MyBuilderReviews 492

I was new to online sites for building services. I put in 'looking for carpenter' and up popped Mybuilder along with zillions of other some well known sites (don't get hook on a company you recognise as it's been around for yonks... if you get my drift). Decided to try Mybuilder and now after my 3rd job request and completion at great satisfaction I must say it will be my go to sight for all my needs and they've got some free adverts with all I encounter. I'd even wear a tee shirt if they had one... hint hint:-) Mybuilder is the best! I'm one happy customer.

Leads are more expensive than other similar sites and no refunds for dud leads the worst customer service of all the trade sites out there

If you are a treadesman/woman, you have to apply for "leads". If you get shortlisted by the customer, you will be charged regardless weather you get the job or not. Even if the "lead" does not answer the phone, emails or texts, you still get charged! The customer can shortlist upto 5 tradesmen per job & MyBuilder encourage them so shortlist lots of tradesmen. One lead cost me £28+VAT. MyBuilder will charge this amount for upto 5 tradesmen. So they make £168 & either 1 person (or sometimes none) will get the job. This is why they multi-millionares, at the expense of people just trying to make a living.
I started adding a note in my messages saying "please only shortlist me if you are serious as I will be charged a fee as soon as you shortlist me". MyBuilder told me I can not do this & have now closed my account. I want to take legal action against then. Can anyone help?

We've been with Mybuilder for 6 months now and YES my husband has made money from it ( it continues to be the most 'reliable' way of generating money of the two sites we belong to ( Google ad words being the other) but it is far from being without it's down sides! The site has alot of vey questionable policies I'm afraid, that see's tradesman like my husband constantly feeling ripped off, without really being able to prove they really are being. Mybuilder holds it's cards very close to it's chest with bare minimal explanation anywhere on their sites of how they ACTUALLY work. You feel very much in the dark. Main bug bearers are-
Shortlisting. Shortlisting. And Shortlisting. When you show an interest in a job and the customer returns an interest in hiring you by giving you their contact number - this is shortlisting. Problem is several others can be shortlisted along with you ( which means all of us getting charged the lead fee- great for Mybuilder! Ketching! And great if you actually GET the job BUT 9 times out of 10 you DONT get the job. You'll find yourself chasing up the customer feeling like you are coming across desperate ( which generally you are chasing work. Der) Only to be told "sorry I've found someone else" You are left feeling dejected and pissed off. And hey that lead cost £5.80. Just one in a long line of lead fees that then mount up and up getting billed to you weekly. It's demoralizing and you end up feeling ripped off by both the customer AND Mybuilder.
Basically I think that Mybuilder needs to make it very clear to the customer that by shortlisting someone they are entering an agreement that means they have to give each and every tradesman they shortlisted a fair opportunity to quote to them. (and that ideally they will not look elsewhere on other sites! Although I realise this sounds a tad militant). We are continuing with Mybuilder for now but are looking at going on Checkatrade as this really is becoming an issue for us.