RESEARCH from Which? Trusted Traders, an endorsement scheme from the consumer champion Which?, has revealed that just 36 per cent of people in the South West said that they would trust a tradesperson, such as plumbers, builders or electrician, to act in their best interest.

Crime reporting agency Action Fraud estimates that consumers suffer to the tune of £6.6 billion every year due to unfair trading and figures from the National Audit Office reveal that those over the age of 55 lose around £1,100 when they fall victim to rogue traders.

Seal Construction Ltd a construction business and Which? Trusted Trader is reassuring local residents that not all traders are the same in Stroud.

With more than 249 home improvement and motor traders estimated to be in Stroud alone, it can be difficult for consumers to know who to turn to when they need a reputable expert.

Michael Seal, a Which? Trusted trader, from Seal Construction Ltd based in Stroud said: “Whether it’s an emergency or a planned improvement, you want to know you are hiring someone you can trust to do a good job.

"Thankfully there are steps you can take to give yourself confidence that you’re hiring a reputable tradesperson.

“Being endorsed by Which? means people immediately know my business has been assessed by experts who really know their stuff.

"Hiring someone you can trust can be difficult, but using an endorsed firm can help relieve some of the stress associated with getting work done.”

Finding a trader that is trustworthy and who will get the job done can be a stressful process, so Which? Trusted Traders and Seal Construction Ltd offer their top five tips to help people find the right trader:

• Shop around. Get three detailed quotes for the work you would like to be carried out and see what other people say about the traders you are interested in.

• Agree and sign a contract. Before starting any work, get a contract drawn up setting out the cost, the details of the work being carried out and a start and completion date.

• Don’t pay all the money up front. Agree a written schedule of when payment instalments will be made, with the final payment to be made on satisfactory completion of the job.

• Keep records. To better protect yourself if things go wrong make sure you keep the contractual paperwork in a safe place. This would be required if you wanted to pursue any issues.

• Pay by credit card. Paying by credit card, where possible, offers extra protection if things go wrong.

Traders who are recognised by Which? Trusted Traders, go through a rigorous assessment process, including face to face interviews and financial checks, before becoming endorsed by consumer champion, Which?.

Stephen McCluskey, Managing Director at Which? Trusted Traders, said: “Consumers may feel nervous when hiring a local trader to carry out work on their home or car.

"Which? Trusted Traders can help improve consumer confidence as all the traders on our scheme go through a rigorous assessment process.

"This assessment process, that includes face to face interviews and financial checks, helps consumers find a reputable local trader they can rely on.”