How this works — and what it isn't

An organised view of public information

Every report is compiled from public records and public-facing websites at the time you run the search. We collect, structure and summarise what is already in the public domain — we do not run private investigations, pull credit files, or carry out hard credit searches. Reports are generated automatically and are intended to help you decide what further questions to ask before engaging a builder. They are not a substitute for your own checks, professional advice, references or contracts.

Not advice. Not an accusation. Not a credit decision.

• Not professional advice. Nothing in a report is legal, financial, tax, surveying or construction advice. Always seek appropriately qualified professional help for decisions that matter.
• Not a credit reference. We are not a Credit Reference Agency under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Our scores are an editorial opinion based on public data, not a regulated credit score, and running a search does not place a footprint on anyone's credit file.
• Not an allegation of wrongdoing. A low score, a risk flag, or the surfacing of a public record (e.g. a CCJ, a strike-off notice, an HSE notice) is a description of what is publicly recorded — it is not a statement that any person or company has acted unlawfully or dishonestly.
• Not guaranteed to be current. Public registers update on their own schedules. A report represents a best-effort snapshot at the moment of generation and may not reflect changes filed after that point.

Public sources, attributed

Our reports draw on publicly available data from UK official registers and public-facing platforms, including (but not limited to):

• Companies House — company filings, accounts, officers, charges and filing history.
• The Insolvency Service — disqualified directors, insolvency notices.
• HMRC — published VAT registration check.
• The London, Edinburgh & Belfast Gazettes — statutory notices.
• Court records — publicly listed County Court Judgments (CCJs).
• HSE — published notices and prosecutions.
• Trade and accreditation bodies — including FMB, TrustMark, NHBC, NFRC, FENSA, Gas Safe Register, NICEIC and NAPIT, where their membership data is publicly listed.
• Public review platforms — including Google, Trustpilot, Checkatrade and TrustATrader, used in line with their terms.

All trade marks, names and logos shown belong to their respective owners. Their inclusion is purely descriptive (to identify the source of a public record) and does not imply any partnership, sponsorship or endorsement.

Honest about what's measured and what isn't

Scores combine signals such as filing history, accounts, public risk indicators, accreditations and review sentiment. Each signal is weighted and where data is missing or low-confidence, we say so on the report rather than guessing. Two people running the same search at different times may see different scores as the underlying public data changes. The score is our editorial opinion based on the data we found — reasonable people, and the company itself, may interpret the same facts differently.

Tell us if something is wrong

If you are the subject of a report and believe something is factually inaccurate, out of date, or misattributed, email [email protected] with the company name, registration number and the specific item you are disputing. We aim to review reasoned requests within five working days and will correct, update, suppress or annotate the relevant signal where the evidence supports doing so. Where a public record (e.g. a CCJ) has been satisfied, send proof and we will reflect it on subsequent reports.

UK GDPR

Where reports include limited personal data about company officers (e.g. director name, role, appointment date), that data originates from the public Companies House register and is processed under the lawful basis of legitimate interests (helping consumers make informed decisions about the companies they hire), balanced against the rights of data subjects. You can exercise your data rights — including access, rectification, objection and erasure — by contacting [email protected].

Use the report as one input, not the only one

To the maximum extent permitted by law, searchmybuilder.com excludes all liability for loss or damage arising from reliance on a report, including (without limitation) decisions to engage or not engage any builder. Nothing in this disclaimer limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law. Reports are provided on an "as is" basis without warranties of any kind.