tradesmen

[Explorer-8]

Someone recommended a tradesman to me to do some work on my house. The tradesman examined my house one day and then gave me a quotation by telephone on another day which he said included VAT.

The price seemed a bit high so I looked in the local yellow pages, but he's not in there. Is there a way of checking whether he is really VAT registered?

A different tradesman quoted me a stupid price and another one never got in touch with me and yet another one only wanted to do half the work.

[Explorer-8]

I might need to move my question to the home and garden section, but I don't know how to do it. What do you think?

[Mrs_Pegasus]

Ask him for a written quote - you should never accept a verbal quote. He should give you the quote on headed paper which should carry the VAT registration no. I have seen a false number given in the past.

http://www.vatliaison.com/vatinfo/vat_registra tion.html

[beryllium]

Always get a written quote, and photocopy it too.....
You can call your local council and see if they have a list of tradesmen they recommend for peace of mind.
Where are you in the country? btw....

[Explorer-8]

Thanks for your replies. I am in the East Yorkshire region. I have postponed the work until I can get some more quotes, if I can get them. My hallway is in awful condition. The work was to repair around and to put new beads on a small window and to re-plaster (skim) the whole hallway. One quoted �1,500 and another quoted �600. I don't know why it should be as much as that. If I get quoted similar amounts, I will then know that the telephone quoter was nearly right. I wish he'd sent me a quote through the post like the other two had.

[beryllium]

Just a quick note, I asked where you were in case you were south of t'border as I have just had a kitchen refurb and would have recommended my plasterer and builder.
I paid around �150 a day per expert excl.VAT.
I cannot see how �1500 for a skim would be justified at all unless you live in a HUGE house....
My plasterer charged �150 for a ceiling sized 4.2m x 3m and he did an exceptional job.
Do call the local council and see if they have anyone and check with these guys too......

http://www.ajatrustmark.co.uk/

Best of Luck

B. :-)