Trade associations

DoctorFoster

How do you find out if a company is a member of any trade association?

They don't claim to be on any correspondence or on their website.

Johno100

Well perhaps if you gave us an indication as to the type of business it is FM's could give you some ideas as to which trade associations they may be affiliated too?

DoctorFoster

Johno100 wrote: »

Well perhaps if you gave us an indication as to the type of business it is FM's could give you some ideas as to which trade associations they may be affiliated too?

It's a kitchen company.

No doubt your next suggestion will be to contact every one?

Bantex_2

Trade associations are a waste of time for a consumer, they are only there for their members anyway.

Johno100

DoctorFoster wrote: »

It's a kitchen company.

No doubt your next suggestion will be to contact every one?

Kitchen manufacturer or just fitters?

This link may help, seems The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA) are the main association with more than 300 member companies, might be worth a call.

http://www.britassoc.org.uk/kitchen.htm

Pennywise

Trade associations are usually for the benefit of the business, not the consumer, so if they're members of any, they'd almost certainly be including the logos etc on their business cards, website and paperwork to try to impress when looking for business. If they're not showing anything, they're probably not a member of anything.

NB, it's trade/professional regulators that you should be looking for if you want comfort that they're properly qualified, insured, experienced, etc., such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants, The Law Society, Gas-safe, etc.

With respect, if you've got a problem with them, it's a little late in the day to check whether they were properly qualified/experienced. Sooo many tradesmen and professionals don't have the "industry standard" qualifications, experience, insurance, regulation, etc., because there are relatively few trades and professions where it's a legal requirement, such as solicitors, gas fitters, etc. Definitely buyer beware.

bris

Trade associations are smoke and mirrors to fool customers into thinking it's some king of safety net, when all along they are just a revenue stream.


Usually when they are in one, they make a big deal of it, so if it's not on their website then they will not be in any.

DoctorFoster

Pennywise wrote: »

Trade associations are usually for the benefit of the business, not the consumer, so if they're members of any, they'd almost certainly be including the logos etc on their business cards, website and paperwork to try to impress when looking for business. If they're not showing anything, they're probably not a member of anything.

NB, it's trade/professional regulators that you should be looking for if you want comfort that they're properly qualified, insured, experienced, etc., such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants, The Law Society, Gas-safe, etc.

With respect, if you've got a problem with them, it's a little late in the day to check whether they were properly qualified/experienced. Sooo many tradesmen and professionals don't have the "industry standard" qualifications, experience, insurance, regulation, etc., because there are relatively few trades and professions where it's a legal requirement, such as solicitors, gas fitters, etc. Definitely buyer beware.

Maybe so but having sought legal advice it was on suggestion made to me. I think they we going along the lines of it maybe someone who can assist you.


The work involves something they have subcontracted out and isn't something to do with their primary role.


I'm just working down the list of suggested things to do before the next step. I fear they may not resolve my issue but if they do hand up to them.

DoctorFoster

Johno100 wrote: »

Kitchen manufacturer or just fitters?

This link may help, seems The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA) are the main association with more than 300 member companies, might be worth a call.

http://www.britassoc.org.uk/kitchen.htm

A search on their website suggests not.

DoctorFoster

bris wrote: »

Trade associations are smoke and mirrors to fool customers into thinking it's some king of safety net, when all along they are just a revenue stream.


Usually when they are in one, they make a big deal of it, so if it's not on their website then they will not be in any.

I know but a letter to them would be another avenue exhausted.

bod1467

http://www.fmb.org.uk/news-publications/newsroom/campaigns/cut-the-vat/whos-behind-us/organisations/

That gives a longer list of associations related to building activities. (If you fancy further reading and investigation).