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Guides

Before you pay anyone, read this.

Practical guides on checking a company, understanding verification, and running a business people can check.

A director's identity card with a personal code and a verified tick
Latest guide · For businesses
Companies House Identity Verification for Directors: What to Do and By When

Identity verification has been a legal requirement since 18 November 2025. Here is who must verify, how to work out your own deadline, how to do it for free, and what the personal code is for.

29 Sep 2026 · 7 min read

Before you hire

A car next to a repair bill with an unexplained line and a warning sign
Before you hire
How to Spot a Dishonest Mechanic: 8 Things to Watch For
6 min read
A car with the bonnet open and a spanner
Before you hire
How to Choose a Trustworthy Car Repair Garage in the UK
7 min read
A balance weighing a platform's star ratings against hiring a tradesperson directly
Before you hire
Checkatrade vs Hiring Direct: What You Pay and What You Get (2026)
6 min read
Three accreditation cards, Gas Safe, NICEIC and FENSA, under a magnifying glass
Before you hire
How to Check if a Tradesperson Is Qualified in the UK
6 min read
Five flags, three of them raised in red
Before you hire
Red Flags of a Bad Contractor: How to Spot Them Early
7 min read
A clipboard with ten questions, six ticked, next to a question mark
Before you hire
10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring Any Tradesperson
7 min read
Nine flags, three of them raised in red as warning signs
Before you hire
How to Avoid Cowboy Builders in the UK: 9 Warning Signs
6 min read
A house with solar panels on the roof and the sun beside it
Before you hire
Do You Need an MCS-Certified Solar Installer? What It Means for You
6 min read

Understanding verification

A verification seal next to a list of checks, three passed and one not
Understanding verification
What Does 'Verified' Really Mean on a Trade Directory?
6 min read

For businesses

A chart where the promised results rise far above the real ones
For businesses
How to Vet a Marketing Agency Before You Sign a Contract
7 min read