You can look online to find a trader you can trust, for example a builder or car dealer. There are organisations that can give you a list of traders, including:
If you need a builder, find out what other checks you should do before you ask a company to do the work.
Check with your local council
The best place to start looking for a trader is your local council - you can find your council’s website on GOV.UK. If you have more than one council, choose the county council.
Search the council website for ‘approved traders’ or ‘Trading Standards’. Trading Standards is a council department that makes sure companies don’t break the law when selling to customers.
The council might list traders they’ve approved, or they might link to another website that lists traders in your area you can trust.
Check schemesthat recommend traders
You might need to try more than one scheme to find one that covers your area and the kind of trader you’re looking for. You can try:
If you’ve already got a trader in mind, they might say they’re a member of a scheme on their website or any letters they’ve sent you. You should check the scheme’s website to make sure they’re really a member.
Find a trade association
If you still can’t find a trader, you can check if there’s a trade association for the type of company -for example the Retail Motor Industry Federation for car dealers. Trade associations often set standards for companies that join them.
You canfind most trade associations on the Trade Association Forum website - read through the list or search by the type of trader. There might be more than one trade association for each type of company.
If you find a trade association, go to their website and look for a list of members.
If you’ve already got a trader in mind, they might say that they’re a member of a trade association on their website or any letters they’ve sent you. You should check the trade association’s website to make sure they’re really a member.
If you need help
Contact the Citizens Advice consumer helplineif you need help with finding a trader, for example if you have a disability that means you can’t easily look online.
FAQs
Check with your local council
If you have more than one council, choose the county council. Search the council website for 'approved traders' or 'Trading Standards'. Trading Standards is a council department that makes sure companies don't break the law when selling to customers.
How to find a reputable tradesman? ›
If you want to know how to find a tradesperson you can trust, ask potential candidates these questions:
- How long have you been working in the business?
- What qualifications and/or accreditations do you have?
- Have you done many projects like this before?
- Can you show me examples of previous projects that you've worked on?
Any other questions? Any questions you may have, feel free to call our dedicated team on 01438 870096 to talk through how best to make TrustATrader.com work for you.
Which trusted trader or Checkatrade? ›
TrustATrader is a site that was set up to compete directly with Checkatrade. While they have less advertising, they have a better reputation with Trustpilot. So you might get fewer leads, but the leads you get should be more solid. Like, Checkatrade you pay a subscription to set up an advert page.
How to spot a fake trading platform? ›
Besides trolling for victims on social media or messaging apps, here are 10 other telltale signs an online trading platform is a fraud:
- It isn't registered to trade forex, futures, or options.
- Trades crypto, but not registered as a money service business.
- No physical address, it's clearly fake, or offshore.
Check the company's website
- Check spelling and grammar. ...
- Check for a business address and landline number. ...
- Check for a Privacy Policy. ...
- Check for a company number. ...
- Check the WHOIS database.
TrustATrader received a total consumer rating of 3.45 stars from 78 reviews which highlights that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases, however, a huge amount rated the service poorly and the negative reviews indicated that they were unhappy with the leads they received.
What is the best tradesman website? ›
Checkatrade is one of the most popular tradesman websites - both for tradespeople and customers. It's an online directory that you pay to be featured on, so people can find and contact you for work. Clients can also leave you a rating, which is then visible to the public.
What is the number one mistake traders make? ›
Studies show that the number one mistake that losing traders make is not getting the balance right between risk and reward. Many let a losing trade continue in the hope that the market will reverse and turn that loss into a profit.
Do you have to pay for TrustATrader? ›
How much does it cost to join? To join Trustatrader, it will £699 (plus VAT). They also offer a £50 referral scheme if you want to recommend someone to join.
How much?
| Number of employees/subcontractors | Assessment fee (Non-refundable) | Pay annually (Direct Debit - incl. Vat) |
|---|
| 0-3 | £240 | £770 |
| 4-9 | £994 |
| 10-19 | £1,317 |
| 20 and over | A higher rate applies, please call 029 2267 0040 |
The best way to check that your tradesman is legitimate is to check their Trade Association, a good indication of their qualifications and professionalism.
Who is the best trader right now? ›
- Paul Tudor Jones (1954–Present) The founder of Tudor Investment Corporation, a $11.2 billion hedge fund, Paul Tudor Jones made his fortune shorting the 1987 stock market crash. ...
- George Soros (1930-Present) ...
- John Paulson (1955-Present)
Before selecting a copy trader, delve deeper into their trading history. Analyze their past performance, consistency, risk management strategies, and overall trading philosophy. This due diligence is crucial in ensuring that you're selecting a trader who resonates with your investment approach.
How do you identify a trapped trader? ›
Look for contrasting short-term momentum and longer-term support/resistance. Emotional traders are easily swayed by short-term momentum. You can find them trapped if you give more weight to significant market levels instead of short-term fluctuations.
How do you confirm a trade? ›
What is required in a trade confirmation? A trade confirmation must show certain information about a trade. This includes the market traded, the date and time it was placed, the cost, the net value, and any additional costs that may have been charged by the broker, such as commission.
How do you verify a trading account? ›
Here is how you can pass verification. Upload to your Client Area a photo of your passport or other identification document and wait for an email from the company, confirming successful verification. Accounts are usually verified within three minutes, but in some cases, the process can take up to 24 hours.
How to know if an investor is legit? ›
Check if an investment professional or company is licensed or registered. Many investment scams start with unlicensed people or unregistered firms. Check out the background, including registration or license status, of anyone recommending or selling an investment using the free simple search tool on Investor.gov.
