Checkatrade leaflets, are they successful?

lincroft1710

applepicker wrote: »

Someone told me it would be criminal- fraud and that someone went to prison for over a year for claiming they were on checkatrade. Is this true? Suing is just civil isn't it?

Read the link posted by maninthestreet, the person concerned actually committed criminal offences as well as fraudulently using the CheckaTrade logo.

http://www.tradingstandards.uk/policy/policy-pressitem.cfm/newsid/1209

You asked a specific question "If checkatrade found out. Would they prosecute him?".

To which I gave you the correct answer "Companies cannot prosecute, they can only sue".

However if your friend's actions were considered fraud by CheckaTrade, then they could inform the police who might investigate and if the police decided your friend had broken the law, then they would inform the Director of Public Prosecutions who would consider prosecution.

paddyrg

applepicker wrote: »

... it's over £1000 to have your name on the leaflet (the elite service) as well as online. He's thinking of photo shopping the leaflet then putting his name in two categories e.g. carpentry and decorating. Then deleting the competition in just those two sections, but leaving all the other names in all the other sections e.g. plumbing, electrics etc. Then printing a 1000 (use a Chinese company to do this) and putting them through doors himself.

What a lot of trouble and expense for something so simple. Instead, get someone with a working knowledge of Microsoft Publisher to knock up a distinctive template with clip art, call it your own name, add a strap line 'local tradesmen for local homes', phone up local traders in other categories and say 'that checkatrade thingy is really expensive, I'm doing a local one, do you want to split the cost and join in?', print and distribute. Same result, modest profit, no 'passing off'

Helvetica_Van_Buren

Scum.

You're asking about lying to customers.

I hope they (you) get caught by trading standards, and are put out of business.

Thinking about it, they (you) must be terrible to have to resort to such measures so they'll (you'll) probably be out of business before long anyway.

applepicker

paddyrg wrote: »

What a lot of trouble and expense for something so simple. Instead, get someone with a working knowledge of Microsoft Publisher to knock up a distinctive template with clip art, call it your own name, add a strap line 'local tradesmen for local homes', phone up local traders in other categories and say 'that checkatrade thingy is really expensive, I'm doing a local one, do you want to split the cost and join in?', print and distribute. Same result, modest profit, no 'passing off'

If you made up your own realistic sounding name made it look as good as checkatrade's one, put various names from checkatrade or wherever. Then put your own name on there in the sections you wanted to advertise e.g. computing and decorating with no competition. It wouldn't have website link, but for some people that might not be necessary.


Would this look more realistic than just your own leaflet on yourself and your own services?


You couldn't be prosecuted for this could you? Or in trouble for putting other tradesmens details on without asking them could you. They're getting free advertising.

Tiddlywinks

Change the record... here's a novel idea... just play by the rules.

Anyway, isn't there a bridge somewhere that's missing your undivided attention?

paddyrg

applepicker wrote: »

If you made up your own realistic sounding name made it look as good as checkatrade's one, put various names from checkatrade or wherever. Then put your own name on there in the sections you wanted to advertise e.g. computing and decorating with no competition. It wouldn't have website link, but for some people that might not be necessary.


Would this look more realistic than just your own leaflet on yourself and your own services?


You couldn't be prosecuted for this could you? Or in trouble for putting other tradesmens details on without asking them could you. They're getting free advertising.

DIY, there's no monopoly on directories. Call the other trades and ask if they want to go on your directory card for free/split the cost, then it's all legit.

Checkatrade have no particular brand value, so no need to walk close to the edge - just do a legit directory card.

applepicker

paddyrg wrote: »

DIY, there's no monopoly on directories. Call the other trades and ask if they want to go on your directory card for free/split the cost, then it's all legit.

Checkatrade have no particular brand value, so no need to walk close to the edge - just do a legit directory card.

If someone made one of these leaflets and didn't ask the tradesmen if they could use their names, could you be prosecuted for that?


I mean it's free advertising. Anyhow, how would anyone know who made the leaflet. if there's lots of tradesmens names on it and some from shop windows, some from checktrade, how would anyone be able to pin anyone done to accuse them of making it. It could have been anyone. Unless you see the person who delivered the leaflet then you wouldn't know.


Or is this all a waste of time. Is it as good to advertise your own services on a leaflet just for yourself? I just thought that being grouped with others looked more professional, am I wrong?

DKLS

Leaflet drops aren't a great way of getting new business.

I bin any that come my way bar for the odd takeaway menu.