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Replies

• PRO

  Gary RK February 10, 2010 at 8:04pm

  Good old BBC !, is this the scheme that is mandatory for APL membership ?
• PRO

  Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd February 10, 2010 at 8:42pm

  I ama member of "Buy with Confidence" which is run by Trading Standards. No membership fees to pay (at least with Slough Trading Standards) and if your business is bona fide should not have too much trouble being accepted.
  
  See http://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/ for more info
• PRO

  Gary RK February 10, 2010 at 9:03pm

  We are also BWC approved via Surrey County Council.
  
  Good scheme, not for profit, you can't buy your way in.
  
  It's truely aimed at the Consumer and is independant of 'trades' ...
• PRO

  Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd February 10, 2010 at 9:10pm

  I think BWC is a good idea and helps to independently reflect the work that my business does.
• 

  Lawncare-4u.co.uk February 10, 2010 at 9:58pm

  its £100 for hammersmith and fulham when they join and u need a crb check when working around domestic buildings @£23.00 !!!!!!!!!!!
  
  i really dont understand the council or government with waste license and other certs and insurancesss they will bankrupt us and neither of us will have income ............ utter madness
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  Kieran Ray February 10, 2010 at 10:40pm

  I saw that too! its not done the scheme too much good! I'm not a member of any schemes any more, I was a member of the guild of master craftsman and this was of no advantage so I do not see the point anymore.
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  Classic Gardens February 11, 2010 at 7:40am

  It does go to prove a point though that ANY scheme no matter who it's run by is open to abuse. My first van I bought had Bali stickers plastered all over it!
  
  Stuart Marler said:

  The Trading Standard's "Buy with Confidence" scheme is a brilliant idea. It hardly costs anything and if you've got nothing to hide, why not get the support of Trading Standards behind you? In West Sussex they are nothing but a great support, advertising well and update members on new law changes and scams in the area.The local costs are about £80 per year, CRB checks about £23 on joining, the membership is to rise to about £100 this year but still value for money.
  It depends what you want in life, how you want your company to be seen and whether you want more business.
  
  In the main, everyone needs to advertise, it doesnt matter how you pay for it - your van, your clean clothes, joining the APL, BWC, CheckaTrade or where ever; we all pay for advertising in some way and what ever works for the individual or company is worth doing. Now how that advertising works may be by more customers/profit or just how you feel - confidence!
  
  Do what you want or need to do and dont slag off others who want to do it their way! No names mentioned, if you think this is aimed at you, you have a guilty conscious!
• PRO

  Phil Voice February 11, 2010 at 7:42am

  These schemes are not primarily advertising conduits. Accreditation is designed to ensure that only the very best are allowed to join, supposedly for the protection of members' clients.
  
  The BBC Rogue Trader programme exposed a severe fault in the Trustmark Scheme in that the operating association didn't communicate with Trustmark, therefore effectively rendering the chain of vetting as useless.
• PRO

  Phil Voice February 11, 2010 at 8:19am

  The issue isn't 'why' the roofing company joined but why these schemes operate. The Trustmark Scheme's aim is to ensure that NO rogue trader gets inside and NEVER has the opportunity present poor work or rip off clients.
  
  Last night's case may well be an isolated incident - let's hope so for Trustmark's sake.
• PRO

  Phil Voice February 11, 2010 at 9:09am

  LJN members may be interested to not that Trustmark CEO, Roman Russocki, has left a comment on the Landscape Juice news item.
  
  http://www.landscapejuice.com/2010/02/government-trustmark-scheme-e...