Don´t be Caught out by Unqualified Rogue Traders

When you need to have building work done on your London property, how can you tell the skilled tradesman from the cowboy, the trustworthy from the unscrupulous? Here are the main things you need to check:

ID

You must know who you are dealing with and how you can contact them. Anyone offering quality London building services will advertise their business name, an address and telephone number. Most will also give an email and website address, and they’ll be easy to find in the phone book and local directories. Beware of someone who only wants to give you his first name and a mobile number.

Qualifications

Anyone can call themselves a builder, plumber or electrical contractor in London, but rogue traders won´t have the relevant certificates and documents to prove they are properly trained. Professionals won’t be offended if you ask about their qualifications. They are a guide to the standard of work you can expect and reassurance that the holder is familiar with current safety regulations. Anyone working with gas supplies or appliances must be on the Gas Safe Register, and preferably certified under the Gas Operatives Accredited Certification Scheme.

Reputable builders are often members of a national trade association such as the Federation of Master Builders or the Government supported TrustMark scheme. Rogue traders sometimes claim to belong to these organizations but if you have any suspicions it’s easy to check by visiting the relevant websites.

Quotations and payments

A genuine London builder will expect to visit your property, discuss the work you want to be done, and answer any questions you might have. This will be followed by a detailed, written quotation, which you will not be under any obligation to accept. A verbal – and perhaps vague – estimate of the final cost is a sure sign of a cowboy. It´s advisable to get several quotations before making your final choice but the cheapest will not always be the best. If one seems too good to be true, it probably is!

You should also be clear about how and when payment is expected. On a large building project you might be asked for a partial payment at the end of each stage but the final payment should not be made until after the work has been completed to your satisfaction. A cheque made out to a business name should be acceptable, although most building services companies will also be able to take a credit card payment. Be very suspicious of someone asking for cash.

References

Any building company in London that is proud of its reputation will be able to show you recommendations from satisfied customers. Contact some of the writers and ask if you can see the work that has been done. A plumber or electrician who can’t remember the address of the last job he worked on is not to be trusted.

Rogue traders can often seem plausible and if you’re not confident of spotting the cowboys the best safeguard is to use a building services company that does all the checks for you. Choose one that only employs qualified and experienced people who are experts in their trades and take a real pride in their work.