A new app developed in Winchester is due to launch on 16 September with the stated aim of reducing the risks homeowners face when employing builders and other trades. The service, called Trusted Payments, combines staged payments, contract management, an insurance-backed workmanship guarantee and access to an independent ombudsman.
How the app works and what it offers
The platform allows homeowners to pay for work in stages as agreed milestones are reached, so money is released only when specific parts of a job are completed. The firm says this reduces the chance of customers losing funds to unreliable contractors while also protecting reputable tradespeople from customers who do not pay.
- Launch date: 16 September
- Vetted tradespeople: More than 120,000 available by the end of September
- Warranty: Insurance-backed cover for the construction period and two years after completion
- Dispute resolution: Free escalation route to the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman after a 45-day in-app resolution window
- Cost: Free for tradespeople; consumers pay a one-off project fee covering guidance, dispute resolution and the warranty
James Walker, director of Trusted Payments, said organisers wanted to "build better outcomes for homeowners and trades." He added that the app was intended to reassure householders and prevent good tradespeople from suffering reputational damage caused by a small number of unscrupulous operators.
"Homeowners know they are protected, and good tradespeople stop carrying the risk of customers who do not pay, and stop being tarred with the same brush as the small number who give the trade a bad name."
Protections, integrations and disputes
Trusted Payments will manage projects from start to finish. By the end of September, the company says users will be able to choose from more than 120,000 vetted tradespeople. The package includes a fair contract, staged payments, snagging support and a two-year insurance-backed warranty.
The warranty is described as covering the three-month construction period and 24 months following completion. If issues arise, both homeowner and tradesperson have 45 days to attempt resolution through the app; if they cannot agree, the case can be escalated at no additional cost to the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman for a binding decision.
The service supports communications via WhatsApp and, from September, will enable tradespeople to create invoices and confirm payments through accounting platforms Xero and QuickBooks. Unpaid bills may also be referred to the ombudsman for a binding ruling.
Endorsements and local implications
Trusted Payments has received backing from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and forms part of a wider government strategy to tackle rogue traders in the home-improvement sector. John Herriman, chief executive at the Institute, is named as supporting the product, reflecting official interest in measures to protect consumers.
For Winchester residents, the new app could change how householders plan and pay for work. The staged-payment model aims to reduce the fear of paying up front for work that is not completed, while the warranty and ombudsman route offer formal recourse if problems occur.
Local tradespeople may find the platform helpful if it reduces late or non-payment issues, and the free-onboarding offer for trades aims to encourage take-up. However, the service will rely on both sides engaging with its systems and processes; widespread adoption will be required to shift long-standing behaviours in the local market.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Payment model | Staged payments released at agreed milestones |
| Warranty | Insurance-backed; covers 3-month build period + 24 months after completion |
| Dispute process | 45-day in-app resolution, then Dispute Resolution Ombudsman free of charge |
| Cost | Free for trades; consumers pay a one-off project fee |
How quickly the app becomes part of normal practice in Winchester will depend on user confidence. For householders considering work on their homes, it offers another route that packages contract, payment and warranty together. For local tradespeople, it promises tools to manage projects and an attempt to limit reputational damage caused by a minority of rogue operators.
Those interested in the service will be able to register from 16 September when Trusted Payments becomes available. The company says its offer is intended to protect both sides and reduce the number of disputes that reach the formal enforcement stage.
