[craigp]

hi,

     recently noticed some co.s are trading standards approved, anyone no more about this, whats involed? etc.

    craig.         

[Eddie Conroy]

I am now an 'approved trader' under Surrey CC's Trading Standards scheme ' Buy with confidence'

They asked me to provide
1) A Basic Police Disclosure
2)Training and Association details
3) Insurance details.
When they visited me at home
4)They took details of customers some of which they contacted
5) They asked me to comply with the legislation regarding concluding business in a customers home
6) details of how complaints (if any) are recorded and dealt with
7) Health and Safety Policy
safety Data sheets
9) Payment by credit card ( I cannot do this bit they would prefer it if I did as customers then have rights in conjunction with the credit card company)
10) Agreement not to door step sell (We settled that I can do doorstep promotion)

In return
I am on their website
I can use their buy with confidence logo and use that fact that I have been approved by them
Also been given post paid cards to leave wih customers asking for their comments . They offer to arbitrate if therer is a problem.
At the moment the scheme is free but this I suspect will change. You have to buy cards when the initial supply runs out
Hope this helps
eddie

[craigp]

eddie thats fantastic,

many thanks,  i think i will give it a go.

craig.

[Ian Gourlay]

Imnot knocking the scheme but I am concerned about How Trading Standards are going to cope.

I saw on television that Nationwide they want 5000 Tradersregestered.


Does not seem many when you think of all the plumers roofer  etc


Then they are going to Carry out Home Visits to interview Tradesman.

When as a Consumer I have phoned Trading standards they tell me they ave a heavy workload.


As you are all aware Council Tax is rising and Councils are cutting back and charging more for Social Care in the Community.


I can see that very soon there will be a charge.


Iknow many Council Leaders who tke the view that Councils should charge the full cost to Commercial Companies for using their Services  .


So perhaps we should apply now.

Eddie could you define Door Step Promotion

[Spot On cleaning]

I think that by being an ncca member, it would carry as much weight and give the customer piece of mind. I made a complaint once to trading standards concerning myself being a member of a social club and loosing a £50 deposit which i should not had to have payed in the first place, but i was somewhat had over a barrel.

They told me they can only advise and would'nt do anything. Try going to them with a complaint against a shop and see where you get.

I worked in industry for a big multinational telecom cable manufacturer and have been on many courses where the company have bought into this scheme or that scheme just so they can have accreditaion for this and accreditaion for that. We got to do silly exercises and they got another nice certificate for their wall.

Let me set you the scene. Somebody at the council trading standards comes up with an idea. "I know" he says, "why don't we start a scheme where we get all the carpet cleaners to join our scheme, do all our checks on them and roll it out to the public." "Once the public know about it all the other carpet cleaners will want to join for fear of loosing work to them." When we have got all these people onboard, we can start charging them, and think of all the revenue to the council especially if we do this to all the other trades." What a big money spinner.

I for one will not join a scheme like this, and have never been reported to them for malpractice. All i can say to everyone; another new and shiny sticker for your portfolio, another few quid your wallet is lighter by. Its the emperors new clothes scenario al over again. When are people going to realise that its another way of gaining money from people in the future by stealth. These people are like parasites.

Dave

[therapist]

Every time you allow local, central government to regulate your business, or activities, you are inviting a very grim future.

You will eventually TOLD that you must comply, or stop the activity.
You will be told what you may, or may not use.
You will be forced to attend their training, which will suddenly appear

In other words............you have invited the camel into your tent!!!!!!!!!!

In theory..............it's a great idea and would appear to give greater credibility to your service, trade, or profession, but in reality........you will become regulated to the point of feeling you have become a servant of a government agency..........BE WARNED.

The only way to go and maintain your freedom is SELF REGULATION.

I don't believe this would be as difficult as some would imagine and you would gain, status, credibility and trading advantages, by so doing.

You could even continue to slag each other off, but you would be closer business associates and working in partnership.

You already have the seeds in place with this talking shop and your sunny days out.


DON'T BECOME REGULATED BE ANYONE ELSE.     YOU WILL REGRET IT


rob

[Spot On cleaning]

Rob

Nothing wrong with self regulation, thats what im saying. If i ruined a customers carpet and walked away, my reputation would be in tatters as reputation always goes out in front of you. I see thisscheme as a money making scheme by the council, nothing more.

Yes they will eventually play on peoples fears, and i would think that schemes like this would be illegal. How can you say that you only recommend certain cleaners just because the other ones that don't want to be associated with this scheme. The other people just don't want it. Trading standards in my opinion are just passing the buck. If they had a genuine complaint about a ruined carpet they would investigate it, but in the future they will probably say well mrs, you should have used one of our approved cleaners.

Also i think the only service they offer you is an advisory one and can't actually take legal action against you. Correct me if i am wrong but i have had recent dealings with them over aother matter.

Dave

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

I agree with Dave's comments. Another money spinner. Dont they make enough from those sneak up and ticket traffic wardens!
If the public cant be confident when you carry the emblems of reputable organizations like IICRC, NCCA, BICSc and WOOLSAFE.....
There's a carpet cleaning company called Pilgrim Payne who bear the Royal standard. Dont know how they went about getting that but can you imagine them now sticking a 'TRADING STANDARDS APPROVED - BUY WITH CONFIDENCE' sticker next to it on the van. No, I dont think so either.

Leech's that's all they are. No better than UFINDUS.

Mornin' all

Alan

[Spot On cleaning]

Well said Alan. Blood sucking leechs. All stick together and tell them NO

Dave

[therapist]

Spot

I think we are in full agreement on this and outside regulation, becomes total regulation, to the extent that everyone must ..........comply,comply,comply.

Sorry to dampen your squib guys, but, you would be inviting CONTROL by a newly set up agency , who would become a training agency and a regulating agency.

This is the main reason I quit a job, which I was very good at and thoroughly enjoyed, because I suddenly found that I was being GRADED on the method of delivery imposed upon the prefession by the DSA and personal pass rates, value for money and recommendations were of no interest to the  ' suits '...........who, incidentally were the same people you took out for an hour and were ASSESSED by, as they playacted various charachters................can you imagine sitting in a car with a twenty stone, six foot four, 40 something, male and being told...... '  I'm Katy, I'm eighteen and I've just failed my test, please tell me what I'm doing wrong. '

that's the driving instructor's scenario........

r m

[woodman]

Sounds like total paranoia from some, get a grip guys;

Trading Standards Approval will show any prospective clients looking for cleaning for the first time or wary after a bad experience that you have been checked out by the local authority as a reputable and ethical business.They will know that they can get satisfaction if it all goes wrong as you will have a system in place for complaints and procedures to follow that are approved.

As good as the other organisations are, they are simply not recognised by most of joe public out there where as the TSA yellow flag most definitely is (I have tested this on my clients and found this to be the case).

The scheme that has been mentioned (Safe Traders) and just launched is not for our industry but for building trades etc and costs £2k to join. Carpet cleaners can not join this scheme.

TSA is different and running along side your other accreditations will add to your credibility IMO.

Pilgrim Payne are by Royal Appointment to the Queen and have been trading since 1850 so TSA hardly comes in to it. 

[Eddie Conroy]

Ian
When I started my business up , I delivered leaflets and where it was obvious that somebody was in, I knocked and introduced myself as a local tradesman and that I would be delighted to quote them in the future. Quite a few people asked then and there for a price and most of these booked work. 50% of my business still originates from these customers or their referrals.
I felt that Trading Standards were beng unreasonable in asking me to refrain from selling this way as I do not have a shop where people can see me, I only had just gone into one phone directory and could not afford to just wait for the business to magically develop. Therefore the compromise is, I can still knock, if any body requests a price  or survey I ask for their phone number and will ring later to make an appointment. As a  separate side issue I also leave information as to how they can cancel at anytime to cover the 'cooling off period or sometimes the lack of one.
Promotion against doorstep selling - Word Play I would suggest
Eddie

[Eddie Conroy]

The benefits from the 'Buy with confidence' are many
1) the County council is actually promoting the scheme in their mailings to residents
2) Trading Standards are holding 'Road shows' detailing the scheme
3)Cards with prepaid postage can be left with customers for them to comment on your service
4) In the event of an unresolved complaint Trading Standards may initially try to mediate
5) On web searches I come up on the buy with confidence site as well as my own
6) Customers are becoming more aware of the scheme. One local tradesman is claiming to be receiving an enquiry a day from the scheme.
7) I have no fear factor when dealing with trading standards
Regards
Eddie

[HolmansUKLTD]

Alan Pilgrim  & Payne got their Royal crest years ago. I think Ron Tilly of Prochem was working for them at the time time as i remember him telling me stories or removing corgi piddle from buckingham Palace carpets!!  aslo they cleaned the hampton court tapistries, i pressume this is where they got their royal badge from.( unless the old git was lying to me )

Regards

Nick

[Spot On cleaning]

I can see your view points, but i see a system that is at some time going to cost money to be in. If the cost of this scheme were to be £2000 a week, thats £40 a week near enough out of your profits.

I do work for my local council with no problems at all, so i won't be joining this club.

Dave

[Spot On cleaning]

Sorry, mis use of words, i meant £2000 one off payment, =s £40 a week loss of profits

[woodman]

Hi Dave,

The 'Safe Traders' 2K payment does not apply to carpet cleaners, we can not join this particular scheme as yet.

The most we would pay to be on the other TSA schemes would be from nothing- £125.00 depending on your area.

I hope this makes it clearer.

[stevegunn]

I'm a Member of the South Tyneside Safetraders Scheme costs nothing to join lots of checks done but gives customer piece of mind.

http://www.southtyneside.info/safetraders/

[woodman]

It's not Safe Traders then, it new scheme thats just been launched, that applies only to builders,motor traders,plumbers etc, can't remember what its called. :

[Spot On cleaning]

Eddie

If the council are actively rolling out these schemes and advertising the fact to their constituents, they are virtually saying that we sa council department are only recommending these carpet cleaners to do the work for you.

To my mind, they are then actively trying to take work away from all the other businesses who for whatever reason do not want to go through all this rigmarole. I see the councils trying to force all carpet cleaners onto this sheme through fear. The fear being that if i don't go through this procedure, my work levels are going to diminish in favour of those that have, and the council knows this only too well. imagine the situation then in a few years if everybody is on the scheme, when slowly but surely, the fees slowly start creeping in. And every year the council needs more revenue, up goes the cost.

I am surprised that some of you cleaners cannot see this. Some of you are members of the ncca, but you still see the need to be associated with this scheme. I personally do not think that my or a lot of peoples work levels will be in decline due to this. I use a smart vehicle, a business telephone No and the best equipment. This for me and the customer is sufficient.

Dave