FIND-A-TRADESPERSON WEBSITES - Any good?

[dogfonos]

If anyone has experience of this, I'd appreciate opinions...

Do the 'find-a-tradesperson' type websites generally find someone who does a good job at a reasonable price?

I'm looking in particular at 'mybuilder', 'myhammer' and 'ratedpeople'.

 

[Bosswhite]

Look on your local Council Site, "Trading Standards", anyone listed has to meet up to specifications to be included on the list

"Find a trades person sites" are there to make money, so basically anyone can have their name included

 

[Harbourwoodwork]

If anyone has experience of this, I'd appreciate opinions...

Do the 'find-a-tradesperson' type websites generally find someone who does a good job at a reasonable price?

I'm looking in particular at 'mybuilder', 'myhammer' and 'ratedpeople'.

People pay a lot of money to be on the agency's books work out the maths for yourself.

 

[dogfonos]

Fair points. Thanks for the Trading Standards Tip. I checked out the Approved Trader scheme for the appropriate area (Thanet, Kent) on the Trading Standards website and requested a list of vetted and approved tradespersons signed up to the "Buy With Confidence" scheme.

The BWC scheme seems to be gradually spreading into a national scheme after starting in the West country but it's early days for the Kent scheme so not enough tradesfolk signed up as yet (as far as I can tell from the online tradesperson search facility). Will rely on personnal recomendations for now so we're currently asking around.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[flameport]

The BWC scheme seems to be gradually spreading into a national scheme after starting in the West country but it's early days for the Kent scheme so not enough tradesfolk signed up as yet

Gradually because there is an application fee and an annual membership fee as well. Rather like all those other tradesperson sites.

You also need a CRB check to apply.
As you can't apply for a CRB check on yourself, you can imagine where that leaves self employed individuals.

 

[Bosswhite]

The BWC scheme seems to be gradually spreading into a national scheme after starting in the West country but it's early days for the Kent scheme so not enough tradesfolk signed up as yet

Gradually because there is an application fee and an annual membership fee as well. Rather like all those other tradesperson sites.

You also need a CRB check to apply.
As you can't apply for a CRB check on yourself, you can imagine where that leaves self employed individuals.

I have been on "BWC" scheme now for several years, yes there is an application fee to cover paperwork and registration., but NO annual Membership fee,
One needs PL Insurance Cover and a CRB check, plus several recommendations from past customers which can be investigated.

A number of Private schemes are just Insurance based, get Insurance from them and you are given a "Logo" and considered a Tradesman,
or one pays a percentage premium from the work they find you, with no checks on standard of workmanship Which tends to open the doors to "Cowboys"