Finding a good business
Firstly, ask friends and family for recommendations - they’ve got your back!
Finding a good business to carry out a service or work for you can be stressful. This guide aims to take the heat out of navigating the different good business schemes. Which one should you use. Not all schemes have the same checks and balances when signing businesses up.
At Consumer Friend, we would suggest using:
TrustMark
TrustMark Registered Businesses are thoroughly vetted and continually monitored to ensure they meet required standards in technical competence, customer service and trading practices, so homeowners can be sure they’re making the right choice.
And, if anything should go wrong, TrustMark has that covered too as Registered Businesses must provide guarantees on their work and have a clear and simple process in place for complaints.
Buy with Confidence
England & Wales
All the businesses listed on this website have been vetted and approved by Trading Standards to ensure that they operate in a legal, honest and fair way.
Scotland
Scotland’s Approved Trader Directory
More than half of Scotland’s local authorities operate approved trader schemes through their Trading Standards services, such as Trusted Trader and Buy with Confidence. They are all displayed on this SCOTSS managed website, allowing consumers to choose between traders in different council schemes via a simple postcode and trade type search.
Northern Ireland currently does not have a Trading standards approved trader scheme.
Which? Trusted Traders
Which? Trusted Traders website
Which? Trusted Traders is a scheme run by Which? that recognises reputable businesses who successfully pass a process carried out by trading standards professionals. Not just anyone can become a member of the scheme.
On this Pod, Louise and Sophie talk about how to find a good trader with Ben from Trustmark.