Information on Loughborough

Consumers Warned

Posted on 22/05/08
J. Milton

builder working on a roof

Stories of botched building work can make finding reliable traders a worry but there are ways of increasing your chances of success, advises Consumer Direct East Midlands.

A number of government-supported schemes currently exist to help you avoid the rogue traders and find businesses that offer higher standards of customer service.

The government-endorsed TrustMark scheme focuses on helping find reliable tradespeople to carry out repair, maintenance and home improvement work. Trustmark-approved tradespeople, including plumbers, electricians and kitchen and bathroom installers can be found on the Trustmark website at www.trustmark.org.uk

Sara Barry, Manager for Consumer Direct East Midlands said: These schemes can take a lot of the worry out of finding a reputable trader, but its always worth talking to friends and family who can also recommend local businesses.

Consumer Direct East Midlands receives a large number of calls each year from homeowners across the region who have had problems with work carried out by rogue traders. These schemes help support reputable local businesses and can prevent the public being ripped off by less scrupulous traders. Although Consumer Direct cant recommend individual businesses, our Advisors can direct you to traders included in these schemes.

Complaints about home improvements form the single largest source of complaints to Consumer Direct within the East Midlands region. In the first three months of 2008, complaints to Consumer Direct East Midlands relating to home improvements were up nearly 8% on the same period last year. The government-funded helpline received more than 1,600 complaints about builders, plumbers, electricians, decorators and other home improvements traders in the first three months of this year for work totalling almost 5 million.

Consumer Direct East Midlands has this list of dos and donts if you do need to hire someone to carry out work to your home or garden:

DO

Ask friends, relatives or neighbours if they can recommend a trader who has carried out work for them.

Get the relevant trade associations to give you a list of members in your area.

Shop around and ask for at least three written quotes before choosing a trader.

Ask the trader for a written quote (this is a firm price rather than an estimate).

Get a firm date for starting and finishing the job.

Get details of the work to be carried out/contract in writing.

Remember to ask for and keep a record ofthe traders name, address and telephone number.

DONT

Dont be pressurised into having work done on the spot by someone who knocks on your door.

Dont pay the total amount up front and try to avoid paying large deposits. If you decide to pay in stages pay only for work that has been done. Dont make the final payment until you are completely satisfied with the job.

To report problems with rogue traders or for advice and information on all kinds of consumer issues call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

Latest Loughborough News

Libraries become more dyslexia-friendly

Created: Friday 19th of March 2010 05:30:01 PM

Leicestershire,Loughborough

Community Services19 March 2010Libraries become more dyslexia-friendlyLibraries across Leicestershire have signed up to a new set of guidelines designed to make them more dyslexia-friendly. Over the next few months, staff are being trained to ensure they understand the basic issues facing people with dyslexia....

Read More: Libraries become more dyslexia-friendly

Serving police officer dies following a collision in Leicestershire

Created: Friday 19th of March 2010 04:20:02 PM

police,constabulary,leicestershire police

Serving police officer dies following a collision in LeicestershirePC Phil TomaszewskiA serving police officer has died following a collision in the parish of Eaton, near Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire. The collision occurred at about 1....

Read More: Serving police officer dies following a collision in Leicestershire

Celebrated poet and writer visits the University of Leicester

Created: Friday 19th of March 2010 03:03:35 PM

Latest News

Bernardine Evaristo, acclaimed author of Blonde Roots and The Emperor s Babe, to speak at a free public event on Friday 26 March....

Read More: Celebrated poet and writer visits the University of Leicester

Donated furniture boosts good causes

Created: Friday 19th of March 2010 03:03:34 PM

Latest News

Good causes have received a boost thanks to donations of office furniture from Charnwood Borough Council. Items such as desks, filing cabinets and chairs are being distributed to good causes through Giving World Online, a scheme run by Leicester based charity Konnect9. ...

Read More: Donated furniture boosts good causes

Action packed week boosts community

Created: Friday 19th of March 2010 03:03:33 PM

Latest News

Around 10 tonnes of rubbish were collected, a buggy fit walk was held and health checks took place as part of a community action week in Mountsorrel. Organisations including Charnwood Borough Council, Leicestershire Police and Voluntary Action Charnwood worked with local residents to organise the busy week which aimed to improve the environment and boost residents fitness and wellbeing. ...

Read More: Action packed week boosts community

Related Loughborough News

Consumer Direct East Midlands

Created: Tuesday 22nd of April 2008 11:48:00 AM

paint brush

Consumer Direct East Midlands received more than 1,600 complaints about builders, plumbers, electricians, decorators and other home improvement traders in the first three months of this year totalling almost ...

Read More: Consumer Direct East Midlands

Rogue Traders

Created: Saturday 23rd of August 2008 08:14:23 PM

rogue traders

Following an increase in calls about rogue traders this summer Consumer Direct East Midlands is warning residents to be on their guard against traders who cold call offering to carry out property repairs....

Read More: Rogue Traders

CONSUMER DIRECT EAST MIDLANDS HELPS350,000 CONSUMERS IN THREE YEARS

Created: Tuesday 1st of July 2008 01:28:00 PM

consumers direct

Consumer Direct East Midlands, the government-backed consumer helpline, celebrates reaching its three year milestone this week as the advice service reveals it has helped 350,000 consumers in the region....

Read More: CONSUMER DIRECT EAST MIDLANDS HELPS350,000 CONSUMERS IN THREE YEARS

AVOID THE ROGUE DOORSTEP TRADERS THIS SUMMER WARNS CONSUMER DIRECT

Created: Wednesday 20th of May 2009 05:05:48 PM

News

As the sun comes out, so do the rogue traders, warns Consumer Direct today. The warning comes on National Rogue Trader Day, a multi-agency campaign designed to warn people of the dangers of rogue trading and doorstep crime....

Read More: AVOID THE ROGUE DOORSTEP TRADERS THIS SUMMER WARNS CONSUMER DIRECT

CONSUMER DIRECT ISSUES WARNING TO MOBILITY AID BUYERS

Created: Thursday 11th of June 2009 05:06:06 PM

News

A rise in complaints about mobility aids has led Consumer Direct East Midlands to issue a warning to residents of Loughborough and the rest of the East Midlands about the sharp practices of some operators selling mobility scooters, stairlifts and orthopaedic furniture....

Read More: CONSUMER DIRECT ISSUES WARNING TO MOBILITY AID BUYERS

Most Read Loughborough News (today)

Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood

Created: Friday 18th of July 2008 11:00:00 AM

graffiti

A SERIES of free graffiti workshops could help creative youngsters avoid a brush with the law. Charnwood Community Safety Partnership, of which Charnwood Borough Council is a partner, is staging the six-week programme of graffiti workshops in three neighbourhoods to give 11 to 16-year-olds an alternative means of expression rather than daubing slogans and images on buildings throughout the Borough....

Read More: Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood

Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success.

Created: Wednesday 2nd of July 2008 03:31:00 PM

police officer

14 motorbikes and mini-motos have been crushed after they were confiscated by police in Loughborough during a crack down on young people who drive dangerously and inconsiderately on roads, parks and public places....

Read More: Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success.

Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire

Created: Tuesday 22nd of July 2008 04:45:00 PM

social care

Radical changes to social care in Leicestershire will be outlined at a meeting next week. The County Council wants to personalise its social care and will update the Cabinet on the plans next Tuesday (29th July)....

Read More: Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire

Sport Relief Arrives in Loughborough

Created: Friday 29th of January 2010 05:01:25 PM

News

Sport Relief is back and it s coming to Loughborough! The town is set to host one of Sainsbury s Sport Relief Miles - which kick off from Loughborough University at 10.30am on Sunday, 21st March. They include one, three and six mile challenges and need residents to show their support by entering now at www.sportrelief.com ...

Read More: Sport Relief Arrives in Loughborough

DONT LET COLD CALLERS LEAVE YOU HOT UNDER THE COLLAR

Created: Wednesday 16th of April 2008 12:07:43 PM

phone

The tactics used by some telephone cold callers can sometimes leave you bewildered or pressured into buying things you neither want or need, but there are ways to get the upper hand, advises Consumer Direct East Midlands....

Read More: DONT LET COLD CALLERS LEAVE YOU HOT UNDER THE COLLAR

Most Read Loughborough News (this month)

Loughborough Astra Zeneca Closure

Created: Tuesday 2nd of March 2010 04:03:15 PM

News

Charnwood Borough Council has today learned that the Astra Zeneca has decided to close its facility in Loughborough by the end of 2011. The announcement is a huge blow and a major loss of employment in the Borough and in Loughborough in particular. ...

Read More: Loughborough Astra Zeneca Closure

Action group to meet regarding Astra Zeneca announcement

Created: Wednesday 3rd of March 2010 11:03:57 AM

News

An action group consisting of local organisations is to meet on Friday to discuss yesterday s (Tue) announcement by Astra Zeneca. Charnwood Borough Council has organised the urgent meeting after the pharmaceutical firm announced it will close its operation in the town by the end of next year. This will mean a loss of nearly 1,200 jobs. ...

Read More: Action group to meet regarding Astra Zeneca announcement

Appeal following incident at Loughborough University

Created: Friday 26th of February 2010 08:10:01 PM

police,constabulary,leicestershire police

Appeal following incident at Loughborough UniversityPolice are appealing for witnesses following the report of a serious sexual assault in Loughborough. The incident is alleged to have happened sometime between 1....

Read More: Appeal following incident at Loughborough University

Thirteen people arrested in 'Bling' crackdown

Created: Wednesday 24th of February 2010 10:20:01 PM

cannabis, weed, drugs

Thirteen people arrested in 'Bling' crackdownThirteen people have been arrested in the first phase of a Force-wide operation to crackdown on criminals living lavish lifestyles from the proceeds of crime. The ‘Too Much Bling? Give us a Ring’ campaign was launched on February 10, 2010, encouraging members of the public to call Crimestoppers anonymously to let police know of any people who may be living beyond their means from drug money or ill gotten gains....

Read More: Thirteen people arrested in 'Bling' crackdown

EASTER ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES

Created: Wednesday 24th of February 2010 04:02:23 PM

News

Charnwood Borough Council s Easter Activity Programme for 0 16 year olds kicks into action on Monday 29th March until 5th April. ...

Read More: EASTER ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES