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  Mulberry January 26, 2014 at 3:22pm

  I have been on Rated for years. Since they started advertising on TV there are a lot more enquiries but the quality of the leads has gone down. Its a bit of a minefield sorting the wheat from the chaff, once you have found a lead you want to go for you pay a fee. The fee is based on what the prospective client has put down for a budget. Once three people have purchased the lead it is no longer available to anyone else to purchase. you need to then follow up your lead as quickly as possible, sometimes you can't get in contact with the client. In these cases you can re-claim the fee you paid but you need to do this within 48 hours, after that you cannot get you money back.

  I have had some good work from Rated. Overall though, to get a steady stream of work you will have to spend a quite a lot on purchasing the leads, then the cost of your time following up the lead, doing a costing ect. I have also had experience of clients who aren't really serious so it has caused me an amount of wasted time.It works but I feel is expensive. I have recently discontinued my membership because of this. My builder works differently and is I feel a better system. I have recently picked up some really good jobs from Gumtree, always worth a look and its free.
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  Lawncare-4u.co.uk January 26, 2014 at 8:02pm

  be careful if trying to find a tradesman ! make sure THEY ARE RATED , i had a nightmare with a shoddy builder.

  i had w few timewaster quotes on it also years ago.
• PRO Supplier

  Andy Harrold January 26, 2014 at 9:48pm

  Problem with Rated People is that anyone can sign up and buy leads. Its also receiving a bad name through the businesses in the travelling community using their logo on advertising.
  I'm still registered with them but cannot remember the last time I actually bought a lead, and at renewal I wont be bothering. There is an alternative called CheckaTrade, and to register on that you have to provide copies of all your documentation like insurance, certificates etc before you can register, so maybe a better option?
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  David Cox January 27, 2014 at 11:15am

  I ditched RP about 3 years ago now - On the whole customers were what I called "Lunch time browsers" people at work posting ideas for work - often turning up to quote on a "£500" job, which in reality would be closer to £10k, at a council house worth £90k so clearly a no-goer - and also people from the site tended to have a very clear idea that the job should be cheaper - I gave up after a string of "I've had quotes of 2-3k for this patio etc, but my budgets £900------- thats the sort of people RP seems to attract as customers, and obvisouly Rated people do not give you your £15 or so back for that wasted lead.
• PRO

  Gary RK January 27, 2014 at 11:35am

  I suggest you go look at Trading Standard's Buy With Confidence scheme if you are after an alternative to "commercial" organisations like Checkatrade etc.

  It is a  slightly different in approach, as it is not a 'lead generation' service (however their web site and TS booklets include Trader's details, so work does 'appear' by referral/cross checking), but is an independent solution to verifying traders are legit and carry correct insurances, qualifications and understand consumer law.

  For the future, the new features being offered by Landscape Juice should be a very valid alternative for LJN members and the public.

  
  Andy Harrold said:

  Problem with Rated People is that anyone can sign up and buy leads. Its also receiving a bad name through the businesses in the travelling community using their logo on advertising.
  I'm still registered with them but cannot remember the last time I actually bought a lead, and at renewal I wont be bothering. There is an alternative called CheckaTrade, and to register on that you have to provide copies of all your documentation like insurance, certificates etc before you can register, so maybe a better option?