Can a company charge for installation during cooling off period

onlyconnect

Elderly mum was cold-called. Nice salesperson came round and talked her into signing up for a monitored alarm system, five year contract at £11.00 per week - £572 annually.

They were round the very next day to install it; however the contract has a 7 day right to cancel "cooling off period".

On our advice she has cancelled. However they want the cost of the installation + a fee for removing it. They say none of the parts can be reused. Probably around £400.

The contract does refer to works carried out within the cooling off period and says she must pay reasonable costs.

I fear she has to pay this, any chance of arguing against?

Tim

Jaynne

None of the parts can be reused - sounds like BS to me

thebaldwindowfitter

they can only charge this if on the contract she has waived her right to cancel , we have a separate box on our contract which we ask customers to sign for example if they have been broken into and require the item faster .Sounds like pressure sales get onto trading standards

onlyconnect

The contract says as I recall that if the customer agrees to installation during the cooling off period she is liable for the reasonable costs. Clearly the right to cancel was not waived as she has now invoked it. Thanks for the help.

Tim

thebaldwindowfitter

this can only be enforced if the customer has signed that she wishes to waive all rights to cancel and not verbally

baldelectrician

You could have another option

Call their bluff- ask them to change the system to bells only - or get a local contractor to do this.
You do have to pay them for costs upto the cancellation period, but if they get stroppy they would need a court order to enforce the invoice

Information is power
Price up the items installed and then work out how much time they were on site.
Offer them their costs incurred and pay for materials. Then wait and see. You need to be fair - and be seen to be fair

onlyconnect

baldelectrician wrote: »

Call their bluff- ask them to change the system to bells only - or get a local contractor to do this.

That is actually a good common-sense idea. Thanks.

Tim

keystone

onlyconnect wrote: »

The contract says as I recall that if the customer agrees to installation during the cooling off period she is liable for the reasonable costs.

As is required by the Doorstep Selling Regs. BUT its also a requirement of those regs that the company must get written authorisation to start within the cooling off period. Did they ask for or get that?

Cheers