Buzzin TV

Thankfully it is not everyday that we need to contact a plumber, but when we do it is often in an emergency and only then does it dawn upon many of us that we do not actually have a trusted tradesman that we can rely upon.

We have all heard horror stories of exorbitant charges and lazy incompetent workmen and looking through the Yellow Pages and the like is really a minefield when looking for someone you are able to trust.

Thanks to TV programmes like Watchdog and its spin off, Rogue Traders the general public can at least be aware of some of the scams used by dodgy plumbers and the like and also give some helpful advice to people looking to have work done.

In a recent edition of Rogue Traders a plumbing company was called out to a house that they were told had a drain blockage in the cellar, a job that the presenters knew could be quickly and easily rectified by a proficient plumber.

As is the nature of the programme, this particular plumbing company had plenty of previous history of ripping of customers and the team set out to catch them red handed on camera.

For a job that should have cost under £100, the customer was given a bill for a staggering £646. On top of that the plumber was also caught on camera stealing dishwasher salt and cleaning products from the house!

While it is satisfying to see these con-men caught in the act, it is depressing to think that the same could easily happen to you or me. Rogue Traders do give excellent advice as to how to avoid this happening by, for instance, obtaining three individual quotes for any work but this can be a problem in times of emergency.

We are also told to make sure that tradesmen are certified by organisations or have relevant qualifications to do the work. By the far the best tradesmen are normally those recommended by others and it is possible to find plumbers to fix heating or unblock a drain in your local area through the internet.

These tradesmen are normally judged by others who have used them and are awarded with stars, customer ratings and price protection for the work you are looking to have done.

Thanks to programmes like Rogue Traders we are much better aware of what to ask and who to avoid when it comes to repairs in our homes, but we must always remain on our guard.