Difference between Trusted Traders and Trustatrader?

Annie1960

What's the difference between council Trusted Trader (which seems to be connected with Which?), and Trustatrader?

I thought they were different bodies, but I've just done a search and the Trustatrader site seems to have my local council's Trading Standards in their web address. I have put the link below.

I thought the Trusted Traders were also vetted via the council, but they seem to have linked up with Which?


http://www.trustatrader.com/trade-associations/herts-county-council-trading-standards/

When I follow this link, I get different traders from the ones on the Which? website.

Are both schemes good, or is one better than the other?

Silver-Surfer_2

Aren't you better sourcing your tradesmen from personal recommendation rather than anonymous reviews on line?

Furts

Members of Which can put forward names of traders they say are good - the idea being to build up local coverage, and this system has existed for perhaps ten years or so. I do not think non members can recommend anyone. Hence one hopes genuine reviews exist, posted by people with a consumer orientated approach. I have put forward names and these are on there, but I have not done so in recent years.

Trustmark pre dates all this and was a government initiative. However it floundered, and effectively Which stepped into the breach with their scheme.

Both have been superseded by the the rise of web based trade recommendation sites.

Are any of then any good? You decide, but in theory both Trustmark and Which should be better than the other common sites.

Annie1960

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

Aren't you better sourcing your tradesmen from personal recommendation rather than anonymous reviews on line?

This method does not work - I got a real cowboy using a personal recommendation!

The 'official' schemes are nothing to do with anonymous reviews online. They are local authority/Trading Standards initiatives, and they seem to do their own checks, and more importantly traders have to sign up to an ADR scheme.

However, I'm not sure of the difference between Trustatrader and Which?

Annie1960

Furts wrote: »

Both have been superseded by the the rise of web based trade recommendation sites.

I tried a plumber off 'rated people' once, and he was hopeless, and refused to give me a receipt or any paperwork. There is no way to check the trading addresses of these people, so I would not use them again.

Are any of then any good? You decide, but in theory both Trustmark and Which should be better than the other common sites.

...............

Furts

Annie1960 wrote: »

This method does not work - I got a real cowboy using a personal recommendation!

The 'official' schemes are nothing to do with anonymous reviews online. They are local authority/Trading Standards initiatives, and they seem to do their own checks, and more importantly traders have to sign up to an ADR scheme.

However, I'm not sure of the difference between Trustatrader and Which?

I am not aware of any connection between the two. Equally I am not aware of Which doing any checks on the traders they list - it is not their role to do so, because it is simply a list of traders recommended by members.

Furts

Annie1960 wrote: »

...............

I did not say any of the sites were any good, and I did say "you decide".

Without doubt personal recommendation is brilliant, but it is also flawed as you found out. Here the flaw could be yours. Think it through - what probing questions did you ask to back up, and confirm, the personal recommendation for your plumber? Apprenticeship? Length of time trading? Gas Safe? Speed of work? Kit held on their van? Test procedures on completion of their work? Confidence regarding payment?...are some that come to mind.

The brutal truth is the vast majority of consumers are unable to give genuine personal recommendation because they are not qualified, nor interested, in the work being undertaken. Many more are only interested in sales BS, spin and superficial presentation.

Only last night a neighbour was directing a cowboy double glazing company onto an unsuspecting neighbour. This was "personal recommendation" in action despite me calling in yesterday afternoon to warn against the neighbour doing this.

Similarly I intervened recently with another neighbour when I saw a local cowboy's car outside their home. It turned out she had been invited in to discuss building a conservatory. This was because of another "personal recommendation". I had a discrete word and the neighbour did not place the order with the cowboy.

There is only so much I can do, and then only for certain neighbours. The cowboys have to earn a living somewhere and I am happy if this is with the less liked neighbours!

Annie1960

Furts wrote: »

I am not aware of any connection between the two. Equally I am not aware of Which doing any checks on the traders they list - it is not their role to do so, because it is simply a list of traders recommended by members.

I spoke to Which.

They carry out checks including paperwork. insurance, reference checks (apparently they randomly select some previous customers). There is also a code of conduct, and an ADR scheme is customers have any problems.

PenguinOfDeath

Annie1960 wrote: »

What's the difference between council Trusted Trader (which seems to be connected with Which?), and Trustatrader?

Probably the few quid the trader has to pay to be advertised on the site.

Furts

Annie1960 wrote: »

I spoke to Which.

They carry out checks including paperwork. insurance, reference checks (apparently they randomly select some previous customers). There is also a code of conduct, and an ADR scheme is customers have any problems.

I go back to personal recommendation as being the best approach. Also do not view Which with rose tinted spectacles. I had a dispute with a Which Trusted Trader who had tried to fleece an OAP. I dealt direct with the trader and did not involve Which. The matter was settled between us amicably, and benefited the OAP around £3000. I say this as a warning to the realities of any "recommendation" sites.

Annie1960

I'm really looking for answers from anyone who knows more about the Trustatrader scheme..

Does anyone have any personal experience or knowledge of this?