HOW TO AVOID ROGUE TRADERS + SOLUTIONS

1 – Always try and use someone that you know or someone that has been recommended to you by a friend or family member. Or use a vetted company.

2 – Make sure the company has a landline telephone number and an address that checks out. Call the number and visit the premises if you wish. No need to worry about this as all of our traders supply this information.

3 – Ask for 3 references, then phone the customers and ask them if the company in question did a good job and were there any problems whilst doing the work. No need to worry about references either; our traders supply 3 recent references.

4 – Go on the internet and do some research on the company you want to use to see if there have been any complaints made about them. Or use a vetted company that has already been checked out and referenced.

5 – Always get a quote for the job before they start, this way you know exactly how much you will be paying when the job is complete. Our vetted traders give quotes via invoice before the job starts.

6 – And get written quotes from more than one company. We list 2 traders per area so you can get 2 quotes to compare against each other.

7 – If you can, always avoid paying the tradesmen in cash; always pay by cheque or credit card. This is not a problem when using one of our vetted traders because they have proper banking facilities and don't normally ask for cash.

8 – Never pay upfront for the whole job, wait until it is complete and you are satisfied with the work they have done.In most cases our traders will give you a quote for the job and ask for payment when the job is complete.

9 – Make sure the company has got appropriate public liability insurance, especially if they are doing a big job for you. Every company/trader we list has got to have up to date insurances, as part of our vetting criteria.

10 – Make sure the company works within the normal rules & regulations for that said trade. Example: Most good Builders are FMB members, Electricians = NICEIC registered, Plumbers = Gas Safe (if dealing with gas) Window Fitters = Fensa. Where applicable, every company we list is a bona-fide registered member of their said trades' association.

11 – Make sure the company gives guarantees on all their work. Again, there's no need to worry because our traders give guarantees on all their work.

12 – Always ask for a receipt when you have made payment. On the receipt it should state that that work is under guarantee for an agreed amount of time. All our traders give receipts for any monies received and should state the length of the guarantee they provide.

ALWAYS USE VETTED TRADES PEOPLE AND YOU WON'T GET RIPPED OFF!