Using the services of a tradesman

Some jobs require the services of skilled people, such as electricians, tile layers or plumbers.

Materials used on the job must be of good quality- Odette Vella

We may also require a technician to fix a faulty appliance or a mechanic to service our car. When we hire someone for a specific job, our rights are the same as when we buy any other type of service.

Generally speaking, when we engage someone to do a job for us, the work must be carried out as agreed and must also be of a certain quality. The person carrying out the job must be adequately qualified and have the appropriate skills.

Furthermore, any materials used for the job must be of good quality and fit for their purpose. If we agree with the tradesman that we will provide the material ourselves, it is important that we have the necessary information about the material to make sure we are buying the right product.

Should a problem with the work carried out crop up because the product used was not adequate, legally, the person who should provide a remedy is the one who provided theproduct.

If, during the provision of a service, goods are supplied, these must also be of satisfactory quality and fit for their purpose.

Furthermore, these goods are normally covered by a two-year legal protection, should they be unfit for their purpose or have a latent defect.

So if while servicing our car, the mechanic replaces an old part with a new one, it is important that a note is made on the receipt, with the details of the new part, including how much it costs. If a problem crops up with the part, we can claim one of the legal remedies: repair, replacement or a cash refund.

Before hiring someone to do a specific job, it is in our interest to take a number of precautions. To avoid leaving deposits with scammers, we should only engage companies or individuals who are well-established.

If we have never heard of a particular company or individual, before engaging them we should carry out some research, such as looking out for previous customers and asking them for feedback.

Ideally, we should hire people who are recommended to us by people we trust, such as friends or family members.

We should also shop around and get several quotes from various companies or individuals.

Before we make our choice, we should keep in mind that price is not all that matters. Quality also plays an important role. However, it is important to compare like with like.

Once we make up our mind and choose the person for the job, we should get a written quotation with the details, including price, description of the job, and when it will be done.

We should also clarify that any necessary changes to the agreed quote must be communicated to us immediately and are subject to our approval.

In situations where the work carried out is not according to the sales agreement, or is not carried out as it should, we can legally ask for a solution and the tradesman has to solve our problem, give us a refund or offer a reduction in price.

If we do not manage to reach an amicable solution with the provider of the service, we can file a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs at the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.

info@mccaa.org.mt

odette.vella@mccaa.org.mt

Ms Vella is senior information officer, Office for Consumer Affairs, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.