Rounding up the cowboys

As Head of the UK's largest building control service, I have more than a passing interest in cowboy builders.

The cowboy image arises mainly from the domestic market. Most of our members are in larger projects with other professionals and are not so likely to be competing with cowboys. Yet it is this area that gives our industry its rogue reputation.

At Birmingham City Council we are heavily involved in the war against cowboys and have a specialist Enforcement Team who concentrate on tackling the worst offenders. We work in partnership with the FMB who is keen to stop cowboys undercutting their members on price. Cowboys often offer low prices free from VAT. In fact most cannot be called builders, but are often confidence tricksters involved in fraud, misrepresentation, false paper work and, in some cases, threats of violence.

We have comprehensive information on our website at www.birmingham.gov.uk/building consultancy on the subject of avoiding the cowboys. Currently we have CIOB listed as a useful link under the professional associations heading.

We would be happy to do more to promote the CIOB, if the institute feels this will assist. I would be pleased to discuss this further.