For former Rated People members
Rated People has closed. What to do next, and the best alternatives.
Rated People Limited entered creditors' voluntary liquidation on 16 September 2026 and every membership was closed that day. Checkatrade bought the brand and website the day after. Accounts, subscriptions and reviews did not move with it. This page sets out the facts, what you can do about a refund and your reviews, and what we offer if you want somewhere to list.
Sources: Companies House filing history for company 05540422; the Rated People blog post "Rated People joins Checkatrade Group"; Lewis Silkin's announcement of 24 September 2026; Checkatrade's own membership pages. Checked 26 September 2026. Page updated 29 October 2026.
The facts
What happened, in order
- 16 September 2026
Rated People Limited (Companies House number 05540422) entered creditors' voluntary liquidation. Every tradesperson membership was closed the same day, without advance notice.
- 17 September 2026
Checkatrade Group announced it had bought selected assets: the Rated People brand and website only.
- What did not transfer
Accounts, subscriptions and reviews were not part of the sale. An ex member has no account with Checkatrade and their Rated People reviews did not move. Checkatrade has said a review import tool will follow, with no date given.
- Refunds
Refunds for any unused subscription are a matter for the liquidator, S&W Group, not for Checkatrade. Write to them with your account details and what you had paid. Any refund depends on the liquidation and is not guaranteed.
- What Checkatrade offers
Ex Rated People members are invited to join Checkatrade. Membership starts at £30 a month on a 12 month contract. Homeowner jobs posted on the Rated People site now go to Checkatrade members.
What to do
Three things worth doing this week
Write to the liquidator
Any refund for unused subscription time goes through S&W Group, the liquidators, not Checkatrade. Send them your account email, your business name and what you had paid. It may take time and is not guaranteed, but it does not happen unless you ask.
Save what you can of your reviews
Your Rated People reviews were not transferred. If you still have screenshots, emails or a copy of your old profile, keep them. Your Google reviews are unaffected and are the ones we can show with attribution.
Decide where to list next, without a contract
Checkatrade offers membership from £30 a month on a 12 month contract. YourHouseFix lists you free with no contract. Read both and pick what suits you; there is nothing to stop you doing both.
What YourHouseFix offers
List free, with nothing prepaid
- List free. Your listing costs nothing and no card is needed to create it.
- Every lead free during the Founding period. No card needed. Paid plans start later and we email you 30 days before.
- Your first two months at £1 when paid plans start, instead of one, for anyone with a Rated People profile URL. Paste it on the claim page.
- Your years trading and your Google rating and review count shown on your listing, with attribution to Google, plus verified reviews from homeowners whose job you accept.
- When paid plans start, £10 a month plus £10 per accepted lead, locked for life. Declining a lead is free. Nothing is prepaid and nothing expires.
- No contract. Monthly rolling, cancel in two taps. If the business is ever sold, your account and price go with it, in writing.
then £10 a month plus £10 per accepted lead when paid plans start
Locked for life as a Founding Member. The first 500 places.
Side by side
Rated People then, Checkatrade now, YourHouseFix
| Rated People was | Checkatrade now | YourHouseFix | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | About £35 plus VAT | £30 a month Approved (no lead stream); Growth from £59, real price on a sales call | Free during the Founding period, then £10 a month. First two months £1 for ex members |
| Per lead | About £15 plus VAT | Included in Growth as an estimated allowance; real bills of £80 to £500 a month reported | Free during the Founding period, then £10 when you click Accept. Decline is free |
| Leads shared with | Up to 3 | 3 to 4 other members | Nobody. Only the business the homeowner picked |
| Contract | 12 months | 12 months, auto renewing | None |
| If the homeowner goes quiet | Lead fee stood | Lead estimates are not a guarantee | Every lead free during the Founding period. A clear refund rule will be published when paid plans start |
| Your reviews | Not transferred on closure | Import tool promised, no date | Verified reviews from homeowners whose job you accepted, plus your Google rating with attribution |
| If the business is sold | Accounts and reviews did not transfer | No published promise | Your account and price go with it, in writing |
Rated People figures are its published pre-closure pricing. Checkatrade figures are from its join page and public reviews. Prices checked 26 September 2026. Full comparison pages: Rated People and Checkatrade.
Rated People alternatives
Every Rated People alternative, compared
If Rated People was your main source of work, these are the platforms trades are moving to. The figures come from each platform's own pages, checked 26 September 2026. Pick on how you want to pay: a monthly fee, a fee per lead, or only for the jobs you accept.
| Platform | What you pay | Lead shared with | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| YourHouseFix | Free during the Founding period. When paid plans start, £10 a month plus £10 per accepted lead, locked for life. Declining is free | Nobody. Only the business the homeowner picked | None |
| Checkatrade | Free profile at £0. Approved at £30 a month gives a vetted badge and a searchable profile but no lead stream. Growth is "from £59 a month", with the real price shown only after you enter your trade and postcode or take a sales call. Trades report real bills of £80 to £500 a month | Three or four other members | 12 months fixed, auto renewing |
| MyBuilder | No membership fee. A shortlist fee of £2 to £35 each time a homeowner shortlists you, set by the likely size, value and location of the job. Paid whether or not the job goes ahead | A shortlist of several trades chosen by the homeowner | None |
| Bark | Credits at about £1.20 plus VAT each. A lead costs 5 to 20 credits, so about £7 to £40, debited when you unlock the contact details | Up to five professionals | None, but credits expire after three months (since 1 November 2025) |
| TrustATrader | £20 to £55 a month, or £600 to £1,000 a year, depending on trade and area. The price is only given by phone. No per lead fee | Not shared; the homeowner contacts you directly. Members per trade per area are capped | 12 months |
| MyJobQuote | Credit packs: Standard £39 plus VAT for 35 credits, Pro £54 plus VAT for 50, Advanced £75 plus VAT for 75. A lead costs £2 to £50, typically £5 to £20. A free trial month | Up to three trades | None, but credits expire after six months |
| Which? Trusted Traders | A £248 assessment fee including VAT, non refundable, then £66 a month for 0 to 3 staff, £86 for 4 to 9, £114 for 10 to 19 | No leads; it is an endorsement, not a job service | Rolling, with three months' notice |
Each name links to a fuller, sourced comparison. Plenty of trades run two at once and keep the one that sends work that turns into money. If the 12 month term is what put you off, see our guide to Checkatrade alternatives with no contract.
Questions
Straight answers
Has Rated People closed?
Will I get a refund from Rated People?
Did my Rated People reviews transfer to Checkatrade?
What does Checkatrade charge ex Rated People members?
What does YourHouseFix offer ex Rated People members?
What is the best alternative to Rated People?
Is Rated People still working?
Can I get my Rated People reviews back?
How do I prove I was a Rated People member?
List free, no contract, nothing prepaid
Paste your Rated People profile URL on the claim page and your first two months are £1 when paid plans start.