Window company gone into liquidation

rjm2k1

withalj wrote:

My own solution since then has been to avoid such companies. I discovered it's remarkably easy to fit new windows, two people, a drill and some foam... it's also a lot cheaper because you can buy the windows you want from a builders merchant and that's it if you do it yourself, or else get a handyman round to do it.

Unfortunatly, this government in their infinite wisdom have all but removed this option since you can't self certify the windows you would have to pay the local council their hefty fee to come out and give you a certificate. It only matters when you come to sell, but you can guarantee that a conveyancer would hold up a sale due to lack of certificate and the buyers would want a discount/indemnity.

withalj

rjm2k1 wrote:

Unfortunatly, this government in their infinite wisdom have all but removed this option since you can't self certify the windows you would have to pay the local council their hefty fee to come out and give you a certificate. It only matters when you come to sell, but you can guarantee that a conveyancer would hold up a sale due to lack of certificate and the buyers would want a discount/indemnity.

Thanks, I didn't know about that... but you have to do that for electrical work too, don't you. I wonder if the same person can do both (probably wouldn't give great odds on that )? I also wonder how anyone would know when the windows had been done? The standard of workmanship on the ones we've done ourselves is certainly higher than those done by the bodgers... perhaps that's the giveaway

floyd

We were offered additional insurance cover from the glass and glazing federation so that should the company go bust, we are still covered. Think it cost us a one-off payment of about £30

ScoobieGirl

withalj wrote:

This is my longest on-going bug bear. We had a new patio door that developed a fault. It turned out that the company had liquidated and then started up again with the same name, same address, same logo everything

I came across this recently at work, when chasing a non payment of an invoice. They answered the same phone numer, using the same name. I couldn't believe it when they said they were not liable. I can't imagine why the government would not want to block people doing this.

withalj

Poppycat wrote:

Did the company not issue a Fensa certicate for the windows? Not sure when the rules came in but double glazing companies have to issue guarantees usually Fensa

I've just been looking this up and it is installations since 1 Apr 2002 that need a FENSA certificate. DIY installations need prior Building Regulations approval instead.

According to their website,
'A [FENSA] Registered Business must also give a guarantee or warranty covering the cost of completing rectification work in respect of defects and in the event of ceasing to trade, offer to back this guarantee with an independent insurance policy.' Not sure I trust the word 'offer' in there but maybe that's just me being cynical.

Luckily our last DIY was prior to 2002, although I'm surprised I'd never heard of this as over the years we've taken to doing more and more of our own work and I'd thought we were well informed. It also seems odd to me that the regs largely cover the thermal efficiency of the window and yet it's the installation that needs certification. I don't suppose anyone intentionally leaves gaping holes around the edges of their brand new double glazing.

My local council charges £50 for inspecting work so with my experience of 'professionals' I think I'd rather pay the council (and it would still work out miles cheaper).

rjm2k1

floyd wrote: »

We were offered additional insurance cover from the glass and glazing federation so that should the company go bust, we are still covered. Think it cost us a one-off payment of about £30

lol, I was offered the same insurance by Coldseal when I paid my deposit, they even took my £30 quid insurance fee. Imagine my surprise when I tried to register the insurance with the insurers (as it said you should in the leaflet) and they told me coldseal had to do it, I pointed out that if coldseal went bust before they registered my insurance I'd be stuffed, they saw my point but said it would never happen. Couple of months later, no coldseal, no insurance

nikkiwinter

We are currently selling our house and had new patio doors installed in April 2003. We have been asked by the solicitors to provide the fensa certificate, we don't have one though. On checking with fensa they informed us that the doors have never been registered.
They were fitted by Coldseal who conveiniently went into liquidation soon after our doors were fitted. The paperwork given to us by the company states they were fensa registered. Can anyone tell me how I can now get the cover for the doors and approx cost for this.
Many thanks

alanobrien

full-time-mum wrote: »

We purchased uPvc windows from a local firm in 2001. We've had niggly problems with them ever since. Now my daughters window doesn't shut properly and their is a gale howling in.

We rang this morning in the hope of getting someone out and were told that they had gone into liquidation :mad: so presumabley the 10 year guarentee isn't worth the paper it's wriiten on.

Coincidently, there is a sale of assets and machinery at this very moment.

Doesn't sound too hopeful.

Any suggestions of what to do next?

I'm trying to find out if the business has been taken over. If this is the case, will the new owners have to honour the guarantee?

Sorry to hear about this but its unlikely you can do much about it.

Unfortunately a window company backed 10 year guarrentee is fairly meaningless. The only guarentee that is of use is an independant insurance backed guarentee which most companies charge between £20 to £40 extra for.