Am I insured through Helpi?

You’re responsible for your own liability and business insurance.

Can I be removed from the platform?

Yes. Repeated complaints, no-shows, or breaches of our Terms of Service will result in suspension or removal.

How do the ratings impact me?

Your Hero Rating is visible on your profile which the customer can see – we find highly rated Heroes get more jobs and more earnings so it always pays to make a good impression with every job you do.

Will the customers be able to rate Heroes?

Yes- after every job, the customer will rate the Hero who completed it, and that rating will appear on their Helpi profile.

What if there’s a dispute?

If the dispute happens whilst you are with the customer try and settle the issue there and then. If you cannot come to an agreement contact Helpi support. We’ll review all messages, job notes, and evidence (like photos) to help resolve disputes fairly.

The job is different to the one the customer booked?

Please explain this to the customer whilst you are there and get agreement for any additional charges you may need to make – for example if the customer booked one hour but you need two hours. You will then have the ability to update the price in the app, however, note the customer also needs to confirm the price change too.

What happens if a customer cancels?

If the job is cancelled last minute, you may still be eligible for partial payment. Each case is reviewed based on our cancellation policy.

Can the customer reschedule?

Life happens – so sometimes the customer may need to reschedule. Helpi tries to minimize this by reminding customers of booked and upcoming jobs so Hero’s have less movement in their calendars.

So what does Helpi do?

The Helpi platform connects qualified trades and service professionals with thousands of customers in an easy and accessible app and offers a secure method of payment allowing you to earn when you want.

Am I employed by Helpi?

No. You’re an independent contractor, not an employee. You control your schedule, accept the jobs you want and are responsible for the work you carry out for the customer.

Can I choose which jobs to take?

Yes! You’ll be notified when new jobs are available. Accept the ones you want- there’s no obligation.

After completing a job, Helpi releases your payment (minus platform fees) to your registered bank account, typically within 3–5 working days.

What are the requirements?

You must be at least 18, have the right to work in your area, own your tools (where applicable), and hold relevant licenses or certifications.

Register on the Helpi Team app, upload your ID, any qualifications, and complete your profile. Once approved, you can start accepting jobs.

What is a Helpi Hero?

Heroes are independent professionals who use the Helpi platform to find customers and earn money by providing home services.

Plumbers UK 2025

Helpi Team vs MyBuilder/Rated People/Checkatrade for Plumbers

Written by

Helpi Team

Published on

27 Nov 2025

If you’re a plumber in the UK, your biggest question isn’t “where are the jobs?”—it’s “what does each platform actually cost me to get those jobs?” Here’s the short answer: Helpi charges £0 to join and £0 when you receive the job. No subscriptions, no pay-per-lead, no shortlist fees. That’s the baseline we’ll measure everything else against.

How the other platforms charge

MyBuilder (lead market, pay-when-shortlisted).

Fees: No joining or membership fee; you pay only when a homeowner shortlists you (i.e., chooses to share contact details). Lead fees start from £7, shown before you respond; invoiced weekly.
Implication: Costs are predictable per lead, but you’re paying whether or not you win the job—because the charge triggers at shortlist, not at hire. (MyBuilder says shortlists are “warm” because the customer has chosen you.)

Rated People (subscription + “Unlimited” plan).

Fees: Rated People runs on a monthly membership. Their newer Unlimited plan lets you quote on an unlimited number of jobs for a fixed monthly fee (for projects up to a stated budget threshold on their site). Pricing is agreed at sign-up and not listed publicly on the page; historically, membership plans also included credit for leads and the option to buy more leads once credit is used.
Implication: Spend is capped and predictable under Unlimited, but you’re committing to a monthly fee whether or not you win work. (Third-party reviews often cite ~£15 + VAT average per contact on pay-per-lead setups; treat that as external guidance rather than an official tariff.)

Checkatrade (subscription directory with fixed-plan options).

Fees: Checkatrade is a membership model. Their own site states plans start from £30 + VAT per month, with prices varying by trade, location, and plan; fixed-term memberships can align spend to a set volume of leads. (Promos/discounts run at times.)
Implication: No per-lead charge, but you pay the subscription every month. Visibility and lead volume are influenced by the plan and area competitiveness.

Bottom line on fees:

Helpi: £0 join, £0 per job.
MyBuilder: No membership; pay per shortlist (from £7).
Rated People: Monthly subscription (Unlimited = flat monthly fee to quote on lots of jobs; price disclosed at sign-up).
Checkatrade: Membership starts from £30 + VAT/month; exact price varies by trade/area.

Which model leaves more money in your pocket?

Think in terms of net per job:

With pay-per-lead (MyBuilder), your unit cost depends on how many shortlists you get vs. jobs won. If you’re shortlisted frequently but conversion is patchy, your effective cost per booked job climbs quickly—because you’re paying at the interest stage, not the job won stage.
With monthly subscriptions (Rated People, Checkatrade), your cost per job depends on how many jobs you actually land that month. A slow month makes the membership feel expensive; a busy month lowers your unit cost.
With Helpi’s £0/£0 approach, your cost per job is literally your time and materials. That margin can be reinvested in tools, a van wrap, or simply kept as profit.

Beyond price: how each model feels in real life

Lead exclusivity & competition. Pay-per-lead ecosystems often allow multiple trades to engage the same customer, which can turn every job into a price race. Unlimited plans can intensify this by increasing the number of quotes a homeowner receives. Helpi’s “no fee to get the job” positioning is designed to encourage quality and speed rather than quota-chasing.
Predictability. Subscription models offer predictable spend; MyBuilder offers predictable per-lead pricing (you see the fee before responding). Helpi removes both fees entirely, so your only variable is the work you choose to accept.
Admin friction. MyBuilder invoices weekly for shortlist fees. Rated People memberships and Checkatrade fixed plans add recurring billing complexity. With Helpi, no invoices from us for leads or membership—just book, do the job, get paid.

A quick, practical comparison for plumbers

Starting or rebuilding a diary? Helpi’s zero-fee structure de-risks your ramp-up; you’re not burning cash while you build ratings.
Consistently busy and love volume? Rated People’s Unlimited might suit you if your area has enough in-budget jobs and your quote-to-win rate is strong. (Price is plan-dependent; confirm at sign-up.)
Prefer paying only when a homeowner chooses you? MyBuilder’s shortlist model lets you decide job-by-job, with fees from £7. Keep a tight handle on your conversion data.
Want the “badge” effect and directory discoverability? Checkatrade’s membership from £30 + VAT/month buys presence and trust signals; ROI hinges on your area and reviews.

Why plumbers are choosing Helpi Team?

Keep 100% of your job value. No join fees, no per-lead fees, no monthly subscriptions.
Less noise, more jobs you actually want. Because we don’t make money on clicks or leads, our incentives are aligned with getting you booked—not just “shortlisted.”

Built for speed. Homeowners describe their problem, get an ETA, and book. You see the job clearly, accept, and go—no bidding wars.

Download Helpi Team now

For all your home needs, download the Helpi Team app on the iOS App Store and Android Play Store now.

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