Consumer Information

Aims

A major aim of the scheme is to reduce the number of incidents reported to both Trading Standards and the Police about bogus workmen. These unscrupulous traders carry out below standard work on a person’s home, and when problems occur cannot be located or may be linked to other criminal activities. To learn more about your legal rights as a consumer, visit the Office of Fair Trading.

Advantages for the Consumer

Why should you use the Registered Trader Scheme?

You have peace of mind that the trader has been thoroughly vetted by the Trading Standards Service. They will have undergone a vigorous audit process, including police checks, level of complaints made to Trading Standards, and references from previous customers. Ongoing monitoring of new customers will also take place.

You will know that the trader is committed to offering a friendly and fair service and that they operate their business legally and honestly.

Traders have signed up to and agree to abide by the scheme’s Code Of Practice.

If problems should occur, know that the trader will work with you and attempt to sort them out as soon as possible.

Code of Practice

All traders who are members of the scheme must abide by the Code Of Practice.

Customer Commitment

In return, customers agree that they will:

• Inform the trader they are contacting them because they are on the Registered Trader Scheme.
• Pay all accounts promptly once work has been completed.
• Allow reasonable access to their homes for work to be carried out.
• Give the trader a reasonable chance to deal with any problems that may occur.
• Give feedback to Trading Standards so we can continue to monitor and improve the scheme where necessary.

Feedback

To monitor and improve the Registered Trader Scheme we would appreciate feedback on the trader that you have used. The trader that you have used should provide a feedback form once the work has been completed. If you do not receive a form you can download the feedback form, fill it in and return it to us at the address below.

You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader from the Adobe web site.

Registered Trader Scheme - Feedback Form.pdf

(Pages: 3. File Size: 12.5 kb)

You can contact us at the address below and we will forward one to you:

Registered Trader Scheme
Durham Trading Standards Service
Annexe Building
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UB

Alternatively you can register your comments at Registered Trader Scheme.