Anyone a Member Of Check A Trade?

[One Legged Striker]

Looking to become a member of Check A Trade, to hopefully get me more business, just need to know wether it would be worthwhile.

Thanks for your help.

 

[sams dad]

What business are you in ?
I'm a builder and I joined Ratedpeople.com recently and I've had several successful job leads from that.You have to pay up-front for the leads but they are generally reasonably priced.

 

[Lush]

As a customer, I always go to Checkatrade first if I need something doing and never been disappointed.

Hope this helps.

 

[One Legged Striker]

Yeh I'm a floor layer I sub contract off one person, but need get my own work.

 

[sams dad]

As a customer, I always go to Checkatrade first if I need something doing and never been disappointed.

Hope this helps.

If you ever need a builder check me out ( Steve Kennedy) on Ratedpeople.com
I've got some excellent ratings and comments.

 

[seven stands]

One of my customers used check a trade before me and had a bad job done and complained to check a trade who said sorry xxxx has paid his 750 pounds and we have printed 100,000 leaflets so he is on our register for the rest of the year. Which makes me think cheack a trade are a load of rubbish and just after money, which makes them as bad as the cowboys they are "ment" to stop

 

[desprateseagull]

is it truer that any negative ratings are barred / removed? not really getting a full picture of any firm..

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

One of my customers used check a trade before me and had a bad job done and complained to check a trade who said sorry xxxx has paid his 750 pounds and we have printed 100,000 leaflets so he is on our register for the rest of the year. Which makes me think cheack a trade are a load of rubbish and just after money, which makes them as bad as the cowboys they are "ment" to stop

At the end of the day they are out to make money.I am a builder and thankfully dont have to advertise.I know a couple of people in check a trade and if they think the customer might leave them bad feedback they dont give them a form,so the feedback is flawed.On the flipside i have heard it can be quite good to get work from but it is pretty expensive to belong too.

 

[seven stands]

At the end of the day they are out to make money.I am a builder and thankfully dont have to advertise.I know a couple of people in check a trade and if they think the customer might leave them bad feedback they dont give them a form,so the feedback is flawed.On the flipside i have heard it can be quite good to get work from but it is pretty expensive to belong too.

As an advertising tool it's great, they just wind me up that they make the public think they are doing them a favour when they are infact shite and just making money out of people who panic from watching tv shows like cowboy builders

 

[Lush]

As an advertising tool it's great, they just wind me up that they make the public think they are doing them a favour when they are infact shite and just making money out of people who panic from watching tv shows like cowboy builders

OK, but if you don't have a personal recommendation, then being able to go online and read customer feedback (even if it's only the positive ones) is still better than picking a name out of Yellow Pages.

£750 does seem a bit steep though.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

As a customer, I always go to Checkatrade first if I need something doing and never been disappointed.

Hope this helps.

Ditto. I've now got a really good sparkie and a painter and decorator. I just need a plumber for the full set.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

One of my customers used check a trade before me and had a bad job done and complained to check a trade who said sorry xxxx has paid his 750 pounds and we have printed 100,000 leaflets so he is on our register for the rest of the year. Which makes me think cheack a trade are a load of rubbish and just after money, which makes them as bad as the cowboys they are "ment" to stop

It's true that these type of "i am a good trade schemes" are not by any means a way of telling good trade people from bad ones, they are just a way for companies to MAKE SHED LOADS OF MONEY out of companies some may generate more work after joining them (but generally it will just put the cost up to the company and therefore the customer will end up paying it) but let's face it they are just marketing bullshit - their way of policing these scheme can never work unless someone is watching their every move anyone could look good to a suspected mystery shopper or a visit from the firm that runs the scheme.

If you really want to find a decent tradesman get genuine referrals from friends and family, usually the busy guy from a small town is good value to the customer as his reputation is vital and the word spreads quick amongst villagers!!

In Short - Customers: you are NOT guaranteed a decent tradesman.
- Businesses: If your that good you will NEVER find the need to waste money on these schemes IMO>

 

[Deleted member 2719]

At the end of the day they are out to make money.I am a builder and thankfully dont have to advertise.I know a couple of people in check a trade and if they think the customer might leave them bad feedback they dont give them a form,so the feedback is flawed.On the flipside i have heard it can be quite good to get work from but it is pretty expensive to belong too.

Sorry missed your post it amazes me that some customer really believe these schemes i wonder if they are the same people that might buy encyclopaedias form the doorstep!!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Sorry missed your post it amazes me that some customer really believe these schemes i wonder if they are the same people that might buy encyclopaedias form the doorstep!!

I think most people can appreciate Checkatrade has limitations and I'd be pretty surprised if anyone thought it guaranteed a good tradesperson as another poster has suggested. At best it's a useful first port of call and a single element in the various elements one uses to choose a professional.

 

[Uter]

If you really want to find a decent tradesman get genuine referrals from friends and family, usually the busy guy from a small town is good value to the customer as his reputation is vital and the word spreads quick amongst villagers!!

I strongly disagree with this. Asking your friends to recommend someone and they will usually just give you the name of the person they last used unless they were completely lamentable. And what if you can't get a recommendation or don't know anyone to ask?

I agree Checkatrade and similar schemes are not perfect but to completely dismiss them? For most people it's a way of providing a level of assurance that a tradesman is not a so called rogue-trader and I'm sure most people are intelligent enough to realise that things can still go wrong.

 

[Martinf]

This is better than Checkatrade IMO - the firms are actually checked by Trading Standards and once in you are in your business is promoted as honest and reliable by Trading Standards. I dont think Checkatrade validate their businesses or at least not to the level that this scheme does. Here's the one for East Sussex (I think Brighton & Hove City Council and West Sussex CC run similar schemes):

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/business/tradingstandards/buywithconfidence/business/default.htm

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I strongly disagree with this. Asking your friends to recommend someone and they will usually just give you the name of the person they last used unless they were completely lamentable. And what if you can't get a recommendation or don't know anyone to ask?

I agree Checkatrade and similar schemes are not perfect but to completely dismiss them? For most people it's a way of providing a level of assurance that a tradesman is not a so called rogue-trader and I'm sure most people are intelligent enough to realise that things can still go wrong.

Are we still going for a cream tea today?

 

[Uter]

Are we still going for a cream tea today?

Yup. Midday?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Yup. Midday?

Sounds good. I will finish up some work, have a wash and see you there. I want to look and smell my best.