Campaign for Accountable Skilled Trades (CAST)

MP Campaign

MPs are the key to change

Write to your MP about your situation or if you are concerned about rogue traders.

They are required to reply within 15 days.

Mark Garnier is the Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury, MP for Wyre Forest and a fellow victim. He is presenting a Domestic Building Works (Consumer Protection) Bill in Parliament.

A bill needs 100 MPs on board to get through to the next steps.

We have increasing numbers of MP’s on board – and we need more.

Step 1

Write to your MP

Only you can write to your MP.

CAST can help by providing you with an MP’s top tips. These tips show how your letter can stand out and more (see below). It also provides guidance on finding out who your MP is, which will also give you their email address.

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Step 2

Let CAST know you have written

Writing by email? cc in Info@castcampaign.co.uk

Writing to your MP with pen and ink? Let us know by email to the address above or via our Facebook page.

Step 3

Let us know your MPs response.

Email us if you want to keep things between us, or via our Facebook page.

Writing to your MP

MPs only accept letters from you, their constituents.

Navigating parliamentary processes is a dark art. We have teamed up with Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest, to create a set of tools and guidelines detailed below.

For added impact, Mark recommends asking questions in your letter and asking to meet your MP to hear and discuss their answers.

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Step 1 -An MP’s advice

How your letter can stand out

  • Use your own words and be sure to include some questions.
  • Be sure to include your name, address and postcode. These are critical as MPs will only respond to their own constituents.
  • Keep it brief, to a maximum of two sides of A4
  • Write in brief sentences and paragraphs for their easy reading and understanding.
  • Keep courtesy and good manners at the forefront, you want to get the MP on your side.
  • Carry out a spelling and grammar check before sending it (not critical, but can help your message land)
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Step 2 – Write the Letter

Framework to follow

  • Remember: include your name, address and postcode
  • Briefly outline the work you wanted done. Explain how you found your skilled trades person. Describe why you hired them. Include the agreed price for the job.

Explain what has gone wrong.

  • What official bodies did you contact? (ie: Citizens Advice, Trading Standards). What did they say?
  • Did you take a legal route / take them to court? If so, what happened?
  • If you did not take a legal route, why not?
  • How has this impacted you / your family emotionally and financially?
  • Ask to meet them in person to discuss this situation
  • Include before signing off: I have learned of a Conservative MP, Mark Garnier. He has made speeches on stopping rogue traders. It looks like he is pushing for a change that could prevent others from going through the situation we have been through. Please can you advise what you are doing about this?

Step 3 – Meet your MP

Prepare for your MP Meeting

Be ready to share

  • Facts and figures on your tradesperson. Share your experience. Indicate if you know your rogue continues to work and leaves others in a similar position.
  • Share who you have contacted to get help or to try and get the rogue brought to justice.
  • Share any challenges getting your case taken up by Trading Standards

Suggested questions for your MP:

  • How can traders avoid paying CCJs? They claim poverty, which places more pressure on the victim. This forces the victim to pay more money trying to recover the awarded amount.
  • How can traders create a Phoenix Companies on Companies House? They close the company before submitting accounts and open another one. They repeat this process repeatedly, with no checks in place?
  • Why is it that the UK is the only country in Europe that allows unregulated tradespeople?
  • Have you been a victim or had trouble finding a good tradesperson?

Frequently Asked Questions

What if your MP is already onboard, do I still write to them?

Yes. And encourage others to do the same. The more letters they get, the more they realise how the public have had enough of being ripped off.

I’ve not been a victim, can I help?

Yes. Let them know your concerns about how hard it is to find a trustworthy tradesperson. If you have examples, use them.

My MP does not appear to be interested, do I still write to them?

Yes. They may be focusing on other priorities in their constituency and are not aware of the scale of the rogue trader issue in their area. The more letters you send, the more they will realise it is a problem they need to look into. Those MPs that we change from resistant to ally will be the strongest allies we can hope for.

What will CAST do with this information?

We will be noting on our UK Map which MPs are on board. Progress will be shared on updates across the year. Your details will not be shared in any way.