Checkatrade.

[Elsa TLC]

Customer/old friend had and engineer to fix hr Dishwasher. He took her money for a new part and never returned.

Her text message she sent me

"
Yes, he came once and gave me a price of callout/labour of £60 and said that would be the only cost of labour, said it needed a part and the whole thing including the original callout/labour was £168 I think, which was a lot cheaper than a new dishwasher and then he never came back. He did send me a pic of the part, said it was taking longer to get in than he thought, then said he was unwell and then stopped returning my calls and messages, checkatrade weren't interested because he then came off there books .

He did stay about an hour that first time and had it to bits so he seemed genuine.


Can she do anything about this. The whole point of there rubbish trade groups is its safe from cowboys. Which of course is just the opposite.

 

[Koolpc]

Waa he wearing a stetson?

 

[Murdochcat]

Make sure she leaves him a very negative review on check a con man

 

[opps]

My, now ex, used My Builder, to employ a scumbag. He initially turned up to do some minor work. She was then stoopid enough to ask him to redo the downstairs WC/shower. He took £3k for materials, and effed off. He was deleted from the site, and then set up a new account, and a new account, and another new account.

He does have a site dedicated to him though

homeowneruk

builders cowboys plumber kitchen fitter plumber central heating

homeowneruk.wordpress.com

Toby Smith of Hatfield, how many CCJs do you have now?

*note to the Mods, I believe that the above is covered by "fair comment". If not, sorry.

 

[Notch7]

Checkatrade / rated people / my builder etc have a fundamental problem: their business model is making money by tradesmen subscribing and paying leads.

They don't give a monkeys about the customer.

I think you will find they will delete bad reviews.


This forum has had numerous customers over the years having terrible work done either by the incompetent or the deliberate scam artists. .....whose number they got off the Internet.

 

[opps]

Customer/old friend had and engineer to fix hr Dishwasher. He took her money for a new part and never returned.

Her text message she sent me

"
Yes, he came once and gave me a price of callout/labour of £60 and said that would be the only cost of labour, said it needed a part and the whole thing including the original callout/labour was £168 I think, which was a lot cheaper than a new dishwasher and then he never came back. He did send me a pic of the part, said it was taking longer to get in than he thought, then said he was unwell and then stopped returning my calls and messages, checkatrade weren't interested because he then came off there books .

He did stay about an hour that first time and had it to bits so he seemed genuine.


Can she do anything about this. The whole point of there rubbish trade groups is its safe from cowboys. Which of course is just the opposite.

If your friend paid by bank transfer or card, she can phone her bank and request a "chargeback".

 

[Notch7]

There is a real problem: ordinary customers can't find good tradesmen.

Good tradesmen don't advertise - I bet most pros on here do no advertising.

So ordinary customers can't find reliable tradesmen and especially not for small jobs....try getting a plumber in to change a tap or a sparky in to sort out a wobbly socket.

 

[opps]

There is a real problem: ordinary customers can't find good tradesmen.

Good tradesmen don't advertise - I bet most pros on here do no advertising.

So ordinary customers can't find reliable tradesmen and especially not for small jobs....try getting a plumber in to change a tap or a sparky in to sort out a wobbly socket.

Agreed, I have never advertised, but I am not saying I never would. The people who regularly recommend me may retire or kick the bucket. Who knows?

My concern about those kind of sites is, as you suggested, they are only interested in commision, and not the customer.

Dodgy "tradesperson" turns up, gets negative feedback, deletes their account and comes back with a slightly different username and carries on.

 

[Murdochcat]

There is a real problem: ordinary customers can't find good tradesmen.

Good tradesmen don't advertise - I bet most pros on here do no advertising.

So ordinary customers can't find reliable tradesmen and especially not for small jobs....try getting a plumber in to change a tap or a sparky in to sort out a wobbly socket.

As I ALWAYS write, ask your friends, neighbours and colleagues for recommendations

I didn’t advertise either once I got the business up and running

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Our local council do a trusted trader thing. I think it gives a bit more reassurance as companies are vetted by trading standards and the scheme is backed by the council and police. Folk can then leave reviews.

Not full proof (what is?) but gives a semblance of assurance if you don't already know someone you can trust.

Whenever I've had bigger jobs done, none of the companies have asked for a penny upfront, not even for materials. Again, I think this gives a bit of assurance that at the very least they won't do a runner without lifting a finger.

 

[pto]

why pay when its not working

 

[Elsa TLC]

I once signed up with Which thinking that they were more respectable and trusting.
But after the event realises they were no better than the rest.

They didn't interview me or inspect jobs or work that I have done.


My advise to anyone id dont use any of them.

They are full of Shaffters

 

[Elsa TLC]

why pay when its not working

No idea

 

[ETAF]

i assume he took the £168 ??? - how did they pay ???

checkatrade are only interested if booked through checkatrade and the work completed , then i thonk its a max of £1000 - i have stopped using checkatrade having had issues in the past with trades

not a lot worth doing for that amount really if paid cash.

then said he was unwell

I guess , they maybe and stopped working

 

[Odds]

My, now ex, used My Builder, to employ a scumbag. He initially turned up to do some minor work. She was then stoopid enough to ask him to redo the downstairs WC/shower. He took £3k for materials, and effed off. He was deleted from the site, and then set up a new account, and a new account, and another new account.

He does have a site dedicated to him though

homeowneruk

builders cowboys plumber kitchen fitter plumber central heating

homeowneruk.wordpress.com

Toby Smith of Hatfield, how many CCJs do you have now?

*note to the Mods, I believe that the above is covered by "fair comment". If not, sorry.

The moral of the story is never pay money up front for a job.
Ever.
I've had a few try that and i always give 'em the same answer.