EL Magazine MAR-APR 2019 PAGETURNER

Professional
Trading Rights
When spring cleaning your home and garden morphs
into a home improvement project, protect yourself
from being caught out.
Be wary of doorstep callers - reputable builders
will not cold call on you at home, they usually have
enough work that they don’t need to do this.
14 day cancellation notices is your entitlement once
work is agreed. If your trader doesn’t give you notice,
they’ll commit an offence. Deal with a business who is
aware of your consumer legal rights.
Check that your trader is qualified eg. NICEIC
electrician or Gas Safe plumber. They risk committing
a criminal offence if they make a false claim, be safe
and use a different trader.
A deposit should be a maximum of 10% of the full
contract value and is non-refundable. Additional up
front amounts are classed as a part-payment and
could be refundable.
Use a credit card for contracts over £100, the credit
card company will then be jointly liable if anything
goes wrong.
Ask friends
and family for
recommendations.
Approved Trader
Schemes offer
varying degrees of
protection. Some
allow the trader to
buy membership
with no checks,
others post feedback
which may or may
not be genuine. Others ask for criminal records checks,
references and offer mediation services if the job
goes wrong. Make checks to reduce risk of a difficult
dispute.
For any related concerns call Citizens Advice
Consumer Helpline 03454 040506.
Claire Kendall, Trading Standards, Milton Keynes
40
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