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Dealing with double glazing companies

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I've just been woken up again by the double glazing company that fitted new windows throughout our house last year.  I wouldn't mind if it was the first time they've called me but they've been pestering us quite a bit recently. Double glazing companies are good at this apparently.

For example about a month ago I had a phone call from one particularly pushy young man who was calling to inform us that as we had displayed their board outside our house and they had received quite a bit of new business in the area, we were entitled to receive a substantial discount against any other windows, doors or conservatories etc. that we wanted to have done.

Well first of all I explained that their company had already replaced all the windows so there was nothing that needed doing in that area and we didn't have room for, or indeed want a conservatory.  I wasn't getting rid of him that easy though because he kept on and on about this huge discount available to us.  I asked him if we could have a free back door as that was the only thing I could think of that they could really do for us at this point in time.  I was being 'a bit cheeky', he said and although it was a big discount the product wouldn't be free.

"So how much is in this pot of money allocated to us then?" I asked him.  By the way, that was how he put it when he first called me; it was a sum of money to be used buying new windows or doors and I thought it would be good to know exactly what we were supposedly getting.  But no, of course the exact figures are never to hand are they?  "How about if we send one of our salesmen round to measure up and give you a quote and we'll take it from there?"

Double glazing companies Well I wasn't having any more double glazing salesmen in the house. Not after the initial lot that came through here before we settled on the double glazing company we used to fit our windows.  I ended the conversation there and then.  It didn't stop him ringing back another three or four times though (including this morning) to try and get another salesman round!

Back to those double glazing salesmen though, because that's another part of this gripe.  They're a right slimy bunch aren't they?  Okay, well maybe not all of them (the first guy from the company we used was okay - a bit older and less pushy), but the vast majority of them just give me the creeps.  I've got that mental image again, the suit, the car, the big bag with the product samples and the paperwork so they can manufacture a quote on the spot.  Their company always has the best windows around and the competition are nothing but a bunch of cowboys.  Their windows are guaranteed to last for ever, stay white and they even clean themselves.  You're getting such a great deal here and you're not going to regret it (yeah right).  What's more we can fit your windows before Christmas - but you've got to sign up now or we can't do you such an amazing deal.  Tossers the lot of them!  I'd already wasted two precious hours of my evening looking at the windows and listening to the latest salesman drone on about his company.  We signed up, we now have new windows.  The amazing deal wasn't quite so amazing (they sucked us in with that which is why we were visited in the first place!).

The surveyor pops round to measure up properly and progress the order.  Absolutely no problem with any of them.  I forgot to mention that we actually had all our windows done in stages so we had really good chance to see how all this works.  One of the surveyors even had time to fuss the cat as it tried to destroy his briefcase.

The window fitters were an assorted bunch though.  The first couple of guys were in and out in half a day, but they didn't quite clear up the mess they made and the young lad made a right stink in the bathroom and opted to neutralise the smell with a can of my deodorant.  Okay, not a crime really but opening the window would have sufficed.

It turns out they did a shocking job though because the second couple of fitters had to go round and fix their workmanship.  I did notice that the living room window looked like the crossbar was bowing down.  I thought it was an optical illusion and I was just being a bit picky.  Also, they hadn't sealed the windows properly, which kind of explains that whistling sound.  When they fitted one of the back windows we spotted a flaw in the pane of glass and they managed to replace the unit there and then.  This was great until we noticed later on that evening that it was actually the same unit, just turned around.

Somehow or other they managed to mix the double glazed units up and put the wrong one in again.  It may have been an honest mistake but the result was it took the best part of a week before someone else could get out and put in another window.  Luckily I work from home so was available.

So all in all, I don't have a very high opinion of double glazing companies or their people.  Windows are one of life's necessities though so I guess we must endure them just as one must endure taxes (my next gripe I think!).

By: Fed up with double glazing companies


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Draughty at present but not for too long

Draughty at present but not for too long

Hello people we had our some of our rear and side Windows fitted by our Builders Portland Developments Ltd of Maidenhead, and low and behold not one was fitted correctly and as pointed out by the surveyor. So not to mention the amount of problems they caused us with the build i.e charging for expensive materials but actually the wrong types or cheapest that building control will allow. A word of caution to anybody thinking of using these cowboys, stop before you also get ripped off like we did, as the surveyors report said that the building should of been torn down and rebuilt, however as long as it's not dangerous to life or limb a judge will not grant you your money back. Now where was I, ah yes windows, they purchased them from Trade Windows Direct, who also sell directly to the general public so it's much more cost effective for you. However make you see some of the fitters previous work beforehand and also speak to the house owners just in case it' not their I laws etc or friends, as once again I've got call them back as our two upstairs windows are very draughty!!
27/01/14 Draughty at present but not for too long
-1
bigswampster

bigswampster

To the customer who had his windows fitted into his council house and has draughts...... or to anyone with the same issues, my company was called out with a similar problem. We found that the high efficiency of the windows caused a draught problem as many of the older council houses were fitted with airbricks into the cavity outside and quite often with offset air bricks into the rooms this created a massive draught though into the rooms. It would blow out a lighted candle not even close to the window, this are a simple test for draughts and direction but dont set light to the curtains!. Cavity isulation and a check to see if some airbricks could be sealed settled the problem. Best of luck and always use a local firm for your Glazing,Plumbing Electrics etc then you can bang on there door if you have a problem. PM
08/07/13 bigswampster
-6
Needaglazierpronto

Needaglazierpronto

I'm actually experiencing all sorts of problems with finding Glaziers who will actually progress further than the quoting stage. I've been through about 10 now and none have got back to me even after I've given them the thumbs up to proceed with the job? Some I've followed up with several phone calls but they all seem to fizzle off the radar in one way or another. This is not a cheap job either. It is past the 1K mark so what is it that I am doing or not doing that is wrong? Is my money not good enough? Or is this job just a little too big? I'd just appreciate an honest answer. I've even left messages for feed back and given some of these people another chance to re-quote if the reason for not getting back to me is because they have underquoted me, but to absolutely no avail. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be happy/interested to hear about them.
07/12/10 Needaglazierpronto
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Energy3

Energy3

I had my double glazing windows fitted by the counil in 2007. I couldn't believe my luck and was excited to be warm at last. But when the 1st winter came I couldn't believe how drafty they were. I called the council who contacted the company who came twice, saying they were fine making me feel as though it was all in my mind. Since then I have had an inspector who basically said it felt fine to him but sent out another workman. He was very nice and tightened up all the windows which hasn't worked much at all. He did mention that they could be a certain type of window which I forget what they were called, I know it began with a 'p.', and that you need a special tool that shines a light on them to find out. I know for a fact that the council would not listen to me if I mentioned this to them.
It seems I have to just live with this, and basically freeze in my own home. I lie in bed at night watching my curtains blow with the drafts and can never get warm. Others I know who had the same windows are fine; just my luck!
29/11/10 Energy3
-4
Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell

After reading comments listed on your webpage, I think I have decided not to bother with having my windows changed, I had a salesman round that wanted £13000 which didnt even include a door!!, and I only have a small 4 bedroom house 4 of the windows are really tiny. Of course if I signed up on the night he would see what he could do!!!!!!!!!! With a cost of £13000 plus I could buy quite a nice nifty car.....Buying double glazing is far too scary and stressfull. Tinkerbell
26/03/10 Tinkerbell
1
katesboy

katesboy

I had new double glazing installed less than 7 years ago. The window closing mechanisms are failing which means that I cannot close or open some of my windows. The installer blames the failure on lack of maintenance by me. The failure he tells me is in the gearing which is broken and I have seen pieces of metal which are evidence that he is correct.
What I cannot accept is that my maintenance with WD40 or equivalent would help especially as there is no apparent access to this gearing.
My view is that it is a failure of materials or mechanism and should be covered by the 10 year warranty / guarantee
26/03/10 katesboy
0
Not convinced

Not convinced

haha sarah, shamless plug, you are probably some fat greasy workwan from said company trying to sell us windows when people are griping about them

HAHAHA ! !!
24/09/09 Not convinced
-2
Jammymutt

Jammymutt

I had a company from Lincoln come to fit my windows Starglaze windows they were not the cheapest but they seemed to have a good name and fitted windows to my first house so I asked them to fit the ones in my second house 5 times to attempt repairs.

1 firstly they came to repair the handle on the front door as the mechanism and sprayed some oil on it and went.

2 Kickplates fell offr the rear door and the front door again had mechanism problems they sprayted oil on the front door (again) and glued the bit on the back door back on.

3 They returned to inspect the back door and window as the brick wall round it was moving,they put some silicone on it and left.

4 I complained there was a draught coming in the front door they came agreed there was altered the seals and left.

5 Still with the back door/wall coming loose they claimed to have been and inspected it when I was not at home and claimed the house which is a mere 30 years old had not been built properly even though the last owners had not had this problem with their wooden windows.

6 I gave up realised I had been conned phoned Fensa who werent interested they claimed they were only interested in newly fitted windows.

It seems its quite easy to be in the window industry pay the governing body a sum to be a member and then fit inferior pruducts.

I really wish I knew who to approach next as this company had £3500 of my hard earned money and left me with problems.

They were fitted only 2 years ago we still have the same problems and they claim it is not their fault but the house builders.

If you need windows DO NOT deal with this company and please feel free to sned me a message and inspect my windows.
23/11/08 Jammymutt
-15
edith b

edith b

Safestyle are so bad! We had three windows fitted and two of them leaked, one so badly that they had to come and fit a new one. They also caused a very bad leak on the ground floor when they fitted a window upstairs, my husband had to eventually fix that himself by putting something in the cavity, safestyle did not want to know. We had more salesmen at the door a year later and invited them in to view the damage, which we had photographed, and after expressing fake concern they tried to sell us more windows! Never again, would always go for a local firm in future.
18/11/08 edith b
-8
Mercenary

Mercenary

Double glazing companies and the wares they sell are only as good as the guys that fit them. If you have a tradesman that knows his job then even the cheapest of windows or doors look good and will be sufficient. You can fit the most expensive window or door on the market but if the guy that is fitting them is a monkey then they will be trouble all day long.What you pay for the job is what you the customer thinks is a bargain or a good deal.
Ideally a company with a long standing good reputation is what you want but on the other hand that does not give them a license to try and rip the customer off . I have heard some scary stories about double glazing and conservatory salesmen.
18/11/08 Mercenary
-9
Everest plc dot com

Everest plc dot com

Fit the best, fit Everest!

Emm err, yeahhh, we're the best!!
17/11/08 Everest plc dot com
-2
Angrydadcalledray

Angrydadcalledray

I can highly recommend Cherbourg Windows Of Chatham. He will cover all of Kent and most of South East London and can be found by Googling or in the Yellow Pages.
He was the only guy who DIDNT chase up pestering and bullying. The reason.... He is the fitter as well as the salesman. He is reasonable with prices, honest with the cost and good quality windows to boot.
In terms of cost - I needed 9 windows, 1 front door and a French Door Fitted, All with Georgian Bars. He came in £8000 cheaper than a so called "discount" firm.
As for the other "salesmen". Scourge of the earth. I know they have a job to do but they take it to extremes. One even wanted me to pay for a brochure because he only had one left!!
I hope infected Rabbits bite all their bits off!!
14/11/08 Angrydadcalledray
-10
grumpyoldwoman

grumpyoldwoman

What puzzles me is that no company hoping to sell something ever realises that over pushy salesmen actually put potential customers off!
14/11/08 grumpyoldwoman
-2
Youthful Griper

Youthful Griper

Fuwdgc, we used West Yorkshire Windows, living in this county I guess they're quite local :)
13/11/08 Youthful Griper
-4
Fuwdgc

Fuwdgc

Youthful Griper - you didn't say who you used? Yes, SafeStyle UK - we had loads of phone calls from them after moving in. We didn't use them though. Sounds like you got a good honest local company.
13/11/08 Fuwdgc
-10

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