Rated People any good?

[dann09]

FWIW: Back in the day a scally, but amusing, guy in the same block of flats as me showed me his "office" set-up in his one b/r flat.

He had a number of PC's and about 10 landline telephones, and was running various "businesses" including trade referral type outfits, by himself from that room.

He advised that getting massive ads in yellow pages or local rags always brought the "punters" in - go big for the big lie.
He also did hacking, debt searching and selling all personal details to whoever - he made use of pre-recorded female voices soft soaping callers.

I enjoyed his company and his scamming tales - good luck to you tommy, mike, denis ... wherever you are.

Every now and again he had to abandon ship and leave the premises by the back window and soil stack - nothing was ever paid for.
Oh yeah, he also did a trustworthy reference scam i.e.. if some one called to check a CV or whatever, his phone system or various mail drops would handle it.

If any experienced trades person wants to use/risk these chancers, then fair enough. I suspect that many users are advanced diy'ers and from short trade courses.

Any trades person thats been around a while has surely built up a contact group of other trades to keep them going with work - contract or domestic.

 

[Vicario]

Well, I've used Rated People for several jobs and always been satisfied with the work. As some of you have said, I've rung the tradesman again privately after the first job and they've got extras that way without paying a fee. I find it good for jobs that don't really fit into a specific category. I needed the batteries changed on a high alarm siren (I can't do high ladders) and stuck a job on RP. £25 and it was done by a local bloke in 10 minutes. I've also got a good gardening firm from them and have had a gas fire serviced. I do have local people that I use regularly too.

 

[swbjackson]

I'm with Checkatrade and find it very good. I probably get around 75% of my work through it at the moment and most of the customers use me again. It's an annual fee which, to me, is a very effective form of advertising. It's a lot cheaper than advertising on Yell etc. For the customers, they can go online and check the feedback I've received from previous customers and it gives them some peace of mind that they are employing someone trustworthy.

Unlike a lot of other sites, Checkatrade check your trade qualifications and public liability insurance (they require minimum 2 million) and you will only show up on the site if all is in order.

I can appreciate that some people don't need to use these sorts of sites but as someone who was made redundant at the end of 2011 and having to go back self employed in the middle of a recession it has been a godsend for me.

 

[bolt007]

AFTER FINDING TRADESMEN TWICE FROM "RATED PEOPLE" I HAVE COME TO CONCLUSION TO STAY AWAY FROM THIS WEBSITE.THE FIRST EXPERIENCE WAS NOT VERY NICE AS THE BUILDER DID NOT FINISH THE JOB SATISFACTORY.THERE WERE NUMEROUS MISTAKES WHICH HE DID NOT WANT TO RECTFY.THE MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE WAS THE WORST I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS.THIS PLASTERER I INITIALLY INVITED FOR AN ESTIMATE WAS REALLY ABUSIVE,RACIST AND THREATENING LATER AFTER FEW DAYS.HIS ESTIMATE WAS CHANGING EVERY TIME I CONTACT HIM.IT STARTED FROM LOW TO HIGH SO I DUMPED HIM BUT HE WAS SO THICK HE WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND SO IN THE END HE LOST HIS MARBLES.I REPORTED HIM TO POLICE WHO CAUTIONED HIM NOT TO CONTACT ME.I ALSO COMPLAINED TO "RATED PEOPLE"WHO REPLIED AND SAID THEY WILL INVESTIGATE.IT IS NOW ALMOST TWO WEEKS AND THEY HAVE NOT COME BACK.I WONDER THEY HAVE WASHED THIER HANDS OF THIS CASE.[/b]

 

[Mike2007]

I don't rate them!

 

[Redzheb]

Hi , I am a Gas engineer/ Plumber and I use to have a tradesman account with Rated People for last 2 years. I used to pay £40 per 3 months + price for each lead. Last one year I did not buy any leads from them because I have enough job to do but continued to pay them £40 for 3 months.
Just now before Xmas'2013 I paid £51.20 for a lead 'Combi Boiler Replacement '. They sent me contact details of the client. I contact the client and ask him for available day and time to visit the property, check the system and be able to give him a quote. Client said that access is not possible at first . On second call he told me that job is not more available his council is going to do the job. I call back Rated People and ask my £51.20 for this lead to be given back as a credit. They told me that the amount can not be given back and they changed their policy since 11.12.2013 and there is not any more 'refund policy'. I can not describe my rage. I closed my account with them. They do not do any thing just sell contact details of the client to 3 tradesman and finish. No one care for the client and the tradesman. Clients does not lose anything but we as a tradesman losing money.

 

[Dan Robinson]

It took you 2 years to realise it was a waste of money?

 

[Redzheb]

It took you 2 years to realise it was a waste of money?

I made a good clients from them and a lot of money.

 

[Terry lambert]

Pants

 

[Redzheb]

Pants

Have a good time.

 

[Terry lambert]

Rated people are pants

Have a good time

 

[diyplumber1980]

rated people are a load of nonsense. Joined them for 3 months, got a couple of leads, didnt get the jobs even though i quoted low. As far as im concerned, this is for tradesmen desperate for work.

 

[is123]

purchased a lead, contacted customer, booked to go and survey,customer cancelled so did not had opportunaty to quote.i gone back on rated to get my money back for the lead,only to find out that it was no longer there.contacted ratedpeople.com to be read the terms and condition~~(after several times saying i have read them~) and to be told in posh words;SORRY WE NOW ARE ROBBING OUR TRADES MAN AS ALSO OUR CUSTOMERS,AND WE SEND E-MAILS AND TEXTS AND PUT POP UPS ON OUR WEB PAGE;i put the phone down and check e-mails again in case i missed it,WELL EVERYONE GUESS WHAT NO E-MAILS SENT WITH WARNING OF THIS. so apart from good tradesman been giving bad name from rogue tradesman weare now been robbed by big companies that say they help us getting jobs and customers get great tradesman.well customers can get good/great tradesman but customers and tradesman will be robbed.so who ever came up with this idea is out of order and should change there advert.OH MR RATEDPEOPLE.COM CHIEF EXECUTIVE THANKS FOR BEING A LIAR

 

[ImmortalBeloved]

I have recently been let down by Rated People and after searching I've noticed that I'm not the first and certainly won't be the last. I paid £950 to get a flat roof replaced and also fix a few slipped tiles to my main roof. Laurence Burgoyne, DL Building Services gave me a quote and I accepted it. The leaks appeared days after the roofer left the job and for the past YEAR my house has had more leaks than it did before he started. Rated People removed his account only to reinstate it within a matter of hours, they say they are 'impartial' but I don't think they know the meaning of the word. Its about time Rated People got rated! www.facebook.com/RateRatedPeople

 

[paul5000cat]

I tried using Rated people for my business, I joined easily so basically any tom dick or harry can....which is worrying as I run a professional Gardening company.

The staff are the most unhelpful bunch of awkward idiot's I have ever come across. The leads you spend money on and turn out incorrect, due to not existing (I had two) a complete waste of my time, petrol and money, you still get stung as a trader because you have to buy the lead and are NOT protected by RatedPeople. Considering traders are their customers its pretty shocking. They are just out for the money people spend on buying the leads.

At first I thought it was a good idea, but soon became so frustrated with the company, being on hold for 15 minutes while they try and sort out the simplest of enquires...i quit.

I have spoken to many people who feel the same. When traders start to leave, perhaps they will eventually do something about the way they operate. I doubt it.

Piece of advice. STAY AWAY.