Guidance for Tackling Unfair Tradesmen Bradford

The OFT receives many complaints about unfair contract terms New guidance for consumers detailing what to look out for when getting work done on their home by professional tradesmen has been published today.

It comes as the Office for Fair Trading publishes updated guidance for home improvement businesses including plumbers, painters and decorators and gardeners, to help them use fair terms in their standard contracts with consumers.

The OFT receives many consumer complaints about the sector relating to unfair contract terms.

Commonly found unfair terms include those that exclude or restrict liability for breach of contract or negligence, such as providing unsatisfactory goods and poor services; or those that requirement full payment in advance and do not give consumers the right to offset claims for faulty goods or work against the price by withholding payment.

The leaflets, which can be found on the OFT's website set out the rights of the consumer and what they should look out for in contracts provided by traders, and the range of organisations that can help consumers with a problem.

Sir John Vickers, OFT chairman, said: "Businesses that use clear and fair terms in their contracts give consumers confidence and make it more likely that people will want to do business with them."

Business are required to comply with minimum standards of fairness and transparency as required by the 'Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999'.

Other commonly found unfair terms include placing time limits on claims, imposing harsh financial penalties when consumers want to cancel a contract, and excluding the supplier's liability for oral statements made by its staff.