BUILDING SERVICES TRADE ASSOCIATION SAYS FLOODED HOMEOWNERS SHOULD USE THE TRUSTMARK SCHEME TO GUARD AGAINST ROGUE TRADERS
Flooded homes will need extensive repair and refurbishment work in the coming months. In pursuing this work, the many thousands of rogue traders operating in the UK will waste no time in trying to exploit vulnerable homeowners, especially the elderly. To guard against the rip-off tactics of rogue traders and their sub-standard, shoddy work, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association, says that affected homeowners should use TrustMark members and points out that it is the only ‘trade competence’ scheme that is Government endorsed.
12 February 2014 – The ever rising number of flood damaged homes will need extensive repair and refurbishment work in the coming months. In pursuing this work you can be certain that rogue traders will waste no time in trying to exploit vulnerable homeowners, especially the elderly. To guard against the rip-off tactics of rogue traders and their sub-standard, shoddy work, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association, says that affected homeowners should use TrustMark members.
Roderick Pettigrew, Chief Executive of B&ES, one of the first organisations to be appointed a TrustMark scheme operator when it was launched in 2006, comments, “It’s with a sad inevitability that cowboy builders and rogue traders will be moving in now to try to secure the repair and refurbishment work that flooded properties will need in the coming weeks and months. Homeowners distraught by the damage to their homes and anxious to get the remedial work done quickly will be vulnerable to rogue traders and their hollow promises.
“That is why we strongly recommend that homeowners use TrustMark members for this work. Whilst there are several trade competence schemes now operating in the UK only one – TrustMark – is officially endorsed and backed by the Government. TrustMark was set up specifically to help homeowners and consumers locate local, reputable tradespeople to carry out quality improvements, repairs and maintenance work on their home or garden.
“By employing the services of TrustMark registered traders, homeowners can be assured that they are using a firm that operates according to industry best practice, with a standard of workmanship that has been verified by their TrustMark Scheme Operator.”
The TrustMark scheme covers many of the trades householders look for such as builders, heating engineers, plumbers, electricians, glaziers, roofers, landscape gardeners and damp-proof specialists.
For more information about the Trustmark scheme visit: http://www.trustmark.org.uk. For advice on home heating and energy saving, including how to locate a qualified, registered heating engineer, visit http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk.
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) by Next Step Marketing Ltd
Media enquiries to: Heather Lambert. Tel: 44(0)1256 472020;
Fax: 44(0)1256 471010; E-mail: heather@nextstepmarketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
Since its formation in 1904, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association (formerly the HVCA) has represented the interests of companies engaged in a wide range of building and engineering services including domestic heating and renewable technologies.
B&ES members are subject to regular, third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability, carried out by an independent certification body at least every three years.
B&ES members who undertake gas installations are registered with Gas Safe – the gas safety watchdog body – and are also members of TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme designed to direct customers towards reliable tradespeople.
B&ES operates the Heating Helpline (http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk) to provide consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating.
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