While it's helpful to have a recommendation about a trader or professional, you should still take some precautions to make sure you get good service.
It's particularly important if you're having a major piece of work costing thousands of pounds done or you can't judge the end product for yourself.
Follow these simple steps on:
Finding a trader
1. Ring around and get a few estimates to make sure one trader or company isn't going to charge you over the odds or even offering suspiciously low prices.
- An estimate is a rough guideline price based on limited information.
2. Be specific about the work you want done and always get three written quotes for the work.
- A quote is an agreed fixed price for work usually after an inspection by the trader to try to limit the circumstances in which the price can be increased, eg limiting things that couldn't be found by a reasonable inspection.
3. Don't use a trader who offers you a lower price for cash. If things go wrong it will be difficult to get things put right. Insist on getting a written receipt.
4. Statutory Schemes
Many trades have bodies which accedit traders that meet certain legal standards. You may want or have to use one of these registered traders. Some schemes, such as the Gas Safe Register, are compulsory so all people working on gas appliances in Britain must register with them. With others, such as FENSA for the glazing industry, you can choose either to use a FENSA-certified trader or to get the local council to inspect the work. Other schemes include Part P schemes for electrical work and OFTEC for oil heating. Check the Which? Local articles in red for more information on each scheme.
Agreeing a deal
1. Don't pay for the work upfront and try to avoid giving a large deposit. If you do have to give a deposit, make sure the trader has insurance to protect any prepayment you make. But be fair and once the job's completed to your satisfaction, pay promptly.
2. If you pay for work costing between £100 - £30,000 by credit card, your card
Paying for work by credit card
could make it easier if things go
wrong.
provider has equal liability with the trader. So if things do go wrong you can make a claim against it as well as the trader. This can be helpful if, say, the trader's gone out of business.
3. If you need any work finished by a certain date, you should put in writing that time is of the essence and specify an agreed completion date.
4. There shouldn't be any surprises in your final bill. If the work is going to cost any extra, for example a garage may find a fault after starting your car's service, the company should agree it with you before doing the extra work.
If you are unhappy with the work done though, follow these tips on making a complaint.
Have you had a good service experience? Recommend a trader and let other which members know.