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  • Storm damage - find trusted traders

    Created: 03/02/2025
    News/Events Category: General News


    If your property was damaged in recent stormy weather, Trading Standards Scotland recommend you don't trust cold callers who offer to repair the damage on the spot or online adverts offering special deals and advertising five-star reviews. 

    You can find local businesses and traders who have been vetted by Trading Standards on the Approved Trader portal at approvedtrader.scot 

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published a set of useful tips to help people choose a trader recommendation site that safely connects them to a trustworthy trader and protects them if things go wrong.

    There are trader platforms and directories that make claims or call their members trusted or approved members with little or no vetting. By using a council-backed scheme customers can avoid rogue traders, minimise risk, and have access to an official Trading Standards complaints process that is backed by Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) if things don't go as expected.

    All the official council-backed Trusted Trader scheme members are vetted by Trading Standards, ensuring that customers can choose a trader with confidence.

    What to Consider When Using Trader Recommendation Sites
    The following tips have been compiled by the CMA:

    • Don’t rely solely on claims of ‘trustworthiness’ from the trader recommendation site
    • Choose a trader recommendation site that verifies trader details
    • Make sure the trader recommendation site has a strong complaints process
    • Understand how the trader recommendation site monitors traders and sanctions poor performance
    • Be cautious about online reviews
    • Compare traders before deciding

    Know your consumer rights

    Remember you have important legal rights and should be treated fairly. For example, a trader must act with reasonable care and skill when carrying out building or home improvement work.
    You also have cancellation rights depending on the circumstances in which you agreed a contract. For example, if you sign a contract in your home or online you can cancel for any reason, up to 14 days before the work begins.

    Find out more about your rights or report issues with traders to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or visit https://consumeradvice.scot




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