Rogue Traders Press Release  (5th October 2007)

Lloyds TSB Insurance warns - Beware of the Rogue Traders

As thousands of UK homeownersbegin to arrange the repairs to their flood-affected properties, Lloyds TSB Insurance is urging residents to beware of the rogue traders!

With the drying-out phase coming to a close on many of this summer’s flooded homes, residents will now start looking to instruct qualified tradespeople to undertake the millions of pounds of repairs required on their properties. Qualified Plasterers, Carpenters and Painter and Decorators, among others, will be in high demand - creating an opportunity for the rogue traders to target unsuspecting homeowners.

Every year thousands of householders are targeted by rogue door-to-door home maintenance traders masquerading as professionals. They will often agree to carry out work immediately and for a very low quote, but the quality of work is usually substandard and requires further attention from a qualified tradesperson at additional cost to the customer.  Last year, rogue traders cost unsuspecting homeowners acrossBritainover £1.36 billion**.

Lloyds TSB Insurance has issued the following advice to homeowners:

• Never employ a cold caller
• Always use a professional builder who is recommended for doing similar work or a bona fide member of a trade association, such as the Federation of Master Builders (FMB)
• Talk to the builder's previous customers. Go and see the jobs they have done and make sure the customers were happy. Check they completed the job properly and came within budget.
• Produce a detailed written specification for the work you want done.
• Ask at least three builders to provide written quotes.
• Make sure the builders' quotes cover everything you would like done, including the supply of materials, removal of rubbish and making good after the work is finished.
• Prepare a written contract, itemising what work is to be done and include details of payments to be made as various stages of the work are completed and get it signed before any work starts.
• Make sure the builder has the appropriate level of public liability insurance for the work to be carried out on your home.

A spokesperson from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said: “If you are targeted by a rogue trader, do not engage in conversation with them. Say you need to compare prices or that you have to discuss it with your partner, son, daughter or friend. A quality tradesperson will have a queue of customers waiting to have work done on their homes – they will not have time to knock on your door.”

Phil Loney, managing director of Lloyds TSB Insurance said; “It’s understandable that those affected by this summer’s flooding are eager to get the repairs to their home completed as quickly as possible, but it’s equally as important to ensure that the work is carried out to a safe standard and completed by qualified tradespeople. Our dedicated flood website www.helpimflooded.co.uk features information and advice as well as useful links to trade associations, such as the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) who can help you find a reputable tradesperson in your area.”

** Source: Figure supplied by Trading Standards

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