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Cowboy builders and workmen who rip off the public are to be named and shamed on a new database.

It comes amid an increase in complaints about shoddy, unfinished and grossly overpriced work by rogue traders, many of whom are repeat offenders.

The nationwide blacklist, believed to be the first of its kind, will contain the names of dodgy traders who have criminal records for cheating customers.

Property social network and portal PropertyHeads, which is launching the database, says it is “appalling” that so many homeowners are being ripped off.

Research by PropertyHeads shows areas with the highest number of convictions are County Durham, Kent and Essex.

Users will be able to look through the database as part of background checks and references before hiring workmen.



Dodgy builders - how to spot them and what to do if you fall victim to one
PropertyHeads boss Ben Davis said: “We are appalled that so many homeowners are being ripped off by rogue traders and want to help.

“Quite simply, reputable companies do not doorstep for new customers and homeowners would be well advised to avoid those that do.”

The Federation of Master Builders estimates cowboy contractors cost the UK economy £10billon a year, up from £3.5billion in 2010.

Around 1,000 names of convicted offenders have been put on the PropertyHeads website after being checked against court records over the past six months.

Davis added: “Three things struck me when we put together the tradesman blacklist.

"Firstly, rogue tradesmen will go to extraordinary lengths to mislead their victims including fusing vehicles with government agency sign-writing.

"Secondly, even those with seemingly reputable backgrounds are capable of awful work , and the third is the number of victims involved
“It’s vital that people carry out research before they have any building or maintenance done as it could save them thousands in the long run.

“There is no single trusted source of rogue traders available to the public.

"If our blacklist helps just one homeowner avoid being ripped off, then we will have done a good service.”
 
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