HOW TO AVOID ROGUE TRADERS

AT ELMCASTLE ELECTRICAL ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES IS TO HELP AND ADVISE PEOPLE ON HOW TO AVOID BEING RIPPED OFF BY A ROGUE TRADER. HERE IS SOME INFORMATION TO HELP

• Don't use companies that insist on being paid in cash, and who are not prepared to give you an invoice. Your work will not have a valid guarantee.
• Don't use a company if their employees offer to do work privately for 'cash' at a lower price. Again you will not have a guarantee.
• Do not use a company that has county court judgments lodged against them.
• Never give the go-ahead for work to start without an estimate or the hourly rate you will be charged - You might get a nasty shock when you get the bill!.
• Do not use companies that do not have a verifiable address. If they wont tell you where they are , perhaps they don't want to be found!
• Avoid tradesman who don't have a land based telephone line - what sort of response will you get from a switched off mobile phone if there is a problem?
• Avoid companies that charge for any of the following:- call-out charges, travelling time, excessive time for picking up materials, MORE than 20% mark up on materials , congestion fees, or for parking.
• Avoid smooth talking tradesman who recommend extra work and once they arrive at your house behave more like salesmen that tradesmen.
• Never use companies without a history or bonafide references - There could be a very good reason why they don't have a good reputation and satisfied customers happy to sing there praises.
• Never use companies who don't guarantee their work - if they don't believe in the quality of their work , why should you?
• What kind of tradesmen demands to be paid in cash , or wants his money before you've seen his work?
• What kind of company would ask for your credit card details before even starting work
• Do not employ an unqualified or inexperienced tradesmen. Putting things right afterwards can be a very expensive operation.
• Do not employ tradesmen who are not members of the appropriate reputable trade association - In the case of plumbing corgi.
• Never allow any tradesmen or company who do not carry photo id into your property at any time.