What to do if..
..anything goes wrong
If you do encounter difficulties:
Be realistic - Builders aren't mind readers, so if your project is not going
to plan you must spell it out and explain what you do want.
Talk to the 'main person' - Telling sub-contractors to change things
mid-construction will not only cause problems within the team but also
confuse everyone as to what it is you really want.
Remember, with an Safe Local Trades MasterBond warranty you are automatically protected
and should follow the procedure as laid down in the warranty.
If your builder is a member of the Safe Local Trades and you simply cannot resolve
matters, then the Safe Local Trades will advise you, the customer, and work with both
parties to reach a solution.
The Safe Local Trades sets high standards that builders must meet in order to become
members, and therefore takes any complaint against a member very seriously.
All complaints are investigated fully and in the vast majority of cases,
they are simply resolved through the intervention of the Safe Local Trades. However, where
that is not possible, the Safe Local Trades will help with independent dispute resolution.
The Safe Local Trades complaints procedure has teeth. If members don't meet our standards
they can be removed from the Safe Local Trades register. If you have a complaint against a
member of the Safe Local Trades, then please follow the procedure below.
To download a copy of the complaints form, click here. Please return this to
the Regional Office. To find out the contact details of the Regional Office
that covers your area, please click here. Please note that the form is
stored in Adobe pdf format, for which you will need Acrobat Reader. If you
do not have a copy of Acrobat Reader, you can click here to download a free
copy of it.
Alternatively, there are other methods for resolving disputes. Firstly, the
Safe Local Trades would always recommend trying to resolve any dispute outside the Courts.
Alternative advice can be sought through www.consumerdirect.gov.uk, which
provides practical help and advice for consumers across the UK in complaints
about tradesmen.
Another useful link is www.moneyclaim.gov.uk which is the Courts Service's
online claim facility for both claimants and defendants.
