Paul erithwc

Check a trade is it worth £572 a year ?
« on: February 14, 2015, 09:09:49 am »
For those that use or have used it did you find it was worth the fees or a waste of money   ??? ???

Thanks Paul

DaveG

  • Posts: 6345
Re: Check a trade is it worth £572 a year ?
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2015, 10:08:40 am »
I'm on it. It works out at around £710 a year with the VAT. It's been quite good over the years and the amount of jobs I've had from it covers the cost of the subscription.

The good thing about it, I find, is if people have gone to the trouble of looking you up and read the reviews they are generally interested in a regular window cleaner rather than a one off. It's also a good reference point for new customers (that didn't find you through Checkatrade).. you can tell them to have a look on your page to see what people think about you and your services.

It's not the "be all and end all" of advertising and you won't be flooded with calls but it's a handy tool to have.

Here's my page

http://www.checkatrade.com/H2oseWindowCleaningServices/

HTH
You can't polish a turd

Window Lickers

  • Posts: 2196
Re: Check a trade is it worth £572 a year ?
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2015, 10:24:45 am »
Dave what's the procedure to join?
Liberace's ex looking to meet well built men for cottaging meets.

DaveG

  • Posts: 6345
Re: Check a trade is it worth £572 a year ?
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2015, 10:41:17 am »
I rang them Matt.. Someone comes to interview you. You need to give them some customers names (12 I think) so they can contact them to check you out. You need public and employers liability insurance. You also need to be solvent and have no criminal convictions.
You can't polish a turd

Window Lickers

  • Posts: 2196
Re: Check a trade is it worth £572 a year ?
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2015, 10:42:45 am »
Cheers.  ;)
Liberace's ex looking to meet well built men for cottaging meets.

Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny)

  • Posts: 559
Re: Check a trade is it worth £572 a year ?
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2015, 05:32:48 pm »
I was in your position last year and its the best money I spent. What I found was it brought me gutter and conny cleans which I converted into regular cleans.. You need to check out how many of your competitors use it locally. If there are too many forget it as they will be at the top of the pile with feedback.. Feedback is Key to Checkatrade. I find that every time I have a drive at getting new feedback published My checkatrade driven calls rocket..

All that said Im fining that most of my Window work comes form Yell.

Clever Forum Name

  • Posts: 5942
Re: Check a trade is it worth £572 a year ?
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2015, 06:24:15 pm »
I take it it's a 12 month contract ?

Paul erithwc

Re: Check a trade is it worth £572 a year ?
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2015, 07:34:51 pm »
I take it it's a 12 month contract ?

I think its a yearly fee that can be spread over 6 months.

Paul

Clever Forum Name

  • Posts: 5942
Re: Check a trade is it worth £572 a year ?
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2015, 07:49:39 pm »
Its about £60-£70 per month then.

They do offer a money back guarantee i see as well.

They were on watchdog late last year. I think it was almost impossible to leave a negative review. Well i was close.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5kVXKpzCsk9YrjqFntsGwcF/checkatrade-com

slap bash

  • Posts: 1365
Re: Check a trade is it worth £572 a year ?
« Reply #9 on: February 16, 2015, 12:57:20 pm »
There are so many of these rip off in the U K they sell trust to a customer and charge the trader for it. Strange thing it says nothing to reassure the customer what they might expect in service. They are all just a rip off endorsements.

David lingard

  • Posts: 69
Re: Check a trade is it worth £572 a year ?
« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2015, 05:13:09 pm »
no, don't waste your money