TrustMark Blog

TrustMark and Trading Standards are working in collaboration to ensure the highest level of consumer protection available...

The National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team has recently relaunched its Scam Marshal scheme. A Scam Marshal is any resident in the UK who has been targeted by a scam and wants to fight back and take a stand against scams.

This guest blog from TrustMark's IT experts - Job Logic, explores the hidden advantages of the GDPR legislation that came in earlier in 2018.

TrustMark works alongside our network of Licensed Scheme Providers in order to ensure consumers have the best levels of protection, confidence and choice. This blog explores the journey of the Scheme Providers, shedding a little light on the work these quality-minded organisations do to raise standards and quality in their sector.

TrustMark is delighted to announce that following significant changes at the organisation, it is in a position to build considerably on the legacy of consumer protection it has nurtured since its inception in 2005. In 2016, the industry led, government commissioned Each Home Counts review identified the need for an all-encompassing mark of quality that consumers can rely on, regardless of the type of work they require. As a result, TrustMark has expanded its remit to become this quality mark, including all Repair, Maintenance & Improvement; Retrofit and Energy Efficiency measures.

An escrow agreement enables a third party to hold money between two parties involved in a financial transaction. This means the customer pays the full amount for a product or service (guaranteeing the tradesperson their payment), whist only allowing release of funds once the terms of the agreement are fulfilled.

As the hazy days of Summer fade into memory, while our gardens may not be the blaze of colour they were in Flaming June, there is still plenty to be done. Here are some of the best jobs you can do in early Autumn to prepare your garden for the colder months to come:

As the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme for consumers seeking improvements to their homes, TrustMark takes pride in putting people in contact with competent, vetted tradespeople that have made a commitment to good customer service and trading practices. One of the ways we provide additional peace-of-mind is that, in the event something does go wrong, we have available a suite of remedies to ensure the consumer is protected when using a TrustMark Registered Business.

While the temperature has yet to noticeably drop, the children are back at school and there are a few other tell-tale signs of approaching autumn around us. With this in mind, now is a good time to check and review your heating options; as if you wait for the cold weather to bite, you may leave yourself vulnerable at the start of winter.

Since its inception in 2005, consumer protection has been a critical aim for TrustMark as an organisation. During this time we have seen a huge growth in awareness, as well as the emergence of a number of additional initiatives designed to enhance the level of protection consumers can rely on in a number of sectors. This can only be seen as a positive step and TrustMark is proud to support any activity that leads to greater awareness of the risks of scams and other practices that cause consumer detriment.