The Trusted Trader scheme which helps Derbyshire residents to find trustworthy tradespeople and services has recently marked its fifteenth anniversary.
Derbyshire traders have spoken about the benefits of being a member and how it gives their customers peace of mind as well as boosting their businesses.
A survey carried out with members reveals that 94% of Trusted Traders said they felt being a member gave their customers more confidence when using them, and a total of 84% said that being a member benefited their business as a whole.
Around 1,000 traders and services, ranging from plumbers, electricians, gardeners, joiners and decorators to electric vehicle charger installers, accountants, dog walkers, removal firms and will writers, have registered as Trusted Traders since the scheme was set up in November 2008.
It was launched to help local people find traders and businesses who agree to do a good job at a fair price and deliver good customer service.
It’s also aimed at protecting consumers by making it easier for them to find and use traders they can trust, rather than falling foul of rogue traders cold-calling; and using high pressure sales techniques.
Supporting good, honest and reliable traders and businesses is also at the heart of the scheme, with registered traders able to use the Trusted Trader brand to show they are genuine members who have been checked by trading standards and agreed to all the terms and conditions.
Over the years the Trusted Trader scheme has gone from strength to strength, broadening its scope to include an even wider range of services and businesses.
Tom Watson of Watson Electrical in Chesterfield is one of nearly 1,000 registered Trusted Traders.
Tom, whose business includes undertaking all types of electrical work and installation of Solar PV, said: “Customers trust me to take care of their electrical work and fit solar panels. Knowing that the person they have chosen has been checked by the council’s trading standards gives customers ultimate peace of mind.”
Marina Tattersall, who is co-owner of Kitchen Lifestyle in Matlock, said: “The benefit of being a Derbyshire Trusted Trader is that my customers know they’re getting a reliable, honest person that they can trust visiting their home. They can feel confident when they use Kitchen Lifestyle and can read reviews. They know we’ve been vetted by the council and they’re not going to be exploited and ripped off.”
Trusted Trader users have also been keen to praise the scheme.
Neil Mutch, who lives in Coal Aston, used Derbyshire Trusted Trader to find plasterer Nick Davy from Dronfield.
Neil said: “I am a big fan of Trusted Trader as it’s reassuring to know that traders have gone through a process to ensure they are reliable and reputable. The fact it‘s a county council initiative adds to that for me. There are so many horror stories of ‘rogue traders’ and scam dealers that this scheme gives me a lot of peace of mind.
“When we’ve needed big jobs doing and not had any personal contacts, Trusted Trader is our go-to place. We’ve used the scheme several times and have always been very impressed and pleased with the work done. I think we had a great job done at a very fair price and, equally as important, when we needed it doing. Nick was great!”
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said: “Trusted Trader is
a very well-established and respected scheme, and I am sure most Derbyshire residents recognise the logo with its reassuring tick on vans and advertising of businesses and services across the county.
“The fact it is going from strength to strength after 15 years shows how valuable it is to consumers and traders.
“Looking for someone to carry out work or provide a service can be a daunting prospect for many but using a Trusted Trader who you know has been checked out by our trading standards team helps to take that worry away, protect consumers, and give them peace of mind.
“It’s very heartening to see positive feedback from genuine customers, and also to hear from traders that they really notice the benefits of being a member.”
Trusted Traders pay an annual subscription as well as passing trading standards checks, and their customers give feedback on the website. Feedback is verified as being genuine by a member of the trading standards team before being published online on the Trusted Trader database, helping customers to make a decision on the trader who’s right for them.
Residents can find out more about the scheme and search the online directory of traders and services at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/tt
Businesses wanting to sign up can find out about the benefits of the scheme and information about how to apply at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/ttmembers
People can read about more Trusted Traders and what they think of the scheme at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/tt