Read feedback before you hire

ANYONE can pay for a professional looking advert to appear in publications — genuine and rogue traders advertise side-by-side.

Consumers often struggle to find a business that they trust — and this is where the Dundee Trusted Trader Scheme can help.

Set up in 2005 the scheme removes the chance factor when selecting a tradesman or woman. It is a local business partnership which ensures consumers can safely choose a local trader with the confidence to avoid cold calling and being pressured into buying something.

The scheme works by publishing customer feedback which is independently collated by Referenceline Ltd.

These comments are then posted on the website so you’ll know exactly what a firm’s previous customers think of them — all comments are published whether they’re good or bad and there are more than 15,000 pieces of feedback on the site.

Potential customers can look at the comments and make up their own minds.

As well as references, traders’ contact details are published so it’s easy for potential customers to get in touch.

And you can let others benefit from your experience by leaving your own feedback on a trader.

The scheme’s members are either based or work in Dundee. And, as it is administered by Dundee City Council’s Trading Standards Service, you can be assured it will be run fairly.

The Dundee Trusted Trader Scheme is totally free for consumers.

Scheme members offer a wide range of services such as home improvements, garage servicing and gardening.

It has grown to include more diverse services, such as cherry picker hire, osteopathy and accountants.

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

If disputes do arise and can’t be settled amicably, then the scheme also uses Ombudsman Services to provide an independent ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) service, which will help settle disputes at no cost to the consumer and without going to court.

Members are also advertised on the website (trustedtrader.info) throughout the year and promoted at events that Trading Standards attend. But, most importantly, good traders get their hard work recognised through feedback.

The scheme aims to promote good partnerships among businesses and has established good links with Police Scotland and Trading Standards Scotland in the bid to remove and stop rogue traders.

You can see all the information about the Trusted Trader Scheme on the website or phone the Trading Standards staff and they will be happy to give you the information you need.