How to check a tradesperson is properly verified

Anyone can put "fully qualified, fully insured" on a profile. The question is whether it's been checked. Here's what genuine verification means, and what to look for before you let someone onto your project.

1. Identity

The single most important check. Is this a real, traceable person or business? Verified identity means a name, address and company details that have been confirmed — not just typed into a form. If you can't tell who you're actually dealing with, nothing else matters.

2. Insurance

Public liability insurance protects you if something goes wrong — damage to your property, or worse. "Insured" should mean a current policy that's been seen and confirmed, with cover appropriate to the work. Ask the level of cover, and that it's in date.

3. Qualifications for regulated work

Some work is legally restricted. Gas work needs a Gas Safe registered engineer. Certain electrical work must be certified. For these trades, verification means the specific registration has been confirmed — not assumed.

4. A track record you can read

Reviews only mean something when they're tied to real, completed jobs — not anonymous ratings anyone can post. Look for reviews linked to actual projects, and read how the trade responds to them. A professional reply to a tricky review tells you a lot.

How AxionOS handles this

Rather than ask you to take claims on trust, AxionOS runs a verification ladder — identity, contact, insurance and qualifications are checked before a trade can quote on your job. Only verified, insured tradespeople reach your project, and reviews are restricted to people who actually hired each other on a real job. You're choosing from a vetted pool from the start.

Your quick checklist

• Who are they, really? Confirmed identity and business details.
• Are they insured? Current public liability cover, seen and confirmed.
• **Are they qualified for this work?** The right registration for regulated trades.
• What's the real track record? Reviews tied to completed jobs, plus how they respond.

Do those four checks and you've filtered out the overwhelming majority of risk before a single quote lands.