I've been Checkatrade member as a decorator (sole trader) since 2009. It was really good until HomeServe bought it, which I didn't know about until I was up for renewal. Since then I hardly get any enquiries from them, my membership fee tripled from approximately £800 to £2400 but after much complaining it was reduced to double (approx £1600 per annum). I get more work from recommendations and free listings. They've also completely changed the layout of each members page and no longer display the trades own contact details. Looking at my own page it shows numbers I never knew about!!! Tradesmen/women; if you are thinking of joining don't bother. It's now become a waste of time and money. What a shame.