Checkatrade Express

Checkatrade Express is a quick way to book trusted tradespeople for everyday jobs with fixed, upfront pricing. This guide answers the most common questions homeowners have — from booking confirmation and payments, to cancellations, rescheduling, and what happens after the job is complete.

The easier way to book quality trades

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What Is Checkatrade Express?

Checkatrade Express is a simplified booking experience designed for quick, everyday home jobs such as:

• Assembly

• Repairs

• Mounting and installation

• Boiler servicing

• Oven cleaning

• And more

With Express:

• Prices are fixed upfront

• You pay securely through the platform

• You don’t choose the trade — we match one for you

• No quoting or bidding is needed

Payment is only taken after the job is complete, though a temporary card hold is placed at checkout.

I Haven’t Had Confirmation — Is My Job Booked?

If you haven’t received confirmation yet, don’t worry — we may still be matching your job with a vetted tradesperson.

As soon as a trade accepts your booking, we’ll email you with their details and the scheduled appointment time.

Why Is There a Charge Before Anything Is Booked?

When you book through Checkatrade Express, your bank places a temporary holding charge (also called a pre-authorisation).

This is not a payment. It simply confirms:

• Your card is valid

• The funds are available for the job

No money is taken until the work is completed and you’re happy for payment to go through.

My Job Was Cancelled — When Do I Get My Money Back?

If your booking is cancelled, the holding charge is automatically released.

Your bank controls how quickly this disappears from your statement — usually within a few days, though it may take slightly longer depending on your provider.

I Can’t Complete My Booking or Reach Payment

If the booking form won’t let you continue, try the following:

• Double-check that all required fields are completed

• Make sure you’ve selected enough available time slots

• Refresh the page or try another browser/device

• If you returned to an old link, the session may have expired — starting again often helps

If the problem continues, contact our support team and include a screenshot so we can investigate quickly.

I Want to Cancel — Will I Get a Refund?

If you choose to cancel before the booking goes ahead, your pre-authorisation will be released automatically by your bank.

This is not a payment — it’s only a temporary hold, and it will drop off your account within a few days.

I Just Need to Change the Date or Time

If you need to reschedule, the quickest option is to contact the tradesperson directly once your booking is confirmed. They’ll work with you to agree a new time slot, based on their availability.

The Trade Never Turned Up

We’re very sorry — this isn’t the experience we expect. If your tradesperson doesn’t arrive, please contact us straight away so we can investigate and confirm your next options, whether that’s rescheduling or cancelling.

My Job Is Complete but I Can’t Log In or See It

If you can’t access your booking, try signing in using the email address you booked with at:

Checkatrade Express | Book a Checked Tradesperson Fast (Fixed Price)

Even if you’re unable to log in, your job will still move forward normally. Once the trade marks the job as complete, it will be automatically approved after 24 hours unless you raise an issue.

Will I Receive a Certificate or Report?

Any certificates or job reports (such as boiler service paperwork) are provided by the tradesperson directly, not through Checkatrade Express.

If you need documentation, contact the engineer after the appointment.

Does Express Come with a Warranty or Guarantee?

Checkatrade Express does not provide a separate warranty.

However, your booking is covered by the Checkatrade Guarantee, which may offer up to £1,000 toward sub-standard workmanship (eligibility criteria apply).

I’m Unhappy With the Work or Want to Complain

If you’re unhappy with the quality of the work, please contact us via email on express@checkatrade.com so we can review what happened.

To help us investigate, it’s useful to include:

• Photos or videos of the issue

• A short description of what went wrong

• What’s incomplete or unsatisfactory

My Address Is Wrong — Can It Be Changed?

We can’t edit the address on an existing booking in the system.

In most cases, this won’t prevent matching if the location is nearby. Once a tradesperson is confirmed, you can share the correct address directly with them.

I Forgot to Use a Discount Code

Discount codes can’t be applied after booking. The only option is to cancel and rebook using the code at checkout, if you still wish to do so.

Can You Reinstate a Cancelled Job?

No — once a job is cancelled, it cannot be reinstated. If you’d like to go ahead, you’ll need to book again via:

Checkatrade Express | Book a Checked Tradesperson Fast (Fixed Price)

Is the Engineer Gas Safe Registered?

Yes. All gas engineers booked through Express are Gas Safe registered.

Can I Get a Receipt?

Yes — if you need a receipt, contact our support team and confirm the email address you’d like it sent to.

Need More Help?

If you still have questions or something isn’t working, contact our support team and we’ll be happy to help.