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Don't get ripped off by a rogue trader

Rogue traders can turn your dream home into a nightmare. Make sure you don't get caught out.

Fall victim to a cowboy contractor and you could end up paying a very heavy price. To protect yourself and your home, follow these five simple tips:

1. Get a recommendation

Ask your friends, family or neighbours to recommend someone who has really impressed them, and make sure you ask for several references from previous customers who have had similar work done.

Be very wary of cold callers who offer great deals on home improvements, and don’t give them the job unless you thoroughly check them out first.

2. Get online

There are lots of websites which can recommend experienced contractors. Try posting the details of your job online for free at sites like My Hammer, My Builder or Rated People. Not only will you be able to compare the quotes easily, but you can also check the ratings each tradesman or firm has received from previous customers.

3. Look for the Trustmark logo and check trade associations

Find out whether a tradesman or firm is TrustMark approved. All TrustMark registered tradesmen will have had their skills, trading record and financial status independently checked. Many reputable tradesmen will also be members of a trade association. Again their work will normally need to reach a certain standard before membership is granted.

4. Get a written quote upfront

Next get a rundown of all the costs for the job in writing before the work has started, outlining charges for materials, labour and VAT.

If the work is due to be paid in stages, agree in advance when payments are due. But never pay the full amount you owe until all the work is completed. You should also set a start and completion date for the job in advance.

5. Use your credit card

Finally, pay for at least some of the work using your credit card. If things go wrong, you may be able to pursue your credit card company for redress, if you can’t get any joy from your tradesman. This is because credit cards offer Section 75 protection as long as you have spent more than £100, but less than £30,000.

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  • 07 September 2010

    Another way to find decent tradespeople to to look at the 'affluent' areas near you, and take note of the names on the vans, or the boards they put up. These type of tradepeople are usually recommended by their neighbours. They can still go bust in a recession( or any time) so don't pay up front. But they usually rely on being recommended so do a good job.

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  • 07 September 2010

    And if you can't get a reliable recommendation then see if you local housing Association has a workman scheme as with some Housing Associations you can hire their workmen from them which will still be cheaper than a cowboy and Housing Associations do not hire workmen who cannot do their jobs properly.

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  • 07 September 2010

    Sorry but the following is bad advice that you gave of "But never pay the full amount you owe until all the work is completed" what I would advise is never pay ANY money up front, if you have a larger project pay in stages, once the work reaches the agreed stage and is to your satisfaction then pay. For smaller jobs pay only once the work is complete. Never give up front money for materials as any proper tradesman will have a trade account at their local suppliers such as builders/timber/plumbers merchants which will give them a up to 60 days to pay for any materials they have, so there is no need for you to pay up front. If they have no trade account, chances are they are on the edge of the law and are either tax evading, are not credit worthy or are not traceable in any event these “trades” people are the ones who are more likely to disappear with your money or produce a bad unfinished job.

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