Look out for watchdog this thursday - Rogue traders slot is featuring drives

[worldofpaving]

Yes, just when we though it was safe to turn on the telly, our old chum Matt Alright is back, this time supported by Anne Robinson, to have another look at driveways, just what we want approaching Xmas in a recession.

This Thursday at 8pm, BBC1.

[Dave_L]

Still, it'll highlight the cowboy contractors again which is no bad thing.

[Ted]

Should be amusing TV really for a Brew Cabin member unless you do substandard work...

The cowboys need to be removed and who is removing them? Watchdog is doing something, even if it does tar everyone with same brush in its approach.

[lutonlagerlout]

i find matt and his gay biker pal patronising , and its unfunny they way they operate
where have all the good villains gone from the roger cook days?
I know they generally target people with complaints already against them,but it makes the Gen.Pub nervous of all builders
LLL

[Ted]

Well I haven't seen the program for a couple of years and I do I agree that the presenters are "c***" (in the plural) if I am allowed to say that.

But unless everyone gets bought out and the scene consolidates (highly unlikely to happen but it would be nice if it did), Watchdog is probably doing some good highlighting the worst of the worst.

Town & Country, notorious installers of poor PIC, have suffered from Watchdog investigations.

And if you do solid work, even if people are put off builders by these programs, who can they turn to - hopefully you, a sound driveway installer!

[worldofpaving]

I'm with LLL on this.

The uncertainty created by the SUDS legislation for front gardens and the subsequent Rogue Traders programme did our industry no favours and this latest episode is likely to reinforce a negative impression in the minds of many consumers at a time when work is very hard to come by, often, and this is the real irony, for the quality contractors who do good work but need to charge proper prices.

[lutonlagerlout]

I find that even on some very "simple" jobs ,you have to spend hours going through the minutiae with the clients because of loons like these,then during the build they are constantly second guessing every thing you do ,by constantly referring to experts on the internet
a little knowledge is a dangerous thing in a a lot of hands,
every tom.dick and harry think they are a "project manager " now days

error

your main involvement is employing an architect ,telling him what you want,then paying us to execute that plan

we dont need anything other than a professional drawing and money

LLL

[rimexboy]

mmmm well i did see it and its a disgrace... what some "idiots" do... just going from house to house ripping people of...

I am just a normal guy with no building experiance and i will not let any one into my house unless i know of them...

infact i would rather do the job myself, as i aint got the money to pay to get it done,

so i join a fantastic site have a read and ask some questions... and since doing that ive now done my front garden (block paving) and the rear (new conservatory and indian sandstone)

and im being totally honest if sites like this did not appear i would be in the crapper..

simon

[Tony McC]

Still no sign of a 'balancing' programme exposing those bastard customers that revel in ripping off honest, hard-working tradesmen, I notice!