Have you been called by The Building Trades Database yet? Beware!

[maxine]

I had a call yesterday asking me to call Alan Jones on 01273 878 222 to arrange to provide a quote for plastering at his home address.

This call actually turns out to be for The Building Trades Database Ltd company registration number 6580469 who just want to sell advertising space / admin and commission fee for leads passed to you.

Of course they check you out (apparently by taking up 2 references from happy customers) ... yawn! ... and also ask you how long you have been in business... yawn!... probably longer than them seeing as their company was only formed in April 2008 but their sole director was only appointed in Feb 2009

Usual story.. customers can give reviews on how they rate your business but they don't mediate in the event of disputes in terms of mediation recognised by the courts.

So another directory to the list to be wary of if you get a call like this pretending to be an enquiry for your services. !!

 

[estwig]

I wonder how much longer these trade directories are gonna last for??

There are so, so many of them and they are all a rip off, both the customer wanting work done and the tradesmen parting with hard earned. It can only be a matter of time now until there is no one left, who doesn't know the crack and is silly enough to use them.

 

[Matt1959]

I wonder how much longer these trade directories are gonna last for??

There are so, so many of them and they are all a rip off, both the customer wanting work done and the tradesmen parting with hard earned. It can only be a matter of time now until there is no one left, who doesn't know the crack and is silly enough to use them.

Keith, there will always be suckers game for one of these directory entries as people are starting up in business all the time. I can imagine such directory sites sit on the phone for half a day, get 4 annual sign ups at £50 each - thats £1000 a week for doing nearly naff all - basically a numbers game - who's the mugs:|

 

[estwig]

Keith, there will always be suckers game for one of these directory entries as people are starting up in business all the time. I can imagine such directory sites sit on the phone for half a day, get 4 annual sign ups at £50 each - thats £1000 a week for doing nearly naff all - basically a numbers game - who's the mugs:|

Your not wrong it's true.

An old saying I quite like.................

You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Like you say, it's numbers and I suppose there will always be someone foolish enough to sign up.

 

[Geoff T]

I wonder how much longer these trade directories are gonna last for??

There are so, so many of them and they are all a rip off, both the customer wanting work done and the tradesmen parting with hard earned. It can only be a matter of time now until there is no one left, who doesn't know the crack and is silly enough to use them.

you worried me there mate!

how is the infraction count?:|

well held BTW!

(sorry - not my norm forum, I'll be off!:redface

 

[maxine]

Yes - "Well Held" Estwig ... you are reformed

Couple of things with this one

1) Their membership fee is £200 then there are a scale of commission charges

2) You cannot see the trade companies that have already subscribed ie; to phone them and ask them how they are finding the directory working for them

Let's hope all these types of directories die a death soon

 

[BTDchat]

BTD are not a con and are in fact a very reputable and registered company who have recently been given the blessing of the office of fair trading for its quality of work and organisation.

As most people are aware, we are in a recession and it doesn’t help us get work for our traders with such negative postings being put on to the internet.

We provide a members telephone line for our members to contact if they have any queries and this works very well.

The “membership charge” of £200 + vat is purely for administration such as programming details onto our very large database of traders, and as a matter of fact we don’t actually make any money until we provide work for our members, so we cannot be a con as some people have suggested.

In the interests of our several thousand members, it would be a good idea for people to stop putting such negative nonsense onto this type “service”.

We have found that a lot of negativity comes from organisations that have not met our standards and are consequently rejected, so a bit of sour grapes as far as we are concerned.

 

[saxondale]

does that hole in your foot hurt?

 

[maxine]

I will put negative comments on when false, devious approaches are made as part of your sales approach.

If you don't like it then don't do it!

 

[Upshot Media]

BTD are not a con and are in fact a very reputable and registered company who have recently been given the blessing of the office of fair trading for its quality of work and organisation.

As most people are aware, we are in a recession and it doesn’t help us get work for our traders with such negative postings being put on to the internet.

We provide a members telephone line for our members to contact if they have any queries and this works very well.

The “membership charge” of £200 + vat is purely for administration such as programming details onto our very large database of traders, and as a matter of fact we don’t actually make any money until we provide work for our members, so we cannot be a con as some people have suggested.

In the interests of our several thousand members, it would be a good idea for people to stop putting such negative nonsense onto this type “service”.

We have found that a lot of negativity comes from organisations that have not met our standards and are consequently rejected, so a bit of sour grapes as far as we are concerned.

£200 admin fee - design a new database where it takes only a couple of minites to add a listing and reduce the fee...

 

[stefan1x1]

They called me as well today an i missed the call, when i tryed to call em back they dont pick up?

some company that is,

Thanks for letting me know, all my calls go to my mobile so there saved under "done answer 38"

cheers your number 1 locksmith stef

 

[OLPS]

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Mpg]

I will gladly input new tradesmen onto your system for £100 thus saving you £100 per go. Multiply that to the 1000's you say on your database and i can save you loads

 

[estwig]

I will gladly input new tradesmen onto your system for £100 thus saving you £100 per go. Multiply that to the 1000's you say on your database and i can save you loads

Hello mate, I'm interested to know more, who's system??

Your system???

 

[Mpg]

BTD are not a con and are in fact a very reputable and registered company who have recently been given the blessing of the office of fair trading for its quality of work and organisation.

As most people are aware, we are in a recession and it doesn't help us get work for our traders with such negative postings being put on to the internet.

We provide a members telephone line for our members to contact if they have any queries and this works very well.

The "membership charge" of £200 + vat is purely for administration such as programming details onto our very large database of traders, and as a matter of fact we don't actually make any money until we provide work for our members, so we cannot be a con as some people have suggested.

In the interests of our several thousand members, it would be a good idea for people to stop putting such negative nonsense onto this type "service".

We have found that a lot of negativity comes from organisations that have not met our standards and are consequently rejected, so a bit of sour grapes as far as we are concerned.

That database and those 1000's of tradesmen @£200 a pop nice little earner shame there is NO profit in that

 

[Camille-I]

Not yet, but theses are just tricks of merchandising. I never say hello to those similar callers and tell them I don't need then hang up the phone.

 

[macawood]

Just thought I'd update this. Got the call form Alan Jones asking for work locally. Rang back...got he's not in, but i'm his manager response. Hooked me in with offer of work then (20 minutes later) the £200 admin charge came up. I did research that night...no positive comments found anywhere about BTD. BTD rang back, i asked for references from them, they rang back 2 hours later. This was the last straw...they had asked 2 clients if they could give me there details to question them over BTD, 1 said no the other said I'd rather take over his territory rather than give him a reference for BTD (they also said this is the first time this has happened). They then said if i didn't pay they would offer him my territory immediately. Any company that can't offer a reference or 2 from its clients...trustworthy.... I think not!! If someone has had a positive outcome from this company please speak up. I think trading standards should take a look at them, they seem to be spouting **** from the moment you answer the phone.

 

[Brad Naylor]

The following was posted by the management of BTD on the Screwfix Forum earlier this year in response to a similar thread. It looks like they are so used to this kind of criticism that they routinely trawl internet forums and have a standard response ready!

http://www.screwfix.com/talk/thread.jspa?threadID=94256

BTD are not a con and are in fact a very reputable and registered company.

As most people are aware, we are in a recession and it doesn't help us when seeking work for our members with such negative postings being put on to the internet.

We provide a members telephone line for our members to contact if they have any queries and this works very well.

The "membership charge" of £200 + vat is for administration such as programming details onto our very large database of traders.

In the interests of our members, it would be a good idea for people to stop putting such negative nonsense onto this type "service"

 

[vsa]

My boss has just been hit by the same scam. They called this morning, said there was a job they wanted us to work on but their manager was out at the time and could we call back.

My boss did so and did get 'sucked in' for a little while. I've just done the googling and research to prove it's a scam and shown it to him.

These people are a joke! £200 to enter onto their database??!! I dread to think how much the phone call cost when my boss rang them back!

 

[streetslocal]

£200 to enter listing details on a database.
This takes me 3-5 minutes dependent on what level listing i am adding.

That price is just pure profit FACT so dont come on here and say you dont make money until...............................

 

[Sure]

These arent the only people doing this, i had three different companies phone up last month,

this guy "my bosses central heating has broken down, blah blah"
a national kitchen company " need a hob fitted just round the corner from you, blah blah".
a national letting company "tennant, young family with no heating, blah blah"

Whats most annoying is that im willing to disrupt my day and go round and sort out someones problem, then as you get down to the details you discover its all b******t.
Complete time wasters!

 

[maxine]

Thanks Sure, I didn't realise there were others doing this too!

 

[happyoutdoors]

I wonder how much longer these trade directories are gonna last for??

There are so, so many of them and they are all a rip off, both the customer wanting work done and the tradesmen parting with hard earned. It can only be a matter of time now until there is no one left, who doesn't know the crack and is silly enough to use them.

Just realised that we may have been contacted by this lot, can you call Peter King on 01273 xxxxx from York. But 01273 ain't the local STD code strangely similar to Maxine's call.

Talking about directories, we are getting several calls a week from Yp & Yell, their rep just doesn't understand the word NO.

Or the endless can I speak to the person who deals with 'anything on the planet' other than what you actually do enquiries.

My response, I'm not that person, you need someone else, they are not here and don't know when 'they' will return. No-one leaves a message. Thank you.

 

[Jheath]

Surely any company making unsolicited sales calls to businesses who advertise their phone number FOR CUSTOMERS, then mis-representing the reason for the call with a bogus offer of work leading to a sales patter do not deserve to be given the time of day. The best plan is to hang up the phone and get on with running your business and bringing in some profitable work. These kind of companies are (in my personal view) no more than parasites and should be avoided like the plague.

 

[OLPS]

Just realised that we may have been contacted by this lot, can you call Peter King on 01273 xxxxx from York. But 01273 ain't the local STD code strangely similar to Maxine's call.

Talking about directories, we are getting several calls a week from Yp & Yell, their rep just doesn't understand the word NO.

Or the endless can I speak to the person who deals with 'anything on the planet' other than what you actually do enquiries.

My response, I'm not that person, you need someone else, they are not here and don't know when 'they' will return. No-one leaves a message. Thank you.

01273 is a Brighton/Hove number.

 

[lockie]

Getting sick of these telesales calls making out they are something they are not.After politely telling one i wasnt interested he says " well i shall call someone else who realises its a good return on investment". I asked if he would put it in writing it was a good ROI. He then back tracks saying no one can guarantee that.So i asked why he was saying it is a good roi then ? Basically he was stuck for an answer so i then asked if he thought misleading and blatently lying is a good tactic to get new customers. BT customer street sort yourselves out and stop ringing me with this time wasting crap.

 

[plasterer1967]

Called by Alan Jones this morning. Returned his call - in a meeting but his manager came on the phone..same story 'selected to be only trader in this area...£200 one off payment'. Just wanted to let people know BTD are still active. Thanks to this forum for coming up on a web search for 'building trade database scam'.

 

[Test It]

Yep I heard the speal, pre christmas.

Total con and it is interesting to see that their reply on this thead is a 90% cut and paste (notice the different text) standard reply statement.

 

[Superstar Tradesman]

Thanks for the heads up guys, I was considering it for a bit there until I researched it. Its a Colin Rouse who has been contacting me though so keep a watch out for him. It all sounded far too good to be true, offers of £100,000 worth of work per month were rediculous. That same reply from them is on at least another 3 threads. Total jokers. The number they call from is 01273 878 222. I called them back once I realised it was a scam and gave them fake card details just so they had to take the time processing a card that doesnt exist, see how they like their time being wasted the way the do mine

 

[jasonbond]

I wonder how much longer these trade directories are gonna last for??

There are so, so many of them and they are all a rip off, both the customer wanting work done and the tradesmen parting with hard earned. It can only be a matter of time now until there is no one left, who doesn't know the crack and is silly enough to use them.

 

[daveycrud]

ive just nearly being caught out ..phone call about plastering work could i ring back manager in meeting,,,,what a scam,,,,buisness is hard enough without people like this..just so glad i done a google search first and found this forum ,are i would have being £200 pound down.....many thanks

 

[Pilfo]

Got a call off 'Alan Jones' on 17th March, whilst I was in a meeting!!

Anyway, 'phoned him (?) back and was put through to someone called Audrey, who gave me the spiel and tried to be very persuasive in order to get me to make an instant decision.

Once I realised what they were about, I emailed her back the following morning telling her/them not to question my decision or even bother ever contacting me again.

Pilfo

 

[apankai]

no ,i have not get the call

 

[longleaf1]

Hi everyone.

Can I say thanks for all the comments. I haven't been contacted by these people but lets say when/if I am I have my answer ready!
Great thread and useful information about what seems to be a terrible company.

Rich

 

[Greeley78]

I was almost ready to part with my £200+vat!!!

Seemed different to the normal lead generation companies who contact me wanting to sell me Double Glazing and Cinservatory leads, cause I did not have to pay for the lead untill we sold it!!! (bonus)!

After checking them out I WILL NOT be parting with any money.

Even on risk disc they come as 'Credit Rating Supsended'! and says the 'Company appears Finacially Valueless!!'

I WOULD KEEP WELL AWAY........

 

[maxine]

Can't believe they haven't thought of a new approach yet or are still in business

 

[chesteralfie]

Just reading the threads about this company, Please please do not touch them. I parted with £200.00 back in December maybe it was a moment of weakness as I am normally cute to these scams. I have not received one single enquiry (surprise surprise) and i have tried to get in touch on the membership line and by e-mail for about a month now, no calls returned and no one in the office. Anyway there's no fool like an old fool, please
do not to go near them.

 

[maxine]

Sorry to hear that. Did you report to trading standards?

 

[chesteralfie]

No, maybe thats the next step, I just wanted to warn others about them.

 

[Magsite]

Sounds a bit like

Fraud by false representation. - Fraud Act 2006

Fraud by false representation
(1)A person is in breach of this section if he—
(a)dishonestly makes a false representation, and
(b)intends, by making the representation—
(i)to make a gain for himself or another, or
(ii)to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.
(2)A representation is false if—
(a)it is untrue or misleading, and
(b)the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading.
(3)“Representation” means any representation as to fact or law, including a representation as to the state of mind of—
(a)the person making the representation, or
(b)any other person.
(4)A representation may be express or implied.
(5)For the purposes of this section a representation may be regarded as made if it (or anything implying it) is submitted in any form to any system or device designed to receive, convey or respond to communications (with or without human intervention).