Double Glazing & Conservatories
Hints for the consumer
Payment
Your contract should lay out the guidelines as to when payment is due, or it may be possible to negotiate the terms of payment before signing the contract. These can be drawn up to include stage payments, where you only pay for the work that has been carried out.
Many firms will allow you to take out a finance agreement which will allow you to pay in instalments.
Make sure that you understand the terms of the agreement and the rate of interest that you may be paying. Only pay for the work when you are completely satisfied with it.
NOTE: You do not have to pay for work which you did not ask to be done.
Keep a record of all invoices and materials. Check the final bill carefully.
Where you stand on...
Guarantees: Some firms offer what appear to be fantastic guarantees on their work. While they may offer useful extra cover, do not choose a company just because of its guarantee.
The firm might go out of business before the guarantee expires. Therefore look for an insurance backed guarantee with your installer so that you are covered regardless of any takeover or bankruptcy.
Schemes such as the ours offer insurance cover. These are available for work costing between £500 and £250,000 at a cost of £29.95 for window installations and £49.95 for conservatories for the full 10 years.
You may also find that it is more difficult to claim under a guarantee that you thought. In any case, read the guarantee carefully, and remember that whatever the terms on offer your rights under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 will still stand.
Cancellation rights
When you have ordered something from a seller in your own home, such as double glazing, you may be able to cancel the contract if you act quickly. This applies when you pay on credit or by cash from a seller who has called uninvited.
If you have such a right, you must be given written notice of it when you sign the contract, otherwise the contract is invalid. If you do not want to go ahead you should cancel quickly.
Send a letter by recorded delivery so that you have proof of posting and keep an photocopy of your letter. Check to see if the contract included customer cancellation options. If the Installation Company is a member of the GGF you have the right to cancel the contract within 7 days of signing the contract.
Passing trade
Never agree to have work done on the spot by a person who calls at your home uninvited. If you are interested, take a note of the name, address and telephone number of the person and ask for a price. They won’t mind calling back if they are genuine. Before you agree to anything, check they are an established glazier with business premises you can visit and compare their offer to others.
Can I afford it?
Many firms offer credit facilities. If you are considering this, insist on being told how many instalments you will have to pay and what the total amount repayable is - including the credit charges.
It is up to you to find out. Remember that credit charges can vary. Compare quotations from other sources. A bank loan or borrowing from another finance company might be cheaper.
Read before signing
Don’t sign anything unless you have read it in full and understand it. If you are unsure or unclear about anything, ask the glazier to leave the contract with you for a few days. Talk it over with someone, or take the contract to a local advice centre and ask them to explain it to you.
NEVER SIGN A BLANK FORM EVEN IF YOU ARE TOLD THAT IT WILL SAVE TIME!