We pass your enquiry to one local firm, so it matters that it is the right one. This page sets out what we check before a firm receives a single enquiry, what we keep checking afterwards, and what we do not check, so you can judge for yourself.
Before a firm receives any enquiry
We approach them, not the other way round. Firms cannot buy their way onto this site. We build a shortlist for each area from local firms with a solid public record, then call them. A tradesman who rings us wanting leads still goes through the same checks as everyone else.
A strong local reputation. We start with firms rated at least 4.3 out of 5 with a real body of reviews behind that score, not a handful. A high average from four reviews tells you very little. We read what customers actually say, and we look for the patterns that matter: turning up when promised, quoting what they charge, and clearing up properly.
Public liability insurance, seen and recorded. We ask for the certificate, check the business name matches and record the expiry date. This is the cover that pays if a branch goes through your conservatory roof.
Qualifications for tree work. Tree surgeons carry chainsaw and aerial rescue certificates (NPTC or Lantra, often still called CS30, CS31, CS38 and CS39). We ask for evidence before a firm receives tree work. There is no legal register of tree surgeons in the UK, which is exactly why this matters. See do tree surgeons need to be qualified?
Waste carrier registration for clearance work. Anyone taking waste away from your property as a business must be registered with the Environment Agency. We ask for the registration number and record it. It is your waste and your legal duty of care if it is fly-tipped, so we take this seriously. See do I need a waste carrier licence?
One firm per trade, per area. Each area has one tree surgery specialist and one garden clearance specialist. Your enquiry goes to that firm and no one else, so nobody is racing four other quotes to the bottom.
After they start receiving enquiries
Cover that lapses stops the work. Insurance expiry dates are held on the firm's record and checked automatically. If cover runs out, the site stops sending them enquiries until it is renewed. That is built into the software, not a reminder on a calendar.
We ask you whether they called. Three days after your enquiry we email to ask a single question: did they get in touch? If the answer is no, we chase it, and repeated failures cost a firm their area.
We keep the record. Response rates, jobs quoted and won, complaints, and every enquiry passed on are all recorded against each firm. A firm that stops performing is replaced.
Complaints are recorded against the firm. Your contract for the work is with them, so a complaint about workmanship is theirs to put right first. Tell us as well, at hello@branchandbramble.co.uk, and it goes on their record and counts when we decide whether they keep their area.
What we do not do
We would rather be plain about the limits of all this.
- We do not do the work and we do not supervise it. We are an introducer. Your contract, your quote and your guarantee come from the firm that attends. See our terms.
- We do not inspect their work in person. Our evidence is their record: reviews, compliance documents, your check-in answers and outcomes.
- We do not guarantee a price. The range on this site is indicative, from real local prices. The firm confirms a fixed price after seeing your photos.
- We are not a regulator. Trade bodies such as the Arboricultural Association run their own approved contractor schemes with site inspections. That is a deeper check than ours, and worth knowing about for large or complex tree work.
What you should still do
Even with all the above, two minutes of your own checking is sensible on any trade job.
- Ask to see the insurance certificate and check it is in date and in the firm's name.
- Check the waste carrier registration on the Environment Agency public register before anyone drives away with your green waste.
- Get the quote in writing, including what is taken away and what is left behind.
- Be wary of pressure: doorstep callers, cash-only deals, and large payments up front.
Questions
Are the firms employed by Branch and Bramble?
No. Every firm is an independent local business. We introduce you and then step back. Your agreement for the work is with them.
Do you get paid for sending me to them?
Firms pay us a flat monthly fee for the enquiries from their area. We do not take a cut of your job, and the price you are quoted is not inflated to pay us. Because we are not paid per job, we have no reason to push you towards work you do not need.
What if the firm turns out to be poor?
Tell them first, because the contract is with them. Then email us at hello@branchandbramble.co.uk with your reference number. We record every complaint against the firm, and a firm that keeps letting customers down loses its area.
Does "vetted" mean you have inspected their work?
No, and we do not claim otherwise. It means we have seen and recorded their insurance, their qualifications for tree work, their waste carrier registration, and their public review record, and that we keep checking those stay valid.