Selecting Emergency Tradesmen
When you have a home emergency you need help from a trained professional who can call quickly to assist you. You certainly do not want a rogue who lacks skills and compounds your problems.
One such company is Dynorod who have been providing their drains, plumbing installation and emergency plumbing services to customers for many years.
If you do not have a plumbing or drains emergency service contract and decide to call on the services of a smaller, less well known, plumber or drainage contractor you need to review their capabilities and performance record before you unleash them upon your home.
There are a number of things you should look for in a good tradesman and the absence of these should send you some warning signs: -
| Recommended Questions for a Good Tradesman | |
|---|---|
| Do you charge a call-out Fee? | Most local emergency tradesman charge a fee, many of the national companies do not. A call out fee should cover the costs of the visit including a time allowance. A high fee is profiteering and you should avoid this tradesman. |
| Do you have references? | A good tradesman will have good references which they are happy to share with you. Make sure that they are valid, a reference from a brother or work partner is worthless. |
| Do you have a registered business address? | P.O. Box numbers or no address with a mobile number are not comforting. A good tradesman will have a fixed business address and have been working from there for several years. You want to know where to contact them post the repair if issues arise. |
| Availability | Ensure that there is a manned customer helpline available. You may get a repeat of the breakdown and need to call your tradesman back quickly. A 24 hour helpline is definitely a bonus. |
| Payment | Ensure that you can pay by credit card. This means you do not have to carry large sums of money and have the protection of the credit card in spotting potential fraud. |
| Complaints | All businesses have complaints, has the selected trader got a complaints policy and how is it handled Also does the tradesman have public liability insurance to cover you when things go wrong. |
| Skills | Select a tradesman or company that regularly trains their workforce. Modern appliances are getting more complex each year and you don’t want a tradesman who is unaware of the latest service and repair requirements. The time for a jack of all trades has gone. Also check that they are members of the relevant national trading associations. |
| National Coverage | Ensure that your area is fully covered by locally situated tradesman. You don’t want to wait whilst the plumber or electrician travels 60 miles to attend your emergency. |
The following are direct warning signs that should cause you to think long and hard: -
- The tradesman only has a mobile number and no fixed address
- The quote is vague or verbal and a written quote is not produced
- The call out fee is excessive with a much lower price for the job
- Cash discounts are offered
- No VAT number (although a new business may not have one of these)
- A much lower quote than the others that you have received
- Not a member of a reputable and relevant trade organisation