How the Code works for you
When traders join the scheme, they have to agree to abide by the details in our Code of Conduct. It is an extra layer of security that ensures Which? Trusted Traders are following best practice and procedures in relation to how they handle: consumer contracts; goods and materials; taxes; consumer cancellation rights; payments; guarantees and warranties; insurance complaints; and other areas.
We fully investigate any breaches ofthe Code of Conduct. If a Which? Trusted Trader does breach the Code of Conduct, this could lead to them being removed from the scheme altogether.
Code of Conduct
For consumers: This is the Code of Conduct that Which? Trusted Traders agree to follow when they join our scheme.
For traders: The Code should be read together with the Which? Trusted Traders Agreement,the logo User Regulations and the'What is Expected of You' documentation.
For ease of reference, we refer to Which? Trusted Traders as “Trusted Trader(s)” or you, and the customers of goods and services as “Customer(s)”, and Which? as we, our or us.
1. Aims of the Code of Conduct
To set out the responsibilities, conduct and ethics to be followed by all Which? Trusted Traders.
2. Scope of the Code of Conduct
2.1The Code provides information on what is expected of you when you become a Trusted Trader.
2.2The Trusted trader shall be fully responsible for all employees in meeting the Code’s standards and subcontractors meeting the Code of Conduct for subcontractors.
2.3The Code is independent of existing consumer legal rights.
2.4All Trusted Traders (including all directors, employees and/or subcontractors of the Trusted Trader) must respect and uphold the Code, the Agreement and all terms and conditions as a condition of membership to the Scheme. Failure to comply with any part of the Code may result in the termination of your membership of the Which? Trusted Traders Scheme (the “Scheme”) at our absolute discretion.
2.5The terms of the Code may be changed by us by providing the Trusted Trader with at least 28 days’ notice.
3. As a Which? Trusted Trader
You shall:
3.1Be open, honest and cooperative with us in regard to all elements of the Scheme.
3.2Be available for calls and visits with Which? Trusted Traders staff at our request.
3.3Comply with the terms and conditions of the Which? Trusted Traders Agreement.
3.4Not undertake unsolicited visits to consumers’ homes.
3.5Settle any County Court Judgments (CCJ) in 30 days.
3.6Comply with our “What is Expected of You” document.
3.7Complete all actions within the specified period.
3.8Bring to the attention of Which? Trusted Traders any matterrelating to you, your business or any other current or previous business of yours that might present a risk to the reputation of Which?
3.9Inform Which? Trusted Traders of any changes to your business for example legal status, scope of business activity, bankruptcy, company dissolution / administration / insolvency / liquidation relating to any owner or officer of the companyor changes in staff or subcontractors used.
3.10Comply with all Which? Trusted Traderspolicies, procedures and protocols.
4. Reviews
You agree:
4.1 To abide by the rules and guidelines set out in the Which? Trusted Traders User Generated Content Terms and Which? Privacy Policy.
4.2 You will not pressure or unduly influence a Customer to leave a review of your business, work or service.
4.3 You will not offer, promise or give Customers incentives in exchange for providing reviews of your business, work or service for publication on the Which? Trusted Traders website. Incentives include discounts on the price paid or payable by the customer for your services, a monetary payment, gift or other benefit.
4.4 You will not require or unduly influence a customer to not leave a review or to amend or remove a review.
5. Professional conduct
You shall:
5.1Act diligently and in accordance with the technical and professional standards of your relevant trade and/or service.
5.2Only carry out work that falls within your professional competence and exercise due care and skill at all times.
5.3Act responsibly, professionally and be polite at all times.
5.4Respect the confidentiality of information that you obtain through work and business relationships.
5.5When supplying goods, only supply those that correspond to their description, are of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose, and that comply with all applicable UK and EU legislation.
5.6Comply with Health and Safety requirements and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
5.7 All work should be completed within a reasonable timescale and no longer than 12 weeks, unless agreed with the Customer.
6. Quotations, contracts and other documentation
6.1You shall supply to the customer a quotation in writing (except where it is not practical to do so).
6.2Quotations shall include all of the following:
6.2.1 details of the work to be carried out or service to be provided;
6.2.2 where applicable, details of who will be carrying out the works or providing the service and any materials to be supplied;
6.2.3a breakdown of costs, taxes and any factors that may affect the final price to be paid for the work or service;
6.2.4details of all choices or options available to the customer and how each would affect the final price to be paid for the work or service;
6.2.5 details of any deposits or staged payments together with timings for work agreed should also be shown.
6.3Where additional work is requested or required (that hasn’t previously been detailed in a quotation), you shall provide the customer with a revised or additional quote – to include the additional work – before that work takes place.
6.4Where required, you shall provide to the customer details of cancellation rights applicable to the contract for the services and supply information about the contract and identify the business, as required by law before they commit to the contract.
6.5If you use Terms and Conditions they must be considered fair in accordance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and government guidance.
6.6You shall provide the customer with written confirmation of any contract entered into, or a copy of the contract, any Terms and Conditions and the written information you are required to provide.
6.7You shall maintain full records of all Customer correspondence and documentation and retain a log of complaints for a minimum period of two years.
7. Payment
All invoices must:
7.1Be supplied to the Customer with payment terms.
7.2Include a revised or additional quotation of any additional works/costs undertaken as agreed by the Customer.
7.3Include your VAT number, with all prices inclusive of VAT (if VAT is applicable).
Payments:
7.4Full payment shall not be taken from the Customer until the Trusted trader has completed the work and the Customer has had a reasonable opportunity to inspect the work unless:
7.4.1The payment is protected and the Customer is able to seek remedy via section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act and/or through the Furniture Ombudsman’s Payment Protection Scheme or via an Escrow account, or
7.4.2The payment is taken for a call out for a repair or service through a distance sale.
Interim payments:
7.5If there are to be interim payments, they should either be agreed in advance for set stages and payment made in completion of those stages, or for the supply of materials. Interim payments should be agreed when the contract is made and should represent no more than a reasonable valuation of the work completed and materials delivered.
Customer deposits shall:
7.6Be repaid to the Customer (along with other prepayments) within 28 days if the work has not started and/or where the work is cancelled by the Customer because either it’s within the cancellation period or the work does not take place within a reasonable time. Where work is cancelled by the Customer (and there has been no breach of the Customer’s common law and statutory rights) you retain no more than reasonable costs you have incurred.
7.7Be protected if more than £500.
8. Guarantees and warranties
Any guarantee(s) provided by you to the Customer must:
8.1Be appropriate to the product or service that you are supplying and should be accompanied by a statement that nothing in the guarantee affects the Consumer’s statutory rights.
8.2Cover the labour and materials that formed part of the completed work.
8.3Not restrict the Customer’s common law and statutory rights.
8.4Where the guarantee is for more than a year, fully explain to the Customer whether or not the guarantee is backed by an insurance policy.
8.5Clearly explain its terms and duration.
8.6Clearly explain where the operation of a guarantee is conditional upon appropriate use or maintenance by the Customer.
8.7Explain if and why certain parts of the work are not under guarantee.
8.8Where relevant and legally viable, pass on a manufacturer guarantee to the Customer.
9. Which? Trusted Traders online content
In using the Which? Trusted Traders website (the “Website”) you shall comply with the terms relevant to the Website including the Website’s Terms and Conditions of Use, the Which? General Terms, the Website Privacy Policy and the Website Commenting Guidelines.
10. Insurance
You must:
10.1Maintain adequate insurance policies to cover all relevant risks including, but not limited to, employers and public liability insurance.
10.2Provide the policy documentation of public liability, employer and professional indemnity insurance policies (as required) upon request.
11. Advertising
All advertising relating to the products or services provided by the Trusted trader shall be legal, decent, honest, and truthful and all claims, howsoever made, must be able to be justified. They must comply with the Committee of Advertising Practice’s code. Where you carry out telephone sales you shall comply with our Cold Calling Protocol.
12. The Which Trusted Trader icon
You must use the Trusted trader icon solely in connection with your approved business activities, as further described in the Which? Trusted Traders logo regulations.
13. Marketing and publicity
13.1The ways in which you may refer to Which? and the Scheme are set out in the Which? Trusted Traders Agreement.
13.2You must not, in any event, present Which? in a detrimental, unfair, malicious way or in any way that damages Which?’s reputation or goodwill.
14. Complaints policy
You shall:
14.1Acknowledge all complaints and offer a course of action to the Customer within 28 days for all complaints.
14.2Not refer or require the Customer to deal directly with subcontractors, manufacturers or an insurance company to resolve the complaint.
14.3If agreed by the Customer, carry out such remedial action within eight weeks from the date of the Customer agreement.
14.4Endeavour to settle complaints amicably with the Customer.
14.5Offer Customers full details of why a complaint will not be upheld if relevant.
14.6Keep your customers informed of the progress of their complaint at least weekly via calls and/or written communication.
14.7 If complaints cannot be resolved between you and the Customer, cooperate with an independent Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (ADR) and comply with any decision in relation to the complaint.
14.8 Provide a response within 14 days to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Service for any request for any information or evidence.
15. Alternative Dispute Resolution
Unless you have access to an accredited Alternative Dispute Resolution provider, you agree that, as a Which? Trusted trader, you shall be subject to the procedures and requirements of our independent Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (ADR).
This is a not-for-profit company that provides an independent, expert dispute resolution service to our Which? Trusted Traders and their customers. In the event that a complaint cannot be resolved between you and the Customer under the Complaints policy outlined above, you can ask your customer to contact the ADR provider via the Which? Trusted Traders telephone number or by visiting Why Use Which? Trusted Traders?.
Email: trustedtraders@which.co.uk
Download a PDF copy of the Code ofConduct
