Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: stevegunn on November 07, 2005, 04:41:23 pm
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Its official I'm now a member of the South Tyneside Safetraders.
(http://www.s-tyneside-mbc.gov.uk/businessandjobs/safetraders/images/safe_traders.jpg)
This is a register of businesses who are willing to provide services for people living in South Tyneside and who have a history of fair trading in providing services to residential properties. The terms and conditions of this scheme applies only to the residents of South Tyneside who use the scheme.
South Tyneside has had consistent problems with "cowboy" rogue traders, bogus officials and distraction burglars. These persons pressure sell, do shoddy work and are often untraceable. This has a serious affect on residents and also represents totally unfair competition for legitimate businesses in South Tyneside.
The home improvement sector and repairs and servicing of domestic appliances are also a major source of complaints to trading standards throughout the country. Some result from a number of 'cowboy traders' but often also arise when honest businesses fail to check that their staff are doing jobs correctly or are unaware of their legal obligations.
Our Building Contractors Registration Scheme is an attempt to reduce these problems and generally raise standards throughout South Tyneside.
The main aims are :
* To ensure a level of satisfactory service which reflects good practice
* To improve the image of the building contractors in South Tyneside
* To increase compliance with consumer laws
* To improve consumer confidence by promoting registered traders
Membership of the scheme will mean that all traders has met the following general criteria:
* Satisfy a County Court and Trading Standards records check
* Comply with the spirit and letter of the law, including any code of practice and to the principles and commitments of the scheme
* Deal with customers fairly, courteously, reliably and in accordance with good business practice
* Have an effective written complaints procedure including that in the event of a complaint not being resolved the matter will be subject to conciliation by Trading Standards
* Co-operate with officers of the Trading Standards Service
South Tyneside Trading Standards Service is committed to :
* Providing a fair and impartial service to both consumers and businesses
* Assistance in resolving disputes
* Undertaking at least annually satisfaction surveys of the member businesses and customers of those businesses.
* Investigating any breach of the law by a scheme member which may result in a member being prosecuted, removed from the Scheme, or both
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sounds good- do you know if trading standards in other parts of the country also do this? mick
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You need to check with your local council.
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Well done Steve,
I have been verbally accepted into the Surrey Scheme and I hope that all of our colleagues on the boards take the time to join similar schemes to proffesionalise our industry
Regards and best wishes
Eddie
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Its a nice badge but it mean nothing, they let you and I don't know a bigger crook ;D ;D
Whats has CCJs got to do with how good a company you are?
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A lot of old dears up here have had letters from our local authority asking them to make sure tradesman they hire are members of the scheme.It costs nothing to join so why not.I asked the same question about ccjs but got a load of waffle about the reason why you need to be checked for this.
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Steve,
It's easy to be cynical about these sort of things BUT I would join if we had a local one , as I think it would be good for credibilty on adverts.
Cheers,
Doug
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Hi Chaps
I have been TSA now for over a year and I have had many jobs where they used me over others as a result, especially from the web site.
Trading Standards carried out an audit on me, back checking customers who had gone to them to get an approved CC.I had no idea about this until it dropped through my letter box.
The results were hugely pleasing with no negative remarks and high scores on all counts. :)
Be aware if you go down this route that they will back check and your standards will have to remain high to keep your approval. Certainly keeps you on your toes.