I, like many others everyday across the UK, fell victim to a fraudulent building company misleading its customers. I chose a seemingly legitimate company to build an extension to my home, trusting in the accreditation from the Guild of Master Craftsmen, Association of Master Tradesmen and review sites such as Checkatrade. These organisations perform vetting procedures that clearly can be circumvented. After paying a substantial deposit, the company has since ceased all communication, leaving me, and almost 30 other individuals we know of, significantly out of pocket and emotionally distressed. 

Despite our trust in proper documentation and vetting processes, we found ourselves cheated. Currently there are multiple regulatory bodies for builders and tradesmen - this calls into question the efficacy of the current regulation systems for builders and tradesmen in the UK. As such, these regulations must be revisited and strengthened.

The Citizens Advice Bureau in the UK stated that problems with building work and home improvements are in their top five most complained about issues every year. This not only impacts the individuals involved but has wider implications on the economy and trust in these businesses.

We ask the UK Government to instate heightened control measures on tradesmen's accreditations, as well as to establish a monitoring system that tracks businesses' compliance with rules and professional standards. Only through these steps can we prevent others from falling into the same distressing situation. Defend UK consumers from building scams - sign this petition today.