how not to get a cowboy builder in the Uk

First thing , contact me and Ill give you a great building firm .
I have released ten tips on how to spot a cowboy builder. Aarm bells should ring if:

• The builder offers a particularly cheap quote
• They are unwilling to put the quote or estimate in writing
• They won't offer you a contract - or won't sign it
• They don't offer references
• They are keen to start straight away (often because they like to do a number of jobs in an area and then move on so they can't be traced)
• They will not tell you the business address and landline number so you can check them out
• They are not in a trade association, or they claim to be but they are not
• They claim to be part of a reputable company, but they're not. It pays to check out claims like this with the company concerned
• They ask for money up-front - a reputable builder should be able to cover the cost of materials and only ask for payment after they have at least completed a significant proportion of the work
• They don't charge VAT. If they earn below a specific level then they don't have to charge VAT, but it can be a warning sign
• They only accept cash. This avoids a paper trail - which you may want to rely on if things go wrong