Directory listing vs personal recommendation: finding tradespeople you can trust
Short answerA trade directory gives you choice, many reviews and, depending on the platform, some background checks; a personal recommendation gives you first-hand knowledge from someone who has seen the work. Since April 2025 fake and concealed incentivised reviews are banned under the DMCC Act, but neither route replaces your own checks: insurance, a written quote, competent person scheme registration for electricians and the Gas Safe Register for gas work.
Directory listing vs personal recommendation for tradespeople isn't a contest with one winner. A directory gives you choice, structured reviews and, depending on the site, some background checks. A personal recommendation gives you first-hand knowledge from someone you trust, who has seen the work and dealt with the person. The best approach is usually to use both, and to do a few simple checks yourself whichever route you take.
This guide explains neutrally what each source can and can't tell you, what the law now says about fake reviews, and the checks that matter most for electricians, plumbers, plasterers and carpenters around Market Harborough.
Directory listing vs personal recommendation for tradespeople: side by side
| Directory or review site | Personal recommendation | |
|---|---|---|
| Choice | Several traders to compare | Usually one name |
| Evidence | Many reviews from strangers | One detailed account from someone you know |
| Checks | Some platforms vet traders; what's checked varies | Usually none, unless you do them |
| Context | Limited: short reviews, often of small jobs | Rich: price, timekeeping, how problems were handled |
| Best for | Widening the choice, new to the area | Bigger jobs where trust matters |
What a trade directory gives you
Directories and review platforms work in different ways. Some are membership or approval schemes that vet traders before listing them. Others mainly connect customers with traders who pay to be listed or to respond to jobs, and some do both. For example, TrustMark describes itself as the government-endorsed quality scheme for work in and around the home; its scheme providers check a business's trading record and finances when it joins and carry out ongoing audits and site checks. Other platforms have their own vetting, so read each one's explanation of what it checks and how often.
In general, a directory can give you:
- Choice, so you can compare several tradespeople for the same job
- Reviews from many customers, often with separate ratings for quality, tidiness and reliability
- Some background checks, which can include identity, insurance, trading address or qualifications, depending on the platform
- Complaint or dispute routes, on some platforms
- Convenience, especially if you're new to an area
What a directory can't tell you
- How the tradesperson handles your type of job. Many reviews are for small jobs, and a great review of a quick repair says little about a full renovation.
- The full picture. People with an average experience often don't leave a review at all.
- Whether they'll fit your timescale, or how busy they are.
What a personal recommendation gives you
- Someone you can question. You can ask what went wrong as well as what went right, and how problems were handled.
- Work you may be able to see.
- Context. A neighbour can tell you whether the price felt fair and whether the tradesperson turned up when they said.
- Accountability. Tradespeople who rely on word of mouth have a strong reason to look after people they're recommended to.
What a personal recommendation can't tell you
- Whether they're registered or insured. Your friend may not know. Check anyway.
- Whether they're right for your job. A brilliant kitchen fitter isn't automatically right for a loft conversion.
- How they compare. One recommendation gives you nothing to compare against, so get a second quote on bigger jobs.
- Whether the recommender has a connection. It's fair to ask if they get anything in return.
What the law says about fake reviews
Since 6 April 2025, the consumer protection parts of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC Act) have been in force. Under them:
- Fake reviews are a banned practice. Writing, commissioning or facilitating a review that pretends to be a genuine customer experience when it isn't is banned outright.
- Concealed incentivised reviews are banned. A review that was paid for or rewarded, for example with a discount or free work, must not be presented as if it were unprompted.
- Misleading review information is banned, such as showing only the good reviews while implying they're the whole picture.
- Businesses that publish reviews must take reasonable and proportionate steps to prevent and remove fake and concealed incentivised reviews. The CMA has published guidance (CMA208) on what that means.
- Enforcement. The CMA can now decide for itself that consumer law has been broken and fine a business up to 10% of its global turnover, without first going to court. It has opened investigations into fake and misleading online reviews.
The rules apply to traders too. A tradesperson who asks friends to post reviews of work they never had done, or quietly offers money off for a five-star rating, is breaking them. If you spot something suspicious, you can report it to the platform, and to Trading Standards through Citizens Advice.
How to read online reviews
The law reduces the risk, but no review system is perfect, and that includes personal recommendations. On any platform:
- Look at recent reviews, not just the overall score.
- Read the lower-rated ones, and how the trader responded. A calm, helpful reply to a complaint is a good sign.
- Look for detail. "Rewired our three-bed, kept dust down, explained the certificate" is more useful than "Great job".
- Check reviews match the job you need.
- Be wary of patterns, such as lots of very short five-star reviews posted close together.
- Cross-check across more than one source, and ask locally.
Message us on WhatsAppFree. We pass you straight to the tradesperson we trust.
The checks that matter, whichever route you use
For every trade
- Insurance: ask for public liability insurance details.
- A written quote with what is and isn't included. See how to get a good quote from a tradesperson.
- A clear payment schedule. Be cautious about large upfront payments, other than reasonable deposits for materials on bigger jobs.
- A confirmed name and contact details, such as a business address.
- Know your rights. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a trader must carry out the work with reasonable care and skill. If it falls short you can ask them to put it right at no cost, and if that isn't possible you can claim a price reduction.
Electricians
New circuits, consumer unit replacements and work in bathrooms are notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. Use an electrician registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma, check the register yourself, and expect a certificate when the job is done. See how to check an electrician is registered.
Plumbers and gas engineers
By law, anyone working on gas appliances or pipework must be on the Gas Safe Register. A plumber who isn't Gas Safe registered must not touch gas. Check the engineer's Gas Safe ID card, which lists the types of work they're qualified for, and the register. See plumber or gas engineer: which do I need? and how to find a reliable plumber.
Plasterers and carpenters
There is no compulsory registration scheme for plasterers or carpenters, so recommendations, photos of past work and references matter more. For older houses, ask about lime plaster or out-of-square joinery experience. See lime plaster for old houses and hanging doors in old houses.
How to find trusted tradesmen in Market Harborough
- Ask people nearby who have had similar work done recently.
- Use a directory to widen the choice and read reviews.
- Check registration and insurance as above.
- Get at least two written quotes on bigger jobs.
- Ask to see similar work or speak to a past customer.
- Trust your instincts about communication. If someone is hard to reach before the job, it rarely improves.
How our recommendations work
We are one family in Market Harborough who recently renovated our house. We recommend one tradesperson per trade: the electrician, plumber, plasterer and carpenter we used and trust. We're not paid for recommendations and take no commission. In the spirit of the rules above, we'll be open that the tradespeople sometimes return the favour with work for us. That is a personal recommendation, with its limits: we can only vouch for our own experience, so please still do the checks above. Read more about how our recommendations work.
Message us on WhatsAppFree. We pass you straight to the tradesperson we trust.
Frequently asked questions
Is a personal recommendation better than a trade directory?
Not always. A personal recommendation gives first-hand knowledge of how someone works, but it's only one data point. A directory gives choice and many reviews, plus some checks depending on the platform, but less context. Using both works well: get a recommendation, check the person's reviews and registration, and on bigger jobs get a second written quote to compare.
Are online reviews of tradespeople reliable?
They are a useful guide when read carefully, on any platform. Look at recent reviews, read the lower-rated ones and the trader's replies, look for reviews of jobs like yours, and cross-check with other sources and people you know. Since April 2025 fake and concealed incentivised reviews are banned under the DMCC Act, and sites that publish reviews must take reasonable steps to prevent them.
Is it illegal to post fake reviews in the UK?
Yes. Since 6 April 2025 the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 bans writing, commissioning or facilitating fake reviews, and presenting paid-for or rewarded reviews as if they were unprompted. Businesses that publish reviews must take reasonable and proportionate steps to stop them. The CMA can fine businesses up to 10% of global turnover for breaking consumer law.
How do I find a trusted tradesman near me?
Ask neighbours and friends who have had similar work done, then widen the choice with a directory. Check insurance, check registration where it applies (competent person schemes for electricians, Gas Safe for gas work), get written quotes from at least two people on bigger jobs, and ask to see similar work. Good communication before the job is a strong sign.
What checks should I do before hiring a tradesperson?
Ask for public liability insurance details and a written, itemised quote. For electrical work, check registration with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma. For any gas work, check the Gas Safe Register and the engineer's ID card. Agree a payment schedule in writing, avoid large upfront payments, and ask for photos or references from similar jobs.
Do plasterers and carpenters need to be registered?
No. There is no compulsory registration scheme for plasterers or carpenters in the way there is for gas work, so you rely more on recommendations, reviews, photos of past work and references. Some belong to trade associations or vetting schemes. If their work involves structural changes or other Building Regulations work, make sure the right approvals are in place.