Household and business insurance policies may provide cover for the damage caused by the freezing weather and burst pies. People affected should contact their insurer as soon as possible. Most offer 24-hour emergency helpline services to arrange for repairs to be carried out.
Finding a Trader – Where to look
- Ask friends and neighbours if they can recommend anyone they have used in the past.
- Contact Trading Standards on 01522 55782341 and ask if there is a contractor local to you on the Lincolnshire Approved Trader Scheme.
- Contact Trade Associations and ask for details of local registered tradesmen.
Questions to ask a trader
- How long have they been in business? Do they have premises you can visit? Established traders are less likely to disappear in the middle of a job.
- Are they a member of a trade association? They may give you some extra security as some associations have protection schemes or will help to resolve disputes. Ring the association to find out what protection it offers, and to check if the trader is a member.
- Can you see references and/or similar work the trader has done in the past?
- Do they have insurance against damage to property?
- Is their work guaranteed? If so, is the guarantee insurance-backed (which means you are protected if they go out of business)?
Guarantee Schemes
Guarantees are in addition to your statutory legal rights, they are not an alternative to them.
If the work is covered by a guarantee scheme, the name of the scheme and any registration number should be included in your written agreement.
Traders own guarantees – If they go out of business, the guarantee is worthless.
Insurance-backed guarantees
An insurance backed scheme protects you if your trader goes out of business. It is underwritten by an insurance company. Insurance-backed schemes may well be tied in with a trade association and association members are usually vetted before they are able to participate.
Shop Around
- After the thaw we realise that you will be in a hurry to get the necessary remedial work done on your property as soon as possible. However, taking time to shop around really can save you heartache in the future.
- Ask at least three traders to quote on your work
- Make sure they give you a quote for a fixed price and not an estimate (a guess which could got up later)
- Be specific about what you want when asking for quotes so that the traders are giving a price for the same work.
- Check that all the things you asked for are covered in each quote.
- Choose the quote which offers best value for money, taking into account not only price but also reputation for quality and reliability.
- Don’t be pressured into getting work done that you can’t afford.
- Don’t be pressured into agreeing for the work to be done because the trader says that unless you agree there and then he will be too busy to do the work for a few days/weeks.
- Do not agree to any work where the trader says “We are only in the area today”
Beware of the hard sell.
Don’t let fast talking cowboy builders who just happen to be “in the area” talk you into a spur-of-the moment decision that you later regret.
Never accept lifts to banks from salesmen for you to collect money for the deposit – they may disappear with your cash.
What to include in a contract:
- A description of the work to be done
- The price you have agreed (with the trader’s quote attached)
- Start and finish dates – if the finish date is important put that fact in writing
- Details of any guarantees
If the cost of the work is over £35 you should be given written notice of your right to cancel the contract. This right lasts for 7 days.
In an emergency you may wish the work to commence within the 7 day cooling off period. Before the work commences you should be asked to sign a waiver. You can still cancel the contract up to the seventh day, but you would be liable for any reasonable expenses incurred.
