THE Trading Standards Administration Report reveals that complaints about shoddy workmanship carried out by unregistered, often unqualified, tradesmen are soaring.
This section of the black economy is also costing £400 million in lost taxes, but this is only the tip of a very nasty business that causes untold misery.
As with so much else, the time has gone when we could take service suppliers on face value. It is high time the entire industry was better regulated.
Before agreeing to work being carried out, our advice is to take up references, request two detailed quotations at least (not estimates), ask for proof of trade association membership and check it out.
Any credible firm will be delighted to be given the opportunity to prove its worth.
IRIS HOWARTH, Area Assessment Manager, The Guild of Master Craftsmen, Warrington Road, Goose Green, Wigan.
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