How to avoid a cowboy Tradesman!

[royaloakcarpentry]

Little boy sulk going on pmsl

[Jaeger_S2k]

Yeah, but I was just walking by and ...............................................................



I decided to sulk?

[Razor]

Ooooh Get a room you two

[shaun000777]

As a forman for 25 years at **************** work is usally paid for in stage payments,so after the first stage if its not right dont pay.Building control wont pass it if its not right thats a good yardstick if they are cowboys


Good tip, but spam removed mod 1

[royaloakcarpentry]

Don't agree with the building control part. Been in plenty of commercial and domestic properties where BC have passed the work and it has been sub standard. They just make sure it is to regs.

[Trades Master]

Bc dont really care as long as they can tick a box in there file.

[Rich-Ando]

thought this thread might be worth updating....

how to avoid rogue posters of threads...like the one that started this thread then took a video camera off the forum administrator, promising some videos for the forum and then disappears with it never to be seen again.

[Razor]

I can do some videos for the forum!

Where do I get my free camera?

[Job and Knock]

There are hundreds of lists for trades people, and anyone that pays their money can join one.

Another pet peeve, especially when you contact a potential client (which costs you, the tradesman) only to be told by the "client" that they are only looking to get a few prices and that they aren't sure they want the job doing because "it depends on the price". I've been stung by this a few times, and trying to explain to one of these "clients" that it's just cost me £10 to get their details only for them to ascertain that they can't even afford the three lengths of worktop (at cost, mind you) their U-shaped kitchen requires for a worktop replacement, let alone the labour cost of hauling the old one out and fitting the new one..........

[marcusjkw]

Good tradespeople will have their terms and conditions on the back of the quote/estimate

What sort of stuff would you expect to see in the T&C's?

[Leif]

My own experience is to use trades recommended by friends and/or colleagues and/or neighbours. I guess the last one is the worst, as they might recommend their 'uncle Ted' who desperately needs work cos he is carp. I tried CheckATrade, and got one rogue trader (proper company, valid insurance, low standard of work), and one that was okay but with issues. The problem is that sites like CheckATrade only allow one comment from the client, and one comment by the trader. Each may lie, and there is no follow up e.g. one week later wall fell down, trader said "go away, not my problem". Also there are suggestions some reviews are faked, no doubt denied by the sites. It has been said here that good trades do not need to use advertising sites.

I would second the comment to get everything down in writing e.g. reverse bath, chase radiator pipes into wall etc. Don't get suckered into the "It's much quicker, and simpler to talk face to face or on the phone" line.

If they ask for too much deposit, run. If they flatter you, are too friendly, describe your own work as "meticulous", do not spend much time examining the work area, start worrying. Good trades are sometimes not the friendliest people because they worry about doing a good job.

[MRTJOINERY&Build]

"How to avoid Rogue Multi-Traders"

Very funny

but so so true