My local council's trading standards dept operates a 'Fair Trader' scheme &
I've just been accredited as a member!

http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/busin...fairtrader.htm

Not that difficult to satisfy their standards TBH, I already did 90% of it
anyway. According to several people I've met who are members it gets you a
lot of business. Cost me £124 a year.

You get to use the logo on your web site (CD supplied with images is
absolute crap), get listed on the councils web site, you can use the logo on
the van etc.

Another opportunity to tuck up the punters :-) (Just joking).

Don't know if these schemes run anywhere else in the country, might help
some readers?


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

On 2007-12-02 01:10:05 +0000, "The Medway Handyman"
said:

My local council's trading standards dept operates a 'Fair Trader' scheme &
I've just been accredited as a member!

http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/busin...fairtrader.htm

Not that difficult to satisfy their standards TBH, I already did 90% of it
anyway. According to several people I've met who are members it gets you a
lot of business. Cost me £124 a year.

You get to use the logo on your web site (CD supplied with images is
absolute crap), get listed on the councils web site, you can use the logo on
the van etc.

Another opportunity to tuck up the punters :-) (Just joking).

Don't know if these schemes run anywhere else in the country, might help
some readers?

Which section? Property Maintenance? Will Consider all Jobs?

How do they check that you do what you say you will do, or what they
think you will do?
It is good that they are doing something proactive rather than sitting
on their botties waiting for the complaints.



I'm a bit bothered about Medway Council's motto, though. Serving you.

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-02 01:10:05 +0000, "The Medway Handyman"
said:

My local council's trading standards dept operates a 'Fair Trader'
scheme & I've just been accredited as a member!

http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/busin...fairtrader.htm

Not that difficult to satisfy their standards TBH, I already did 90%
of it anyway. According to several people I've met who are members
it gets you a lot of business. Cost me £124 a year.

You get to use the logo on your web site (CD supplied with images is
absolute crap), get listed on the councils web site, you can use the
logo on the van etc.

Another opportunity to tuck up the punters :-) (Just joking).

Don't know if these schemes run anywhere else in the country, might
help some readers?

Which section? Property Maintenance? Will Consider all Jobs?

Don't know yet - typical council they react with the speed of a ruptured
ferret. I've asked for a handyman category.

How do they check that you do what you say you will do, or what they
think you will do?

Little bloke comes around for an hour & asks questions. Things like
customer records, pricing structures, complaints procedures etc. I think
the main point is that they now know who you are and are able to react more
efficiently in case of a complaint.

They come back & audit you every year or can spot check whenever they want.

My glazier mate told me that he had an unreasonable complaint about him,
they looked into the circumstances & sided with him. They told the client
he was being unreasonable.

It is good that they are doing something proactive rather than sitting
on their botties waiting for the complaints.

I'm a bit bothered about Medway Council's motto, though. Serving
you.

They serve you parking tickets with amazing efficiently............


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 12:46:02 UTC, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:

I'm a bit bothered about Medway Council's motto, though. Serving
you.

They serve you parking tickets with amazing efficiently............

I liked the recent story about the bloke who was getting tickets on his
van while working at a particular house. Cost effective solution: he
hired a big skip (with door on one end) and got a legal skip permit from
the council. Put it outside the house. Each morning, he arrived, opened
the skip, and parked his van inside...

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
http://www.diybanter.com

On 2 Dec, 13:10, "Bob Eager" wrote:

I liked the recent story about the bloke who was getting tickets on his
van while working at a particular house. Cost effective solution: he
hired a big skip (with door on one end) and got a legal skip permit from
the council. Put it outside the house. Each morning, he arrived, opened
the skip, and parked his van inside...


An urban myth, I fear.

He parked his van in the skip on the first day.
On the second day he arrived to find the skip occupied a 3 sofas, a
fridge, washing machine and several copies of Bravo Two Zero.

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
. uk...
Andy Hall wrote:
On 2007-12-02 01:10:05 +0000, "The Medway Handyman"
said:

My local council's trading standards dept operates a 'Fair Trader'
scheme & I've just been accredited as a member!

http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/busin...fairtrader.htm

Not that difficult to satisfy their standards TBH, I already did 90%
of it anyway. According to several people I've met who are members
it gets you a lot of business. Cost me £124 a year.

You get to use the logo on your web site (CD supplied with images is
absolute crap), get listed on the councils web site, you can use the
logo on the van etc.

Another opportunity to tuck up the punters :-) (Just joking).

Don't know if these schemes run anywhere else in the country, might
help some readers?

Which section? Property Maintenance? Will Consider all Jobs?

Don't know yet - typical council they react with the speed of a ruptured
ferret. I've asked for a handyman category.

How do they check that you do what you say you will do, or what they
think you will do?

Little bloke comes around for an hour & asks questions. Things like
customer records, pricing structures, complaints procedures etc. I think
the main point is that they now know who you are and are able to react
more efficiently in case of a complaint.

They come back & audit you every year or can spot check whenever they
want.

My glazier mate told me that he had an unreasonable complaint about him,
they looked into the circumstances & sided with him. They told the client
he was being unreasonable.

As do Trading Standards if the tradesman is correct.

Adam

On Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:10:05 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:

My local council's trading standards dept operates a 'Fair Trader' scheme &
I've just been accredited as a member!

OO well done.
It's going in our area (Oldham)


http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/busin...fairtrader.htm

Not that difficult to satisfy their standards TBH, I already did 90% of it
anyway. According to several people I've met who are members it gets you a
lot of business. Cost me £124 a year.

What are the standards?


You get to use the logo on your web site (CD supplied with images is
absolute crap), get listed on the councils web site, you can use the logo on
the van etc.

Another opportunity to tuck up the punters :-) (Just joking).

Don't know if these schemes run anywhere else in the country, might help
some readers?
--
http://www.orderonlinepickupinstore.co.uk
Ah fetch it yourself if you can't wait for delivery
http://www.freedeliveryuk.co.uk
Or get it delivered for free

Mogga wrote:
On Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:10:05 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:

My local council's trading standards dept operates a 'Fair Trader'
scheme & I've just been accredited as a member!

OO well done.
It's going in our area (Oldham)


http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/busin...fairtrader.htm

Not that difficult to satisfy their standards TBH, I already did 90%
of it anyway. According to several people I've met who are members
it gets you a lot of business. Cost me £124 a year.

What are the standards?

I found it really simple. They just want to see your paperwork systems e.g.
jobsheets, invoices, quotes etc. They ask if you are a member of any trade
bodies, check your PL insurance. Nothing complicated.

TBH the bloke they sent round was a plank. Badly in need of a personality
transplant. I could have given him a load of bull**** & got away with it.

They only tugged me on one thing, they insist on £2m PLI and I only had £1m.

As I said though, I was doing most of the stuff they wanted anyway, most
people probably are as well.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
. ..
My local council's trading standards dept operates a 'Fair Trader' scheme
&
I've just been accredited as a member!

http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/busin...fairtrader.htm


Heh! you would consider the council as a good advertisment for your
business?

sheeesh liverpool city council couldn't organise a ****up in a brewery and
as far as their housing workforce goes its the pits.

whats yours like?

The Medway Handyman wrote:

My local council's trading standards dept operates a 'Fair Trader' scheme &
I've just been accredited as a member!

Does Fair Trader status permit you to carry on a policy of unsolicited
commercial advertising to a DIY newsgroup?

On Sun, 02 Dec 2007 13:08:20 +0000, Steve Firth wrote:

Does Fair Trader status permit you to carry on a policy of unsolicited
commercial advertising to a DIY newsgroup?

You mean, like a council would _know_ what a newsgroup is?

Personally I found this thread, with information on what it takes to get
onto such a "fair trader" scheme and how much weight it carries from
either the trader's[1] or their clients'[2] POV, quite useful. You may
think TMF is a mouthy b*** but it seems clear to me that his posts are
motivated by a wish to share the joys and woes of his working life with us
rather than soliciting more business than he needs.

[1] many of us on this group work for a living, and some of us do work
which overlaps with what others do as DIY

[2] not all DIYers are such fundamentalists that they do everything for
themselves, so most of us employ tradespeople from time to time.

--
John Stumbles

Testiculate [v.t]
To wave one's arms around while talking ********.

John Stumbles wrote:

You may
think TMF is a mouthy b*** but it seems clear to me that his posts are
motivated by a wish to share the joys and woes of his working life with us
rather than soliciting more business than he needs.

I don't think much one way or the other about Dave and his lifestyle
choices. However his stealth advertising is out of place here. If others
started to post thinly disguised business advertising it wouldn't be
long before the general population started to complain.

Just because someone is seen as OK, pleasant, friendly etc. is no reason
to persuade them to continue to commit newsgroup abuse.

Either that or declare a general amnesty and I'll start advertising my
businesses here.

On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 20:31:52 +0000 Steve Firth wrote :
I don't think much one way or the other about Dave and his lifestyle
choices. However his stealth advertising is out of place here. If
others started to post thinly disguised business advertising it
wouldn't be long before the general population started to complain.

For 99% of us it isn't advertising because we're not in the Medway
area. Or to put it another way, how many of uk.d-i-y's readership
lives in the TMH catchment area - probably TMH only!

Personally I appreciate Dave's contributions to the group: takes me
back to when I was first self employed - a fellow BCO and I got so fed
up with some of what we saw that we thought we couldn't fail to make a
good living. We found out - as Dave often reminds us - that it's
harder than it looks.

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk

Tony Bryer wrote:

Personally I appreciate Dave's contributions to the group

Yes... I think you're rather making my point for me. It is similar to
the situation when ucsm permitted on user to start prattling on about
his computer business in the same way that Dave prattles on about his
van and dungaree business. Then the same individuals got all hot under
the collar when others started to spam the group.

However where was the moral highground? They were simply being faced
with more of what they had permitted.

I have no beef with Dave, other than that his business experience has no
place here. If he wants to rattle on elsewhere he's welcome, or if he's
really keen he start up uk.getitdoneforyou or whatever he wants to call
it.

In message , Steve Firth
writes

Either that or declare a general amnesty and I'll start advertising my
businesses here.

In your 4 line sig', feel free.

--
Si

Si $3o&m wrote:

In message , Steve Firth
writes

Either that or declare a general amnesty and I'll start advertising my
businesses here.

In your 4 line sig', feel free.

Oh no, I'll be filling the group with lively anecdotes of my latest
exploits. After all, that's the standard that "the group[1]" is willing
to accept.



[1] clique

On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 20:31:52 +0000, (Steve Firth)
wrote:

John Stumbles wrote:

You may
think TMF is a mouthy b*** but it seems clear to me that his posts are
motivated by a wish to share the joys and woes of his working life with us
rather than soliciting more business than he needs.

I don't think much one way or the other about Dave and his lifestyle
choices. However his stealth advertising is out of place here.

Nonsense. There are plenty of professionals posting to their relevant
forums with taglines and signatures that advertise their
trade...myself included. In general such posters are welcome in their
associated forums.

If others
started to post thinly disguised business advertising it wouldn't be
long before the general population started to complain.

Depends on how useful their posts were.

Just because someone is seen as OK, pleasant, friendly etc. is no reason
to persuade them to continue to commit newsgroup abuse.

Because someone is helpful and knowledgeable it's a good idea to
encourage such a resource to stick around.

Either that or declare a general amnesty and I'll start advertising my
businesses here.

Go ahead....but bear in mind that when you do so, you associate your
business with your posts...and that can work in more than one way..

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{who is at}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk

Stephen Howard wrote:

There are plenty of professionals posting to their relevant
forums with taglines and signatures that advertise their
trade...myself included.

I that were all he were doing, I would not object.

And "Nonsense" yourself.

On Sun, 02 Dec 2007 20:31:52 +0000, Steve Firth wrote:

I don't think much one way or the other about Dave and his lifestyle
choices. However his stealth advertising is out of place here.

You seem to be appointing yourself as judge and jury on this 'stealth
advertising' charge. The consensus of those in the group who've expressed
an opinion seems to be that it isn't. Like the emperor's nose that
doesn't establish fact but it does put the onus on you to either
persuade a substantial body of people to agree with you or accept that
it's only your opinion rather than stating it as an established fact.


--
John Stumbles

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

John Stumbles wrote:

or accept that
it's only your opinion rather than stating it as an established fact.

It's a fact - no one else promotes their business here as he does. I can
see the "mateship" thing is more important to some that that we each
behave ourselves.

The message
from John Stumbles contains these words:

I don't think much one way or the other about Dave and his lifestyle
choices. However his stealth advertising is out of place here.

You seem to be appointing yourself as judge and jury on this 'stealth
advertising' charge. The consensus of those in the group who've expressed
an opinion seems to be that it isn't. Like the emperor's nose that
doesn't establish fact but it does put the onus on you to either
persuade a substantial body of people to agree with you or accept that
it's only your opinion rather than stating it as an established fact.

Steve is in my killfile. Dave isn't (as yet). :-)

--
Roger Chapman

On Dec 2, 8:31 pm, (Steve Firth) wrote:
Either that or declare a general amnesty and I'll start advertising my
businesses here.

Please do, that way we'll all know who to avoid.

MBQ

On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 20:31:52 +0000, (Steve Firth)
wrote:

I'll start advertising my businesses here.

And what would that be? Your expert consultancy on wood preservation?

Steve "The Great Expert On Everything" Firth

On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 20:31:52 +0000, (Steve Firth)
wrote:

I don't think much one way or the other about Dave and his lifestyle
choices.

Steve, there are things called "killfiles". Maybe you can employ some
sort of IT specialist to come round and explain them to you.

Andy Dingley wrote:

On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 20:31:52 +0000, (Steve Firth)
wrote:

I don't think much one way or the other about Dave and his lifestyle
choices.

Steve, there are things called "killfiles". Maybe you can employ some
sort of IT specialist to come round and explain them to you.

I'm mildly amused by the way that so many people think that the correct
response to a reasonable and reasoned statement is abuse.

Indeed the entire line taken by Dave and his chums has been libel and
abuse in equal measure. Oh, and that's ignoring the rather sad sight of
a bunch of people falling over themselves to use various disabilities as
an insult. Does not one of you feel ashamed over your behaviour?

John Stumbles wrote:
On Sun, 02 Dec 2007 13:08:20 +0000, Steve Firth wrote:

Does Fair Trader status permit you to carry on a policy of
unsolicited commercial advertising to a DIY newsgroup?

Oh dear, it's that Firth man again. Missed your post because of my kill
file.

I'll type this very slowly Steve so you have a chance of understanding it.

Lets examine the accusation of "a policy of unsolicited commercial
advertising" shall we.

I operate exclusively in the ME postcodes. Actually I don't operate in all
of these postcodes, but whatever.

Since to my knowledge none of the regular contributors to this group live
anywhere near the ME postcodes, that wouldn't be a sensible "commercial
advertising" policy now would it?

If my assumption is incorrect, and unknown to me, many of the contributors
do live in the ME postcodes, what would be the point of offering a handyman
service to dedicated, knowledible, experienced DIY enthusiasts?

You will now probably start a rant about me obtaining information for free
from the group to use in a commercial activity.

I plead guilty to that charge. I do ask many questions and gratefully
receive answers from those more knowledible that I am in certain areas.

However, those who reply to my posts do so willingly.

The other side of the coin is where I use the information I have gained in
the course of my commercial activity to help members of the group who are
seeking information. Since I do more DIY in a month than some do in a year
I hope my input is useful to some.

Fair Trader status means I run my business properly with good intention.

I doubt this reasoned reply will change your attitude, but I accept that's
because you are simply a ****wit.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

The Medway Handyman wrote:

Since to my knowledge none of the regular contributors to this group live
anywhere near the ME postcodes, that wouldn't be a sensible "commercial
advertising" policy now would it?


sigh

I have no idea how successful your advertising is, but that doesn't mean
it isn't advertising. I spent a few hundred on advertising in a trade
journal, it produced no response at all although the same advert in
another journal produced hundreds of leads. Does that mean the first
advert wasn't an advert?

BTW, don't presume to tell me what I will do. You're a fake mindreader,
not a real one so don't get above yourself.

Steve Firth wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote:

Since to my knowledge none of the regular contributors to this group
live anywhere near the ME postcodes, that wouldn't be a sensible
"commercial advertising" policy now would it?


sigh

I have no idea how successful your advertising is, but that doesn't
mean it isn't advertising. I spent a few hundred on advertising in a
trade journal, it produced no response at all although the same
advert in another journal produced hundreds of leads. Does that mean
the first advert wasn't an advert?

My advertising is very successful thank you. I still have no idea what you
mean. Would it be that advertising to people outside my area with no
interest in my services is still advertising? In which case I'm even more
confused.

BTW, don't presume to tell me what I will do. You're a fake
mindreader, not a real one so don't get above yourself.

All mindreaders are fake Steve. Bad news, Father Chistmas & the Tooth Fairy
are fake as well.

Care in the Community clearly isnt working.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257