Dodgy builders

ankspon

I am currently posting on My Hammer and Rated People for some work i need doing.I checked out a couple of quotes i received,they are saying they are members of Fed Master Builders etc.They are not as i have checked and they do not have any reviews etc.How would you go about getting a genuine person to do the work.I know there are some good ones out there somewhere.

ormus

the old adage of asking family, friends and neighbours, is the best method.

ankspon

Tried it but nobody has used any with experience of the kind of work required.

Doozergirl

Ask them for their own references. Preferably for a similar type of job. And phone them - have a conversation about how long it took etc so you know it's genuine. If it's something you can see from outside, go and have a nose!

The criteria for membership of the FMB surrounds being trading for a certain amount of time, having insurance and providing references. It's often things you can check yourself.

You can find FMB builders on the website, but I wouldn't necessarily exclude people that aren't. Membership isn't cheap; we know someone who joined, and also went for the Masterbond membership (yet more expensive) where they actually inspect your work but he doesn't really get any work from it. It hasn't made a difference to his workload and he is an excellent builder. I've suggested that we join to H but it's pretty hard to justify the expense.

I'm not sure about people who lie about it though! That isn't right.

owls

if they are not members of the fmb drop me a pm and ill report them direct to the fmb organsation myself.

Im a tradesman and a member of the fmb.i dont agree with web based reviews such as my hammer etc as they are solely run to make a profit,and very easy to doctor,at least the fmb is not for profit,and the sole intrest is for the customer aswell as the trasdesman,and the masterbond is goverment backed trust scheme.im aware just because a tradesman is a member of the fmb dosent always mean they are excellent as a few always slip through the net but it gives you a tad more reasurance in that it s quite heavily veted,other wise it would look bad on them. the 5 references are checked out by them in joining and your liability insurance is checked.

As said ask them for there own references if needed.

jafsie

Don't touch Rated people with a barge pole we did and got a right cowboy conman, when we complained RP said:

" It's nothing to do with us we just let people advertise on our website for a fee"

ormus

well theres a shock.

ankspon

I wouldn't just award a job,all checks and references will be carried out if i choose anyone.

docmatt

Post where you live and maybe someone on here can recco. I know a good Builder but i'm in Birmingham.

pixieland

we moved in our house last year which wanted some work,got a builder to do it all set to go this is where it all goes wrong.He had problems or something couldnt do the work.Number two builder dindnt even send a quote.Number three builder sent a quote but that took four months to arrive so didnt have him.Couple of builders we had round,well,think they left their spurs by the front door.At last got a good builder but even he is a problem,he will phone up and say he will be here next week,doesnt turn up phone again same story. I know there are good builders out there but where?

ankspon

I have mailed OWLS from this site,i read his posts and advice and he seems to know what he's talking about