Don't get ripped off by the plumber

wopdiddly

Ok, the links being posted are a little bit contradictory but I think you mean this one http://www.goodbuilderguide.co.uk I've checked it out and yes it is a great concept.

Due to the few tradesmen registered it does seem a little flawed at present but I agree the more people who find out about this site the sooner we will be to finding a reliable builder at the touch of a button. Such a simple concept but could be soo effective in no time at all great find!

996ducati

BBC Watchdog were doing a report on one of these so called trusted trader sites last week.

Anyway,the upshot is that there is a government endorsed website called TrustMark which vets traders & constantly monitors them.

http://www.trustmark.org.uk/

wopdiddly

I love Watchdog and can't get enough of programs like Rogue Traders, however if the common man wants a job done without the expense of hiring a building contractor then how do they know if they are any good.

let's face it we all try to take shortcuts and if we didn't we wouldn't keep getting ripped off by dodgy tradesmen. So inevitably we will continue to get ripped off because we are all too stingy to pay for a master builder.

What is your other option? Ask a friend, colleague etc. Word of mouth and what better way than the feedback system? As long as enoiugh users leave feedback I think it could work, these concepts deserve a chance to prove themselves you shouldn'e be so quick to discount them.

robowen

This has given me a great idea :think:

I think I'll set up a dodgy customer site :think:
Tradesmen can leave feedback about how their experience went with the customer. How they were ripped off by non paying customers, people who want more work done without paying for it, people who get the work done then claim they will get the money to you next week...and don't, people who want a palace built for them for £50

I had a mate who fitted a boiler at this womans house. She claimed that he scuffed the paintwork on her bannister rail. She wanted the whole stairs and landing re-decorating for nothing. The paintwork was peeling off the bannister before he started the work....he told her this before he started....and she still wanted the decorating doing before she paid for the boiler :doh:

For every 1 dodgy tradesman there are 2 dodgy customers...its true !

rob

wopdiddly

lmao

Quality. I can totally see where you're coming from, I guess it can work both ways.

plumb1_2

robowen wrote:

For every 1 dodgy tradesman there are 2 dodgy customers...its true !

rob

And always expect a discount for cash

rmparsons

I agree with you Rob,there can be as many dodgy customers as tradesmen.

I Think the eBay principle of leaving feedback on both sides protects both the buyer and the seller, and could be used for tradesmen too. Perhaps we could suggest this to the goodbuilder guide site.
R