At S.E.M one of our priorities is to help and advise people how to avoid being ripped off by a rogue trader, here is some information to help.

• Dont 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 and YOU may be liable to prosecution for VAT fraud.
  
• Dont use a company if their workers offer to do work privately for 'cash' at a lower price. Again you will not have a guarantee and there is a risk of prosecution for VAT fraud.
  
• Do not use a company that has county court judgements 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 boneafide references - There could be a very good reason why they don't have a good why they don't have a good reputation and satisfied customers happy to sing there praises.
  
• ever use companies who don't guarantee there work - if they don't believe in the quality of their work , why should you?
  
• Do not pay in cash of in full up front - What kind of tradesmen demands to be paid in cash , or wants his money before you've seen his work?
  
• Never use an unknown company that has not been recommended to you.
  
• 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 trad 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.