Helping hand for consumers

CONSUMERS often struggle to find a business that they can trust — but this is where the Dundee Trusted Trader scheme can help.

Anyone can pay for a professional looking advert to appear in publications so genuine and rogue traders advertise side by side, but the Trusted Trader scheme — set up in 2005 — removes the chance factor when selecting a tradesperson.

It is a local business partnership, which ensures that consumers can safely choose a local trader with the confidence to avoid cold-calling and not be pressured into buying something.

The scheme works by publishing customer feedback, which is then posted on a website.

All comments are published whether they’re good or bad and there are more than 15,000 pieces of feedback on the website to date.

As well as previous customers’ references, traders’ contact details are also published.

Dundee Trusted Trader is a locally-run scheme for local consumers and local businesses. Best of all, the scheme is free for consumers.

All members have public liability insurance, have agreed to trade fairly and are committed to providing a high level of customer care.