🚨 Attention UK Homeowners! 🚨
A heads up for all homeowners: rogue tradesmen are on the rise, with 850 caught red-handed! While AI technology is revolutionising how we find services, it’s also making it easier for dodgy dealers to slip through the cracks.
Checkatrade’s chief honcho, Jambu Palaniappan, highlights that AI tools, while handy for searches, can bypass consumer protections by pulling info from dodgy sites. Despite increased scrutiny by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), AI is reshaping the playing field, making it trickier for consumers to tell the legit from the fakes.
The CMA has been busy rolling out new guidelines, making sure that sites listing tradespeople are properly vetting them, checking reviews, and disclosing any business ties. But with about 11% of us turning to AI to find local pros, there’s a growing need for awareness.
Checkatrade isn’t just sitting back though—they’re using AI too, cleverly spotting fake reviews and blocking cowboy traders. Since April, nearly 400 dodgy dealers have been stopped in their tracks, adding to a total of 850 this year!
For all of us relying on tech for finding services, stay savvy and ensure you’re using trusted platforms. Let’s keep our homes safe and our wallets secure from the cowboys out there! 🏠🔨
Stay informed and share to spread the word! 🌍📢