Flurry of cowboy builders prompts Checkatrade to block record number of tradespeople
- In the last six months Checkatrade turned away a record 668 tradespeople
The number of rogue traders trying and failing to sign up to Checkatrade has risen sharply in the last six months, data reveals.
In the last six months, Checkatrade turned away a record 668 tradespeople who failed its sign-up checks, representing a 13 per cent rise year-on-year.
Roofers comprised 19 per cent of those turned away, followed by driveway companies, at 11 per cent, and landscapers, at 7 per cent.
Rejected: The number of rogue traders trying and failing to sign up to Checkatrade has risen sharply in the last six months
Of those who were rejected by Checkatrade, 31 per cent failed to provide documentation such as proof of identity and their address.
Five per cent were rejected for having a poor trading history, while 8 per cent were turned away for having negative reviews online, Checkatrade said.
Figures from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy published in 2022 claimed unscrupulous traders cost homeowners around £1.4billion a year.
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Separate Opinium research published in 2021 showed that over half of people are not confident they can spot a 'cowboy' from a verified tradesperson.
Mathieu Proust, chief operating officer of Checkatrade, said: 'The fact that we have had to block more trades from joining Checkatrade than ever before points to a worrying trend in the wider industry that consumers must be savvy about when planning their home projects.
'High demand for tradespeople and longer-than-average wait times for jobs has placed a huge amount of pressure on the home services industry, creating the perfect environment for unscrupulous characters to step in and take advantage.'
Before a tradesperson can join Checkatrade as a member, they must pass up to 12 checks and agree to uphold the 'Checkatrade Standard'. For households, each job is guaranteed by £1,000 for up to a year.
Getting renovations done to a home can be extremely expensive and many homeowners are left waiting for lengthy periods to get work done. That's if they've been able to find and speak to the tradesperson they are after.
In some cases, homeowners are struggling to speak to the tradespeople they require, as requests for quotes often go unanswered.
Last week, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) set out the principles trader recommendation sites.
The CMA said trader recommendation websites should, among other measures, ensure that claims about services and the traders on their sites are clear and accurate, conduct appropriate checks before traders are allowed to advertise on their site and have accessible, transparent, and effective complaints processes.
George Lusty, interim executive director for consumer protection, said: 'More and more people are using sites and apps like these to help them find the right trader, from rewiring the kitchen to fixing a leak.
'But we’ve seen worrying evidence suggesting people could be misled into thinking these sites actually check traders – and will take action when things go wrong – which isn’t the case.'
Checkatrade says there are four red flags to watch out for when getting a tradesperson to do a job in your home.
1. Watch out for overly cheap quotes
If the cost seems too good to be true, it most probably is. Checkatrade and other sits have costs guides which can be helpful. Remember, cheap work can’t always be rectified.
2. Be wary in an emergency
If you have an emergency leak at home or your fence has blown down in extreme weather, it's easy to just look up for the first suitable tradesperson you find and plump with them.
However, it pays to pause for thought as some rogue traders will take advantage of busy periods or moments of crisis, such as extreme weather. Read reviews and ensure trades are vetted and qualified to undertake the requested work.
3. Watch out for demands for full upfront payments
This is a serious red flag to watch out for. Don’t agree to making full payment in advance of work being undertaken.
Get a detailed written quote that includes terms and conditions and states what will be covered by the quote – and what won’t. This could prove vital later down the line if the job doesn't go to plan.
4. Never accept work from trades who doorstep
According to Checkatrade, 44 per cent of people have been doorstepped.
However, reputable trades will never carry out this practice.
Never be pressured into having work done by someone who knocks on your door and look out for vulnerable neighbours who may be at risk of being taken in.
