Hiring a cowboy can be false economy

Cowboys, bodgers, fly-by-nights: call them what you will but rogue workmen can spell big trouble for homeowners. The true extent of the problems they cause has recently been revealed by research from Santander Insurance UK.

We all like a bargain but time and time again it has been proven that taking the cheapest option without doing your homework can turn out to be false economy. 18% of us have fallen prey to unscrupulous or slapdash builders and it has cost us an average of just under £1600 per job to put the damage right. What’s worse is that over a third of us end up having to foot the repair bill ourselves whilst around a fifth of us are still waiting for the damage to be fixed.

Geographically, Londoners are most likely to suffer shoddy workmanship (21%) whilst those in Wales and the Midlands are best off (14%). 25% of victims have had a recommendation from a friend which has turned out to be less than reliable whilst 10% have used a friend who is a builder with disastrous effect, not only for our pocket but our friendship too.

Santander suggest a few tips for avoiding the cowboys:

• Make sure the contractor is a member of a recognised trade body
• Get several quotes and do not just choose the cheapest without researching why it is so cheap; if it seems too good to be true it probably is
• Do not be pressured by the “hard sell”; a reputable workman will not require you to make an instant decision
• Do not agree to pay in advance or in cash