgia, Minnesota, Michigan and of course Wisconsin. Since I do not travel with projects anymore I am only keeping my Wisconsin license current.

With this said is Joe Wurzelbacher a licensed plumber or not???? I have been out due to some health issues for two weeks and just now can get back in he swing of things. Is this guy legit or an unlicensed imposter (wannabe) ?

The industry leaders I rub shoulders with are not happy with the way our industry is being portrayed! I too do not want national attention brought on a handyman who is pretending to be a licensed plumber. Can anyone out there give me the scoop about this gentleman's credentials or lack there of?????


Thanks in advance!

Rich K.

Please be patriotic today and exercise your right to vote!

Darin Cook_5

Rich

I know in this area you only need to work for a licensed plumber not be one. If you do not do work in the area cities there is nothing you need just a building permit. I guess it really depends where you are.




Darin

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Unknown

In my area,,,

you don't have to be a licensed plumber to own a plumbing business, you need only to hire a licensed contractor to cover that aspect. Poor Joe, from blue collar hero to unlicensed non tax paying **** in 12 hours. Isn't this election just wonderful? The media too.

nicholas bonham-carter

joe the plumber

perhaps we should see pictures of his work before selecting him for a job!--nbc

Unknown

Are you saying...

the medias failed to report ALL the FACTS? Why, I just can't believe that. (Please note sarcastic tone).

Unknown

Yea!!

LOL...

Tony_23

The point is

NOT whether "Joe" is a "real" plumber or not. It is the policy and agenda that was uncovered, and then the media digging and destroying the questioner. Makes you want to ask questions doesn't it ?

In my area, there are no licensing requirements. Tell me how I'm a handyman wannabe after 26 years in the trade. Be careful of the size brush you paint with.

DanHolohan

Please

No politics here. Especially today. Just vote.

Bob Harper

Joe's story

He is working on getting his license in that state. He moved there about 3.5 yrs ago but you need 5 yrs experience. His boss is sponsoring him right now. The guy has been a professional plumber for over 15 yrs. He is working out a buyout plan with his boss for the company, which is why he was concerned about Mr. Obama's plan's impact on businesses over $250K--not that he makes that now. He is also working to pay off some back taxes--just like a million other Americans.

Look, there are no licensed plumbers in the Common Wealth of Pa. Does that make them hacks? I think we all need to quit looking to put others down and just worry about keeping our own houses clean, doing a good job for the customer and getting home alive to our families each day.

Go vote!

Dave Yates (GrandPAH)_11

In PA

There are licensed plumbers! I've watched Joe's story unfold and thought he handled himself very well in the light of national media attention. Would I have preferred he was already licensed? Sure, but if he's working for a Master Plumber, he technically doesn't need the card and I've known lots of truly remarkable highly-skilled unlicensed mechanics whose work puts the work of card-carrying licensed plumbers to shame.

I did not go for my Master's license until I knew I was going to toss my hat into the business ring, but I always had a license from day-one be it as a registered Apprentice or Journeyman and I have those first years' cards framed. I worked hard to attain each of them.

All of our employees are licensed: several Master; several Journeyman; and two as Apprentice. Plumbing is the only trade required to be tested and licensed in my area of PA. We shell out thousands each year for their licenses because every municipality wants a fee for each license.

As Dan says: no rancor - just vote.

bob young

bonifide plumbers

just for the record---- in n.y.c. we have union " A " PLUMBERS . they do not need or have licenses but they are probably some of the best & most qualified plumbers in the world.joe the plumber should be left alone not tortured by his own. not everyone needs a lic. it is a local & state regulation. heating techs. need no lic. , it does not make them unqualified. i rest my case. bob young --nyc lic. plbr.

Maine/Baltimore Doug_5

Just two facts that I have found.

Lucas County, where "Joe" and his employer live require plumbers to have licenses. Neither Wurzelbacher nor his employer are licensed there according to Cheryl Schimming of Lucas County Building Regulations. Schimming handles plumber licenses in parts of the county outside Toledo.

Joe owes the state of Ohio $1,182 in personal income taxes according to tax records that show a lien for that amount filed against him in January 2007.

I just voted in Baltimore near the Inner Harbor. Short line. School gym had lots of room to stay out of the rain except that Granddaughter wanted to play in the playground. Got very wet on the slides.

All the electronic machines were online and quick and they had lots of people to help voters.

bob_46

Plumbing

"Don't sleep with a DRIP, call a Plumber"

Bob Harper

licensing plumber in Pa

Sure, every jurisdiction in Pa. has the power to require professional licensure to work in their area. That means you could have 1,347 individual plumbing licenses in the Commonwealth, not all based upon the same requirements. As of 1July 2009, all local contractor 'registrations' are to be superced by the new state registration. I expect the local jurisdictions to come up with simple alternatives to tax such as requiring a 'business license' or 'professional license', which will surely clog the courts and cause much consternation.

Now, imagine if Dave Yates moved from Lancaster to Philly and Philly required 5 yrs of plumbing experience in Philly with no reciprocity recognized. Dave then would have to work through the license of a local Master, for 5 yrs. until he could get his own, right? Does moving his residence diminish his professional qualifications or experience?

Dave Yates (GrandPAH)_2

new act 100 in PA

Bob,

I had a looonnnngggg protracted exchange with our legislators who crammed that bill into law. They fed me the same line of BS. I damn near fell of my chair laughing, except it's not funny - it's just one more license fee that will do nothing more than forcibly extract more money from my wallet. If the stunningly brilliant minds in our PA government think the little municipalities are going to give up the gravy-train revenues we pay for plumbing licenses - well then - it'll be snowing in July in d-twn York.

They also beefed up the Federal 3-day cooling off law so that it now has a wide sweeping net that captures everything we do. No more will it be acceptable to be exempt when the customer calls us to provide them with a proposal. More paperwork for us and another excuse for dedicated deadbeats to weasel their way out of paying a bill. There's more - much more - that's wrong with the Act, but I had that conversation with several deaf-eared legislators who were steadfast in their convictions they were doing something right.

So, in Jan I will get to test those license renewal waters when I pay my $50-bucks to the State and tell our local municipalites we won't be sending in the several-thousand we've been paying each year. Wanna bet on the outcome?

As for the license in Philly? No longer an issue with this new bill if you believe the folks that passed it. However, if I had made that move, I would have gladly taken a test and procured the local license.

scott markle_2

Voting

Dan,

What could be more political than a voting? I'm Still hoping you might shake up the plumbing world with last minute an endorsement.

What's wrong with putting our beliefs on the line at a time like this . Moving warm water in pipes is an honest job. Pandering to the aspirations of working class people with the folksy propaganda is dishonest.

Rich Kontny_3

Thanks guys!

Per Dan's request I will not get political. I appreciate the accurate info as I am not privy to every state's license requirements. I am not mad at Joe as I think he is just trying to eek out some sort of living in these tough economic times. I am concerned about the RNC as they are exploitng this guy. Tomorrow if the election goes against the GOP (and it most likely will) this guy will find himself dropped like a warm beer.

This longer than 15 seconds moments of fame will most likely end as fast as it started. Yes Joe got some exposure but it was a feeble attempt at best!

Thanks again as I am once again enjoy our industry's most accurate and quick resource!

Sorry about the politics Dan as it is hard not to include them when they are behind Joe's questionable fame!

mtfallsmikey

In Va.

Master plumber/journeyman can hold a contractors license,dependant on the class of license issued, which is figured on amount of $$ max on any one job, need to have at least one journeyman on the jobsite as supervisor.

don_185

Dave

They being the local municipalites will did get there moneys.

In va we had the state take over the contractor lic and the trademan lics.They charge a fee once a year for renewal and also you now have to take a class every year to renew your tradesman lic.

As for each city you have to have a bussiness lic if you do more then 6000 dollar worth of work in each city.

So we have six different city that we work in and pay for business lic.As you know the lic or base on how much you make in each city.Also you pay the city that your businees is in on your gross made at the end of the year.

So if you made 50.000 in one city and 80.000 in another,and then 10.000 in your city.You would have to pay the city that your shop is in on a 140.000 gross, even tho, you all ready paid the other city that money to renew your lic in there locality.

Your city will say that you get it back when they do a audit.Which they never do.HMMMMMMMMMMM

The good thing about having a state lic is...you can work in any locality without having to take a test or prove years of working in the trade.

troy_8

Licensing

Is a joke. It sure doesn't make you a professional. It just says you paid the king. Some of the very worst work is from the protected lic. contractors in my city. I have a lic. The test was such a waste that I needed help from the examiner. It mostly dealt with flueing a coal fired boiler and chimney top requirements for coal and solid fuel. The examiner laughed and said the test was from the early 1900s. I have yet to deal with anything on the test. But I past. And I've only been doing this work since 1979. Get ready fees will sky rocket. ( you rich business owners can afford it) The trunk slammers won't be hurt. but they are the little guys who need a leg up. CHANGE is coming. Lock N Load!

Rich Kontny_3

Troy

Just as I judge by where I live so do you. Our license structure here in Wisconsin is farly applied,uniform and needed. We like any other area would like more enforcement. The joke is on us if we abandon licensing,permits and inspection. I also do not consider it paying the "King". I consider it the necessary hoops to jump through in order to qualify as a professional.

You are obviously very bright and a quick study. perhaps much more so than your peers. I have no way of knowing the codes and licensing practices in your area but I can assure you that abandoning them would be a mistake!

Rich Kontny

troy_8

Permits

I'm not against licensing in theory. It's one of those things that sounds good and makes sense when human safety is involved. I've just not seen it work in the heating field. It seems to work for electricians. In my area your job is inspected by an inspector that has no clue what they are looking at. But it is a very convenient way to increase revenue while not offending a large number of voters. Oh yah and the inspector is someones relative. Now what offends me is I'm paying (customer's money) to make sure I do a safe installation. I like showing off my work but I wonder how some of this work that we find passes. Also I pay to prove it is right while the trunk slammer saves time and money to do it wrong. Somehow it seems like he should pay till he can prove he will do it right and I should get the pass after a while. Just venting!