Watch Out for Online Scams
23 Nov 2011
TRUSTMARK SUPPORTS MPs' CALL TO WATCH OUT FOR ONLINE SCAMS
TrustMark, the Government endorsed quality mark for tradesmen, has welcomed the Commons Public Accounts Committee report on online scams and fraud, and its warnings of the dangers of fragmented consumer protection and under-resourcing of Trading Standards.
TrustMark's latest website figures indicate that consumers are
increasingly searching online for accredited and reliable
tradesmen. TrustMark tradesmens' details were viewed more
than 2.6 million times since the beginning of the year, and there
have been an average of 265,000 viewings of firms' details per
month through www.trustmark.org.uk.
However, cowboy builders can also be found very easily online,
warns Stuart Carter, Head of PR and Marketing at TrustMark.
"Google is not your guardian. There are many websites that purport
to provide details of local builders, plumbers, electricians and
other trades you might need. But some firms are simply paying to
appear on those 'find a trader' websites, while others may be
listed purely on the basis of a recommendation which you can never
be sure is genuine and not submitted by a friend or family
member.
"There is only one website which lists licenced firms, which have
received on-site inspections to look at their quality of work by
experienced independent inspectors. And that is Trustmark,
who are a not-for-profit social enterprise and operate to
Government-endorsed standards.
"With more than 20,000 licenced trades searchable on our
database, we are able to help people find a good firm to get the
best job done at a fair price. We want to give people a
better-informed choice of tradesmen and if things don't go quite
right, to provide a clear and easy to use complaints procedure to
resolve any problems."
TrustMark signposts people to trustworthy and reputable firms who
can do work in and around our homes and is the only scheme
supported by Government, industry and consumer protection
groups. It has the support of many partner organisations,
including the Trading Standards Institute and Citizens Advice which
are aiming to raise standards within the industry and provide
greater protection for householders in their search to find local,
quality tradesmen.
For further information about TrustMark, visit www.trustmark.org.uk
ENDS
Issued on behalf of TrustMark - For further information, please
contact:
Georgina Watkins, Tel: 07595 158460
Notes to editors:
TrustMark
1. TrustMark is the Government endorsed not-for-profit quality mark for tradesmen. It is an independent scheme owned and operated under licence from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
2. TrustMark's website has an easy to use UK wide postcode search facility, which provides details of more than 20,000 licenced trades and has the largest database of accredited tradesmen in the country.
3. All TrustMark firms' technical skills have been independently checked through on-site inspections to ensure a high quality of workmanship and trading practices. TrustMark is the only scheme that requires qualified inspectors to do these visits, so that technical competence is checked as well as business practices and customer satisfaction.
4. TrustMark firms work to Government endorsed standards and are able to offer insurance backed warranties and deposit protection, as well as operating a user-friendly complaints procedure.