Anyone had this before?

[DN1986]

Had a call today from some guy at homebase looking for 2 new tilers for the branches in Leeds area.

Sounds abit like a franchise as you pay £12 a week to which you get leads from their customers.

Offered a few other things like advertising and stuff. He wanted to meet up this week when he is in Leeds from the Macclesfield office.

Never had a call like this before but just wondered if anyone else had?

[Sir Ramic]

Yeah many times from various companies...dont do it.

[DN1986]

Yeah I told him I wasn't interested as sounded abit dodgy!

What is it all about Sir Ramic?

[Bri]

As Sir says, steer well clear. It's just another ploy to get cash from you with the promise of regular work, which more often than not, never materialises.


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[Sir Ramic]

Could be a number of things. Maybe the company that print and put your cards in various DIY outlets. Lots of money for very little work IMO .
If your card is going in a DIY outlet then wont the customer .....DIY ?

If they call back ask if you can pay him a tenner for every job they actually get you and you get paid for...bet he says No !

[DN1986]

Haha. Yeah might turn the tables on him if he does!

Thanks guys

[carlito]

Had similar call before christmas. Do as Sir Ramic suggests!

[nybor62]

had a similar call from b&q a while back told them were to go, i would have to pay them so much up front, and i was the only tiler in the rotherham area that they will use if i accept this offer, yeah plus the other 50 tilers

[finlay]

stay well clear

[DN1986]

This call was a two year contract too. Erm...no thanks.

Its shocking that big companies are taking advantage of people struggling to get work and make ends meet.

Unfortunately, im sure many people have been stung by this.

[Bri]

Anyone who cold calls me gets a firm NO nowadays! I learnt my lesson the hard way when I first started up, only cost me about 100 quid so no major scam but, it's really annoying!

[andy allen]

i get many calls like this, and i told them as neal just mentioned, most people that go to a d.i.y store......d.i.y..he then said my number would be past on to the people that buy kitchens and bathrooms,yes, along with all the bathroom and kitchen fitting companys, that proberly have there own tilers anyway....so... i.m.o.....complete waste of time and money..

[Sir Ramic]

I know for a fact that a local Wickes recommend a tiler that I know....it pays to have contacts within the store. These advertising people only put the cards in that area near the door, they have nothing more to do with the store itself.

[Ken Bruty]

Agree to everything stated above, complete waste of money.

[ms.tiles]

the best quote from these people when i say no is "dont you want anymore work" i usually reply that if they can put it in writing that i'll get work because of them i'll sign up,never get anything in writing and they usually leave me alone for a while.
ive had the homebase call,has nothing to do with homebase just the business card thing at the front of the shop. cant say how many people actually take cards from there but it cant be that many.

[Mike]

homebase have their own contractors who either do the tiling or sub it out. i've done some work for their contractor who covers my area. defo sounds like a con and doubt you'd get any work from it.

[John Benton]

I've got a joiner mate and he fits kitchens for Homebase in Leeds. He does the survey and then gets all the other relevant trades in to do the full job, not recommendations by the store. The customer pays the store, the store pays my mate and he then pays the trades. So I would say if they do this same thing out of each store then it's unlikely that you would get any work from this guy!

[jindru]

i had a similar thing from tesco.its basically an advertising card set up.the people selling the contract have bought a :right of sale: from homebase,then try and sell ad contracts to uncle tom cobly and all.I probably just covered the cost of the deal.would i repeat it? no. best spend some ofthe cost on local ads.they will tell you anything to sign up, steer clear.

[advancetiling]

unfortunately my naievity got me stung a few year ago with a company offering me loads of work for a subscription.mentioning no names but theyre based in leeds.Anyway,to cut a long story short,i refused to pay when i got no leads,complained and out of the blue got a call from trading standards today saying they wanted some more info and a meeting with me as loads have complained and theyre being investigated.cant see me getting reimbursed but suppose you live and learn.i learnt the hard way.Dont even entertain any of these "job" calls anymore,all a scam.steer well clear.