Problems with Checkatrade

[LOVELYDOVEY05]

I put up this post to ensure no one else is caught out.
In the space of only 2 years we have had a problem with 3 different
trades procured from Checkatrade

1. A builder (experienced ) who did a botch job and has cost £5000

so far to fix

1. An electrician who gave no paperwork (new fuseboard)

3. A gas safe engineer who filled in the paperwork incorrectly We spotted this by pure chance.

I refuse to use checkatrade anymore - it's a complete con. They refuse to post genuine negative reviews so you can't trust what is written about the companies on there

Is checkatrade one of those who charge trades for the badge and ignore any feedback?
Never used it.

Yep, we were stung by a crap plasterer from Checkatrade. Never again.

It's a con. We used a roofer who did a shit job and basically got aggressive when I said I was giving him 5/10.

Go on to "Trading Standards: Check a Trade website" for recommendations in future.

No guarantee but you are in with a sporting chance on that website,.

What is it with some tradesman?
How do people find a decent tradesman who turns up when they say they will, do a good job and don’t con you.

Things like check a trade seem not worth trying, local Facebook pages just have the actual tradesman, their friends and relatives recommending them and when you have a Friend/relative who personally recommends somebody, when you try them yourself they don’t even bother to turn up.

Think I need to get my DH to learn a few trades.

We had excellent carpet layers and bathroom/central heating engineers from checkatrade but I do read the reviews very carefully

As I understand it the trader pays to go on the website. I can only assume that means they dont get enough work from word of mouth. I would guess that means they are possibly either just starting out or not very good.

Does your local council not do a 'trusted trader'?

I have started just doing a google search to find trades now- I pick the ones with a simple website (anything flashy will charge £££s) and if there’s a couple of good google reviews, so much the better.

I found a painter when he was up a ladder painting a local house- still to do the work but it’s another way to find trades.

Not had much luck with the trades websites- always seem a bit expensive/not that great/the problem’s too niche and no replies.

Posted too soon...

Ours and the neighbouring council both have sections on their websites of local tradespeople who are verified as not being cowboys. They are only put on the list by customer reviews to the council.

We’ve had quite a few good trades through checkatrade but we always look for people who also live nearby; the “local” aspect seems to have worked in our favour.
We often see them out and about and they still say “hello, how’s the kitchen/driveway/ whatever?”.

It's useless. A plumber I fired and ordered off site for complete incompetence had a top rating on Checkatrade.

I have only had good experience with checkatrade but only go with high amount of reviews, good average score and check they have some photos of work they have done. We try and keep them local too and if they have a website then all the better.

The only bad ish experience we have had so far was a fitter from a high street shop so not someone we found ourselves.

I go by recommendation from friends. Failing that l ask for recommendations on my local FB group or Next Door.

I know of an old lady who was recently scammed out of £16,000 by a tradesman listed on Checkatrade. He told her he would install an air ventilation system in her house which would filter out Covid 19. I only ever go by word of mouth recommendations.

Yeah we were completely ripped off with a builder from that, or trust a trader. Someone actually came out to inspect his shoddy work but all that happened was they took him down off the website - he was just listed on others instead!

I read a post on another forum by somebody who left two negative reviews on checkatrade and he said that they were never published!

I’m in a small village so I find the best source of tradesmen is the local pub.

Unfortunately so does everyone else. I’m desperate for the local joiner you have a fate in his diary for me but I don’t trust anyone else.

I had similar problems with my builder lost £2500. The only good thing was that after several months of back and forwards my builder stopped his account.

My ex partner is a plasterer. He has straight 10’s - but half of the reviews are fake. You need recent reviews to stay relevant when someone searches ‘plasterer’ on Checkatrade site. So he gets friends to fake reviews which pushes his company to the top. Not saying his work isn’t good but anyone who morally thinks this is OK can’t be trusted IMO.

We had problems with a builder from them, and posted a negative review; as they hadn't finished the job. They said they'd finish the work if we took the review down-err no, that's not how it works! I always thought Checkatrade checked their workmen, but apparently anyone can be registered with them just by paying.

Checkatrade is useless. The one plumber i got off of it had stellar reviews and I had to fire him he totally botched the job. Never trust it.

That's a shame. I've been using Checkatrade a lot recently and only go for the people with lots of good reviews. I haven't had a problem so far.

We were warned that some dodgy traders make customers give them a good review or they won't finish the job.

We've been lucky with the 2 traders we found on check a trade and both did a really good job.