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FREE Practical Advice and Tips on how to get money back, replacements, credits, compensation and more for poor service and shoddy goods across the UK

Home Services

This section looks at the home service industry provided by builders, electricians, plumbers and other services carrying out work to or at your home or other property

If you buy goods for DIY fitting some of the trade links below may be useful, as well as the other sections here

The general principals are

You have the rights to work being carried out professionally to a good standard in line with safety or/and health standards
You have rights to pay only the prices agreed unless there is genuine justification for increases
Advertisements used to attract your business should represent the supplier and his services accurately
Contracts should be fair and explained to the buyer, and set our in writing in the form of a quotation or estimate
The final bill, where an estimate was given should not be excessive as compared to the initial outline of costs, and ideally less
For pre booked work where a deposit is taken there should be a "cooling off" period to allow the buyer to withdraw without penalty

Typical scenarios for Home Service Contractors

Often you pay for work on completion and later find that work is substandard
Maybe you ordered and paid in advance in full or in part and later find the work is poor, time scales are exceeded and work left uncompleted
Your order or contract may be verbal, perhaps by telephone or in writing
The supplier may have given an estimate for the job which turns out many times that
The supplier may have given an quotation which may be fixed price with some optional extras
The supplier completes the work to a high standard, within the time scale promised or agreed maintaining the original price or less. (is this too much to ask?)

Your rights of refund or compensation or other restitution include

The work is repaired or replaced to the necessary quality and standard
Any damage to property or equipment during works are made good or replaced
Compensation in money for delays, damage or other events causing stress, injury or costs to the buyer

What to do if things go wrong and you want to claim

Contact the supplier and explain the situation, outline your reasons for being dissatisfied, perhaps give him a written or printed copy of your issues
Consider taking photographs of the work, and time/date them
Keep all documents relating to work in a folder including advertisements which may have attracted you to the supplier
Wait and see what the supplier offers
Assess the offer if any
Allow the supplier a reasonable time to carry out the remedial work he has offered to do.
Recheck the work, and ask if the work is still uncompleted or sub-standard
Check if the supplier is a member of any trade or professional association, if so they may be able to give advice or arbitrate in the event of a dispute.
If the supplier refuses to satisfy you, set your claim out in writing and send it to him formally by recorded delivery and give him a short period to respond. Keep copies.
Discuss and agree any settlement offered and allow time to be completed
Still no satisfaction? contact your solicitor or other Trade Association

Useful links to Trade Associations

House Builders Federation is the voice of the house building industry in England and Wales- www.hbf.co.uk/

NHBC The independent regulatory body for the UK house-building industry. Established over 60 years ago, www.nhbc.co.uk/

Painting and Decorating Association www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk can supply you with details of local members. They examine the quality of work before they allow a decorator to become a member. All members have to abide by a code of practice and if you have a complaint, there is an arbitration scheme.

The Glass and Glazing Federation www.ggf.org.uk The Glass and Glazing Federation can provide you with details of members in your area. They insist their members follow a code of ethical practice and offer a conciliation service and arbitration scheme if complaints are made against a member.

National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) www.niceic.org.uk The NICEIC can give you details of local members. They set technical standards which must be met by their members. They regularly inspect member's work. If you find fault with the technical standard of work carried out by one of their members they will investigate, and if necessary will make sure it is put right.

Electrical Contractors Association www.eca.co.uk The Electrical Contractors Association guarantees a minimum standard of work from their members. If you have a complaint against one of their members they will investigate.

Confederation of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) www.corgi-gas.com If you are having any work done which involves moving or installing gas appliances, the builders you employ must be registered with CORGI. Check with CORGI that the builders you use have a current registration certificate. If you have a complaint about a CORGI member, CORGI will investigate and try to resolve the dispute within 28 days.

Confederation of Roofing Contractors www.corc.co.uk The Confederation of Roofing Contractors provide lists of members in local areas. They inspect work before they allow contractors to become members and insist that all members follow a code of practice. All work carried out by members carry a 10 year guarantee back up scheme to protect you should the contractor cease trading during the guarantee period.

Institute of Plumbing www.plumbers.org.uk The Institute of Plumbing is not strictly a trade association - it is a professional body which aims to improve the standard of plumbing. They do have members though and can supply you with a directory. They check the qualifications and competence of plumbers before they give them membership and will consider complaints made against their members. They operate a code of practice.

Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors www.aphc.co.uk The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors covers England and Wales and can provide details of local members. All members work is vetted before they are given membership and they have to abide by a code of fair trading. The Association operates an arbitration service if you have a complaint against one of their members.

National Federation of Roofing Contractors www.nfrc.co.uk

Flat Roofing Alliance www.fra.org.uk

The Bathroom Manufacturers Association manufacturers of bathrooms, bathroom equipment, sanitary ware and bathroom accessories at all http://www.bathroom-association.org/

KBSA The UK Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA) promotes professionalism and excellence in the design, supply and installation of fitted kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and home offices http://www.kbsa.co.uk/

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