Checkatrade - checks on contractors?

Tirion24

Had conflicting information from Checkatrade. In dispute with one of their traders who is registered on their site and has therefore been verified. Said trader sent, without any warning, someone else to do the job. Checkatrade said, first time, that, yes, any contractor would have to go through the same checks but second time, said no - the tradesperson can employ/contract who s/he likes and checks aren't carried out on them.

Can anyone cast any light on this?

PS I know about Checkatrade's shortcomings but they offer some degree of assurance (though now, I'm not so sure).

brightontraveller

Tirion24 wrote: »

Had conflicting information from Checkatrade. In dispute with one of their traders who is registered on their site and has therefore been verified. Said trader sent, without any warning, someone else to do the job. Checkatrade said, first time, that, yes, any contractor would have to go through the same checks but second time, said no - the tradesperson can employ/contract who s/he likes and checks aren't carried out on them.

Can anyone cast any light on this?

PS I know about Checkatrade's shortcomings but they offer some degree of assurance (though now, I'm not so sure).

They offer as much assurance as randomly picking a number from the telephone book........

Risteard

Surely a contractor is free to employ who they want and send them out to jobs. It doesn't have to be any particular individual - your contract is with the enterprise and not any particular person.

I have never had any dealings with Checkatrade so can't comment on how well they validate a contractor - although I would think independent assessment bodies might be more appropriate for that degree of confidence than some website which gives out job leads.

JEN22

I have had 2 bad experiences using people off check a trade. Would never use again

phill99

Checkatrade do undertake checks on all of the companies/tradesmen registered with it. I know this as one of my sub-contractors is with them and I always have to do a review for him plus they will always call to check that I actually undertook the review.


However, my sub-contractor will often put one of his own sub-contractors in to undertake the work. My contract is with my sub contractor so it is up to him to ensure that the guys he sub-contracts to is up to standard or I come back on him and he has to sort it out.


Sub-contracting is normal practice in construction an it is the defacto method of 'employment'.


If the guy you are concerned about employed somebody directly to do the work as opposed to a sub contractor, would you be worried about it? I guess not. Sub contracting is exactly the same relationship.


You still have control over the job a you are contracting person 'X'. He is the one that has to ensure the work is done to your satisfaction.

Doozergirl

What phill99 says.

I'm not on those sites but it's essentially me being checked by any prospective client even though I don't work on tools at all!

I don't parade my subbies for anyone to check. They're my responsibility.