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Stories of botched building work can make finding reliable traders a worry but there are ways of increasing your chances of success, advises Consumer Direct East Midlands.
A number of government-supported schemes currently exist to help you avoid the rogue traders and find businesses that offer higher standards of customer service.
The government-endorsed TrustMark scheme focuses on helping find reliable tradespeople to carry out repair, maintenance and home improvement work. Trustmark-approved tradespeople, including plumbers, electricians and kitchen and bathroom installers can be found on the Trustmark website at www.trustmark.org.uk
Sara Barry, Manager for Consumer Direct East Midlands said: “These schemes can take a lot of the worry out of finding a reputable trader, but its always worth talking to friends and family who can also recommend local businesses.”
“Consumer Direct East Midlands receives a large number of calls each year from homeowners across the region who have had problems with work carried out by rogue traders. These schemes help support reputable local businesses and can prevent the public being ripped off by less scrupulous traders. Although Consumer Direct can’t recommend individual businesses, our Advisors can direct you to traders included in these schemes.”
Complaints about home improvements form the single largest source of complaints to Consumer Direct within the East Midlands region. In the first three months of 2008, complaints to Consumer Direct East Midlands relating to home improvements were up nearly 8% on the same period last year. The government-funded helpline received more than 1,600 complaints about builders, plumbers, electricians, decorators and other home improvements traders in the first three months of this year for work totalling almost £5 million.
Consumer Direct East Midlands has this list of do’s and don’ts if you do need to hire someone to carry out work to your home or garden:
DO
• Ask friends, relatives or neighbours if they can recommend a trader who has carried out work for them.
• Get the relevant trade associations to give you a list of members in your area.
• Shop around and ask for at least three written quotes before choosing a trader.
• Ask the trader for a written quote (this is a firm price rather than an estimate).
• Get a firm date for starting and finishing the job.
• Get details of the work to be carried out/contract in writing.
• Remember to ask for and keep a record of the trader’s name, address and telephone number.
DON’T
• Don’t be pressurised into having work done on the spot by someone who knocks on your door.
• Don’t pay the total amount up front and try to avoid paying large deposits. If you decide to pay in stages – pay only for work that has been done. Don’t make the final payment until you are completely satisfied with the job.
To report problems with rogue traders or for advice and information on all kinds of consumer issues call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
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