How to Avoid a Rogue Tradesman

  How to Avoid a Rogue Tradesman

• Do not use companies who insist on being paid in cash or are not prepared to give you an invoice. Your work will not have a valid guarantee and you may be liable to prosecution for VAT fraud.
• Do not use a company who offer to do work privately for 'cash' at a lower price. Again you will not have a guarantee and there is the risk of prosecution for VAT fraud.
• Do not use companies that do not have a verifiable address - If they won't tell you where they are, perhaps they do not want to be found.
• Avoid tradesmen who do not have a land based telephone line - What sort of response will you get from a switched off mobile phone if there is a problem?
• Never use an unknown company that has not been recommended to you.
• Do not employ tradesmen who are not members of the appropriate, reputable, trade association. 
• Never allow any tradesman who does not carry photo identification into your house.
• Make sure you can communicate with your tradesman - He might be cheap, but can he understand what you want him to do?
• Do not employ scruffy tradesmen who drive rusty old vans - Their work will probably be of a similar standard as their appearance.