News - 17/02/06
How to lasso cowboy workmen
Topworkmen.com was accredited by national newspaper The Independent, in an article concerned with combating rogue traders and bogus workmen. Topworkmen.com was suggested by The Independent as a primary source to help you “find work people that you can trust”.
How to find people you can trust
Helen Monks of The Independent advises on “how to find people you can trust.” She recommends checking “to see if there is any feedback on a company you have received a quote from” on www.topworkmen.com.
People helping people
Ms Monks also recommends word of mouth. She says that it can be beneficial to “ask friends and family for recommendations and check out a tradesperson's finished product.” This of course ties in entirely with the Topworkmen.com ethos, which is all about people helping people. Topworkmen.com allows you to read genuine feedback on reputable tradesmen operating in your area. As such, Topworkmen.com allows people to share and benefit from the good experiences of others, giving them confidence and peace of mind when selecting a company from our database.
Trustmark
In her article, Ms Monks also considered the new government backed Trustmark scheme:
“Having the builders in can be among the most stressful events for any household, particularly when you end up shelling out thousands on a cowboy job.
Up to one in four Britons have fallen victim to bogus builders and repairmen, according to a report from Lloyds TSB Insurance, suggesting that a new government-backed logo scheme for tradespeople, TrustMark, is well overdue.
Under the scheme, launched this week, TrustMark-registered firms are checked and monitored against recognised British, international or industry standards by accredited TrustMark scheme operators, typically trade associations or trade bodies for the relevant industry areas.
The TrustMark stamp aims to help ensure consumers receive a good standard of workmanship by workers who have had their skills checked, work inspected and who are vetted as being financially sound. It will also assist consumers in finding contractors whom they know are required by the scheme to deal with any complaint in a fair and consistent fashion.
If things do go wrong and the TrustMark firm cannot resolve complaints, consumers can take up grievances with the approved scheme operator responsible for monitoring the firm. If the scheme operator agrees with your complaint, the firm will have to put the problem right and might face disciplinary action.
However, while the new logo ought to go some way towards reassuring the public about the trustworthiness of certain service providers, the scheme does not control how much firms can charge. It is as important as ever to get at least three quotes before picking a builder or plumber.
It is hoped that eventually there will be accredited operators for all trades. So far, 5,000 firms have signed up and TrustMark expects to have 25,000 members in just over a year. Organisations that have already become scheme members are generally reputable bodies, likely to have pre-existing standards, codes and complaints procedures recently tested and approved by TrustMark.
Many in relevant industries welcome the initiative. The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) is the industry's non profit-making, voluntary regulatory body and has become a TrustMark scheme operator. Jim Gracie, a regional NICEIC director, says: "There are a plethora of logos which consumers can find confusing. Bringing together businesses under one logo is a very sensible move."
That said, in addition to the new logo, there are a number of accreditations, qualifications and certificates householders should continue to look out for when shopping for services.
There are 19,000 NICEIC-registered approved contractors and choosing one of these above another electrician offers the reassurance of knowing they are required to issue a safety certificate for all electrical work. They must confirm installations have been designed, constructed, inspected and tested in accordance with the national electrical safety standard, BS 7671.
Going for an NICEIC electrician also gives customers the peace of mind that if electrical work is below the technical standard they must correct it at no additional cost.
The Federation of Master Builders is also a TrustMark operator and represents more than 13,000 small- and medium-sized builders. The FMB operates a TrustMark-approved code of practice in line with legal requirements, and a complaints procedure where members can face expulsion and other disciplinary action.
When it comes to avoiding problems, the FMB says there is no substitute for clear communication. Brian Schubert, an FMB director, says: "Most problems with building projects occur when there is no clear contract outlining exactly what should be done and for how much."
The FMB provides a free plain English contract which can be used for any building project, downloadable at its website. All FMB members have had six reference checks and their trading and financial history investigated.
If you need a plumber, look for members of the Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association, a TrustMark administrator. Consumers must still inquire about certificates, as any person working with gas installation or maintenance is legally required to be registered with Corgi.
If you are unconvinced about a worker's Corgi status, check by contacting Corgi or ask to see your plumber's identification card. It should include a picture plus a list of the areas they can work in.
With all tradespeople, look out for five tell-tale signs that a firm might be less than trustworthy, suggests Lloyds TSB Home insurance. These include the offer of a cheap deal for cash, while the offer to begin work the next day should also ring alarm bells, as a good tradesman will usually be busy.
Beware of any worker who can only be reached by mobile phone. And think about avoiding companies unwilling to put you in touch with past clients who might be able show you examples of their work.
Lastly, anyone who demands payment upfront may doubt whether you will be willing to pay once the job is done and inspected.”
He came out straight away…
Ms Monk’s goes on to cite an example of a cowboy trader, and the dangers posed:
“Last year, Charlie Bailey, 29, paid an electrician £600 for work so poorly executed that it could have resulted in a serious injury.
The public relations manager and consultant was heavily pregnant with her son, Alex, now nearly nine months old, and was desperate to have her home's electrics in good working order ahead of the birth.
"I just plucked someone local from the Yellow Pages. On the phone he seemed absolutely lovely and he could come straight away. I suppose that should have been my first clue that he might not be the best, but I'd hoped that by sticking to someone in the Streatham area, there would be some assurance."
It wasn't long after the electrician had been paid that the electricity failed again, leaving Charlie and her husband, Nick, without hot water, enormously stressed, not to mention in some danger because of the perilous state of the workman's efforts.
"We called him round to try and solve the problem, but all he did was the classic sucking the air through his teeth and said the problem was nothing to do with him."
In the end, the family found someone through word of mouth who put the problems right. They are unlikely to use a random repair person again.”
Excerpts taken from article by Helen Monks, The Independent, 17 February, 2006.
Press release - 17/02/2006