Do I need a GST number?

Only if you plan to invoice through the platform. For lead claims alone a GST number is not required but strongly recommended.

For plumbers / Verification

Trust & safety

Every plumber on the network is licence-checked, insured, and ID-verified.

Q: How long does verification take?

Usually 24 to 48 hours. We manually check every licence against the PGDB register and confirm your insurance certificate is current.

We do the boring stuff up front so customers know who's turning up — and so the good tradies don't get dragged down by the cowboys. Here's exactly what we check and how long it takes.

Apply to join → See the process

What we check

Four non-negotiables. If any of these don't stack up, the application doesn't go through — no exceptions.

PGDB licence

We cross-reference every licence number against the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board public register.

Current certifying, tradesperson, or registered status
No suspensions or cancellations
Renewed annually — we re-check before every 1 April

Public liability insurance

Certificate of currency required. Minimum $1M cover. We verify the insurer, policy number, and expiry date.

Minimum $1M public liability
Current expiry — auto-paused if it lapses
Certificate on file for every job

Identity

Driver licence or passport photo matched against the name on the licence register and company record.

Government-issued photo ID
Match against PGDB registration
Stored encrypted — never shared with customers

Company & GST

Companies Office registration checked for NZBN and director details. GST number validated if claimed.

NZBN lookup on Companies Office
GST number validated against IRD
Sole traders welcome — NZBN optional

The process

From application to first lead ringing your phone — usually inside 48 hours.

Step 01

Apply

Five-minute form. Company name, licence number, phone, insurance certificate, photo ID.

~5 min

Step 02

We verify

Manual cross-check against PGDB, Companies Office, IRD, and your insurer. Real eyes, not just a script.

24–48 hrs

Step 03

Onboarding call

Quick ten-minute call to walk through the app, suburb claiming, and how leads arrive.

10 min

Step 04

You're live

Claim your suburbs, top up your wallet, and wait for the first call. Leads ring your phone directly.

Same day

Standards we hold

Verification gets you in the door. Staying on the network means living up to these.

Accepted & expected

Turn up on time. If you accept a job, the customer is waiting.
Communicate. Running late? Ring the customer — we don't chase you.
Quote before you swing. No surprise invoices.
Clean work. Council-compliant, signed off, gas cert where required.
Respond to customer reviews. Within 7 days, even the bad ones.
Keep your licence current. Renewal evidence up by 31 March.

Not accepted

Unlicenced work — including subbing out to non-registered mates
Accepting a job then ghosting the customer
Cash-only demands or pressure to skip the invoice
More than 3 unresolved complaints in 90 days
Working outside your licence scope (gas without gasfitting, etc.)
Misrepresenting company, certifications, or pricing

Ongoing review

Verification is not a one-off. We re-check the things that matter, continuously.

Automated

Licence & insurance

PGDB register re-checked weekly. Insurance expiry tracked — we ping you 30 days out. Lapse = auto-pause.

Customer signal

Reviews & ratings

Every job gets a follow-up SMS. Star rating, photo, short comment. Drops below 4.0 average and we have a chat.

Manual

Compliance audits

Random sampling of jobs each quarter. We check council sign-offs, gas certs, and quote-to-invoice variance.

FAQ

Straight answers. More in the full FAQ.

Who can join the network?

Licenced plumbers and gasfitters with a current PGDB registration, current public liability insurance, and a clean record. Apprentices can be listed under a certifier's account.

How long does verification take?

Usually 24 to 48 hours. Longer if the insurer is slow to confirm. You'll get an email at each step — no black box.

Do I need to be a registered company?

No. Sole traders are welcome. If you're a limited company we'll check the NZBN; if you're not, we'll still verify your licence and insurance the same way.

What happens if my licence lapses?

Your account is paused automatically. No new leads will ring your phone until your renewal lands on file. Existing jobs keep running.

Do customers see my verification status?

Yes. When a lead gets matched, the customer sees a "Verified by bookaplumber" badge and the date we last checked your licence.

Can I be removed from the network?

Yes. Three unresolved serious complaints in 90 days, a licence cancellation, or an insurance gap over 30 days all trigger removal. We'll always tell you why.