Our Goals

1. Include Rogue Traders in the Authorised Push Payment (APP) Laws

• Achievable, low cost impact to the public.
• There are plenty of comparable examples between recognised push payments and how rogue skilled traders extract money from trusting customers.

2.Improved funding and resourcing for Trading Standards.

• As the legislative arm of government, they are woefully underfunded and under resourced. We have heard of teams being so over stretched that they stopped taking on new cases and of high burnout and employment attrition. No wonder rogues’ confidence grows, more people are being ripped off and it is nearly impossible to have your case taken up.

3.National and transparent register of licensed skilled trades, free for public use.

• Most government initiatives will make the good better but not impact the worst. By creating a register of licensed builders who are either qualified, or can prove their expertise will help people find someone reputable.
• Ideally, the register should be a one-stop-shop for all government/official tools including financial capabilities (Companies House, HMRC), CCJs, Trading Standards complaints and Land Registry

4. Change the law on these types of cases from Civil to Criminal

• A register or licensing scheme will be toothless without a change in the law that recognises that Domestic Building contracts need to be covered by criminal laws, not civil. This requires recognition that the system is only accessible for those that can afford it or for businesses with deep pockets.