I thought I'd drag this thread back into existance as I joined checkatrade so I thought some feedback would be in order.
I joined them when a customer mentioned about their tie in with 'Cowboy Builders' on TV. They don't generate or sell leads, they simply collate customer feedback and advertise their existance. They check all of your qualifications, memberships and insurances. You need references from trade suppliers and customers to be allowed membership. Yes the fees are high, but no higher than some other advertising methods. There are no guarantees or promises for work or leads.
So, the main question I suppose is have I had work from it? Then, is it worth the fee? Yes to both in my experience. The customers that use it are already in the frame of mind for a quality service, not the lowest price. They can read on the screen who you are, what you do, etc and they know it's been checked. When you go to quote it's up to you to sell yourself/your company, so it's not a magic solution. The work I have had from it has been steady, and they have been 'quality' clients.
I have also found that people out of the area needing work in the area use it. A shop fitting company down South are refitting a shop in Birmingham, they looked on checkatrade and rang me. I looked at the job, sent them the quote, and they want me to do the work. Another was a landlord in London who needed work on a flat he owns in Reditch. Same story. So I've had domestic work, letting agent work, and commercial work.
Once the job's done you give them a feedback card which they fill in and send back, or they can fill in an online form. Checkatrade check the feedback comments and contact you if there are any queries or something looks amiss. So dodgy practice is much more difficult to carry on there.
All in all it's been good for me in the short while I've used it, and I would recommend it if aksed.
