Checkatrade dissapointment

mark-w20

Alisha2008 wrote: »

I don't get the quotes to see which is cheaper, in my case I got 3 plumbers coming to my house and each one had a different idea about where and how to install a new boiler (different places, different brands). In the end we went with the one we liked the idea most (it wasn't the cheapest at all).

I'm planning to do the same with my kitchen now, it won't be the cheapest, it will be the one I like most and (if possible) I get some personal recommendation, even if it has to be from people I don't know. (already tried friends & neighbours, and got nothing).

I wasn't suggesting everyone used the quote idea to find the cheapest but a huge number do. You do exactly what I would do, ie. use it to evaluate the tradesman and get different ideas from them on ways of doing a job, also judge characters etc. etc. that is the way.
It's just the other half of the population who expect it to be a way to find the cheapest.........it's difficult to say but honestly a lot of them get what they deserve.

Infidel

Who can you trust?

The local council 'safe trading scheme' just clicks through to checkatrade.

jeffsmith1515

i am the 1st to admit that these tradesmen comparrisson websites are not perfect. but it miffs me as to why they get moaned about so much.

what makes me laugh is that the bulk of the complaints that i hear are that tradesmen don't come back with a quote, the reason they probably dont come back with a quote is that when they have gathered more information about the job they may realise that they are not upto the job and they dont want to leave a bad job as they are now under the scrutiny of the website.

so if you think about it the comparrisson website worked becuase if mrs smith had gone to a local paper to find the tradesman hed of probably attempted the job because there is no way of exsposing him and he'd probably of screwed it up. so whats worst having a free quote not turn up or finding your tradesman where you can not hold him to account and paying for an exspensive balls up. these websites are new and evolving fast. in my opinion they are long over due.

tco03

most of these rated people type sites are a big con anyway,

advertisers pay to be on there whether they are the greatest or cowboys.

As far as the site is concerned as long as it has enough tradesmen listed and is getting paid, thats it.

katejo

Alisha2008 wrote: »

I was looking for a kitchen fitter on checkatrade and found someone that I thought could do the job. Rang him, have a nice chat, he agreed to come to my house 4 days later for an estimate.

He sent an email to confirm.

He didn't turn up, didn't ring, didn't contact me at all. He doesn't pick up the phone when I ring, also texted him. This was a week ago...

This person has about 20 10/10 reviews on checkatrade... shame I can't leave one!! wouldn't be 10/10...

:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Where in the UK are you? Perhaps someone on MSE could make a personal recommendation.

Alisha2008

I'm in Surrey, I already asked in the forum months ago but only got 1 recommendation and when I rang the number it had been disconnected.. the person didn't remember the full name of the person so it was impossible to contact him.

keystone

jeffsmith1515 wrote: »

these websites are new and evolving fast. in my opinion they are long over due.

Then they had better get their act together because as they are currently run and funded they are about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Cheers

keystone

tco03 wrote: »

most of these rated people type sites are a big con anyway.

all of these rated people type sites are a big con anyway.

There, fixed it for you. Apart from that your post is spot on.

Cheers

Leif

keystone wrote: »

Then they had better get their act together because as they are currently run and funded they are about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Cheers

Please forgive me for disagreeing, but a chocolate teapot is edible, and rather tasty, so far more useful than the get a builder web sites. Cheers. (:D)

Travanian

rxbren wrote: »

ironically mostly cowboys or chancers on there

VERY UNFAIR. Im on both sites in my title and i certainly dont run my business like that. Pls dont tar everyone with the same brush. Customer feedback IS checked out via a call or an email to the customer. My ratings arnt made up. Its true, there are bad apples in every barrel. No site can be 110% accurate. I personally would choose someone that has had some sort of check rather than no check at all. Even recommendations from a friend can turn out bad.