List to show which businesses to trust
9:00am Thursday 14th February 2013 in News By Josh Layton
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Ashley Wheeler from Trading Standards as an administrator of the new scheme that aims to protect people from rogue traders by providing a list of reputable businesses.
ROGUE traders are being given the cold shoulder as Swindon Council’s Trading Standards team joins a guide that lists carefully-approved companies.
The Buy with Confidence website, a national scheme run by local authorities, lists 26 reputable businesses from the borough that are vetted and re-assessed annually.
The website is aimed at countering problems such as dodgy doorstep sales and an alleged rogue trader from Swindon who disappeared after a string of complaints.
Trading Standards officer Carla Baker said: “The aim of the scheme is to allow consumers to find reputable traders that trade fairly and legally by searching through a list of local approved traders.
“Our members cover a broad range of trades from builders to mechanics, electricians to cleaners. Traders wishing to join the scheme must apply and are then thoroughly vetted by Trading Standards.”
Traders must undergo checks, including having their complaints history reviewed and receiving a visit from Trading Standards to check they comply with consumer legislation.
Good references are required from previous customers and applicants must agree to abide by the scheme’s code of conduct.
Monitoring continues through checks for complaints and feedback forms given to customers.
Ashley Wheeler, an administrator of the scheme, said: “We often get phone calls about whether a trader is reliable or not. Before we couldn’t give out names and people had to pick through companies to make their own decision.”
The scheme has been running for 10 years, with Swindon Council becoming involved 10 months ago.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
DODGY practices by rogue traders led a partnership of local authority trading standards team to launch the Buy With Confidence scheme in 1999.
The initiative is the largest of its kind nationally and continues to expand across the country. In order to become a member, a business must apply or be recommended to join and then pass a series of background checks, which includes a review of their complaints history and references from previous customers. The companies pay a fee to join depending on how many staff they employ. Consumers can search by name or by the type of services listed on the website.
Coun Vera Tomlinson, cabinet member for a safer and stronger borough, said: “We would always advise people to use the Buy with Confidence scheme, as the traders who are members have been through a rigorous vetting process.” Visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk
Comments(4)
gina948
says...
9:40am Thu 14 Feb 13
AndyJH
says...
9:43am Thu 14 Feb 13
1-5 Employees: £120.00 per premise including VAT.
6-10: £180.00 per premise including VAT.
11+: £240.00 per premise including VAT.
Please note that a non-refundable £120 application fee (inc VAT) will apply on receipt of your application form. This will be deducted from your first year's membership if approved.
Please Note: If you carry out work in or around domestic premises, or for other high risk groups, you will be required to supply a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure form in respect of EVERY EMPLOYEE and unsupervised subcontractor who does such work on your behalf. There is a cost of £25.00 per person for this. See our CRB Guidance for further information.
Doesn’t look like Swindon Council's own Swindon Commercial Services are part of this scheme and I am wondering if any of their sub-contractors are?
LordAshOfTheBrake
says...
9:53am Thu 14 Feb 13
Unless large amounts of money are involved, people generally don't bother complaining as the fallout can be much worse; afterall that dodgy builder or tradesman knows where you live.
Many people will just put it down to experience.
salt and vinegar says...
9:22am Thu 14 Feb 13
It was a large patio by the way, ruined their lovely lawn with 3 different sized diggers before he found the right one for the job, what a mess.