Building traders urged to sign up to TrustMark

Local businesses inthe Welshpool area who carry out domestic repairs are being urged to sign up to a TrustMark Scheme and there are grants for the first 100 applicants.

The Powys Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has become a TrustMark Scheme Operator and wants business to sign up to the scheme to help in the fight against rogue traders.

TrustMark is a scheme supported by the Government, consumer groups and the building industry to help consumers find reputable firms to do building repair, maintenance and improvement work inside and outside the home - a sector often blighted by rogue traders.  The scheme aims to raise standards and to help consumers identify reputable firms that meet a set of competence and customer care standards.

To join the scheme will cost £250 plus VAT for the first year and £150 plus VAT per year for the next two years.  Although the membership is renewable annually, you do not have to sign up for three years.

However, there is a 50 per cent grant towards the first year cost available for the first 100 applicants, meaning businesses will only pay £125 plus VAT in the first year.  You will be able to claim the grant once you have gained accreditation.

Cllr Graham Brown, Chairman of the CSP, said: "Home maintenance complaints consistently come near the top of the list of all those received by trading standards.

"By enabling local businesses to demonstrate their standards and local consumers to search a database of approved businesses, the CSP is seeking to stamp out complaints about cowboy builders."

Businesses will be vetted by the CSP and its service provider Exor Management Services Limited.  If they pass the checks, they will be permitted to carry the Powys TrustMark logo as a marker of a trader consumers can trust.

TrustMark traders will be assured of the promotion of their business as a result of their membership of the scheme, enjoying the benefit of free advertising on CSP's TrustMark website.

"Once a reasonable cross-section of traders are approved, we public launch the scheme.  We are confident that TrustMark will help local consumers to make an informed judgement in the selection of reputable traders.

Local businesses wishing to find out about joining the scheme, should contact Exor on 02920 029667 or visit the Powys Community Safety Partnership Trustmark website at http://powys.trustmark.org.uk