Do your research when enlisting a tradesperson

We all know that friend of a friend, or the bloke from the next village, who has carried out some kind of work for a neighbour or colleague.

And while in many cases, this may be a genuine and reliable recommendation, other times it can lead to a poor-quality job, leaving the customer out of pocket and with no guarantee of clawing back their cash.

Consumers generally do not ask to see verification of tradesmen, nor do they ask to see their insurance or relevant qualifications.

Many of these cases have come to our attention since our launch 16 years ago, with one recent case of an elderly gentleman who enlisted the services of a tradesman on the recommendation of a neighbour.

The work seemed to have been carried out satisfactorily, and the customer paid the substantial bill – despite not receiving an invoice from the tradesman or a receipt for payment.

It was only after a few weeks had passed that the customer noted issues with the work and eventually managed to contact the tradesman (whom he only had a first name for) and asked him to take a look – only to be told that he would not accept responsibility for the latest problem.

The customer was left with shoddy work and the prospect of finding a new tradesman to rectify the situation.

In this case, it is unfortunate that the gentlemen did not have the relevant guarantee or paperwork – but this is where Peterborough-based Safe Local Trades can offer genuine peace of mind.

By ensuring that all members on our register undergo a stringent vetting process, abide by a Service Charter, and are monitored on an on-going basis, we offer reassurance that the traders on Safe Local Trades are reputable and trustworthy.

As spaces on our register are limited, this allows us to carefully select members, all of whom are open and transparent, and confident in being vetted and monitored; this deters any traders who know that their work is substandard, or their service is poor.

The following checks have been carried out on all our members:

• Interviewed in person
• DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) checked
• Photo and address identification (e.g., drivers licence)
• Proof of membership to any Trade Association
• Proof of qualifications (where applicable)
• Proof of statutory qualifications required by law (e.g., Gas Safe Registered, Part P, etc)
• Certificate of Public Liability Insurance and Employers Insurance if applicable
• Certificate of Incorporation for Limited Companies and credit checked
• UTR (Unique Tax Reference) verification for Sole Traders to ensure HMRC registered
• Certificate of VAT registration document (if applicable)
• References taken from up to five previous customers
• Sign and agree to abide by the standards set out in our Service Charter

Feedback is also crucial is helping to shape the profile and reputation of our many traders, helping us to monitor our members and ensure that they are providing a quality service.

Keeping it local; to find your next tried, tested and ‘safe’ tradesperson, visit www.safelocaltrades.com or call us on 01733 530019.