Is this a genuine company? Please help..

Leven

Hello,
not sure where I should post this thread, but I think this is probably the best place...

A couple of days ago, a salesman knocked on my door, claiming to represent a company named 'South West Designs' home improvements. We need external work on the house, so I said that he could send someone to quote.

The quote person arrived the next evening and gave a reasonable price, with a half price garage door thrown in if we go ahead with the jobs in June.

Today we received the quote in the form of an email sent from a mobile phone. We said that we would go ahead and tomorrow the man is coming here to collect a deposit cheque for 25% of the price (we will post-date the cheque as far ahead as they allow).

However... I have since done some research and
- the company is not coming up anywhere on the web when I do a Google search
- The company's web site consists of a single page and the links do not work
- The 'quote' is not on headed paper, its just an email
- We have not seen a company van
- They were not willing to give specific details of the whereabouts of other properties that they have worked on
- The address on the leaflet relates to a business park in the city where we live, but the company is not flagged on the Google map or street view

Basically, all we have is their leaflet.

In view of the above, I am now starting to wonder if this is a genuine company who I can trust with our deposit money. I am getting quite worried about this.

Can anyone give any advise on whether we should proceed and what checks we can do to verify if they are genuine?

julie2710

Personally I think it sounds dodgy and I wouldn't pay anyone anything up front.

They get paid when they do the work in my books. I could be wrong but I've never dealt with workmen or builders who want money upfront.

fluffnutter

Nothing good comes of someone cold-calling and you're right to be suspicious. Don't part with your money, anticipate a bit of pressure and some guff about 'broken contracts' and vague threats which you should completely ignore.

Seriously, don't give them a penny.

iammumtoone

Personally I would leave well alone. I suppose it is possible it could be a start up company who haven't had the time to update websites etc yet, but I would say its not worth the risk

If something sounds to good to be true it normally is.

withabix

!!!!!!.......

gb12345

Leven wrote: »

- The company's web site consists of a single page and the links do not work

Is the website southwestdesigns.co.uk? To me that looks like a site for a web designer rather than a facia/guttering company.

I wouldn't give them a penny up front unless you can veryify that the company does actually exist.

Are they claiming that "South West Designs" is a Limited company or a T/A name?

Leven

The website on the leaflet is:

https://www.south-westdesigns.co.uk

The leaflet names the company as is 'South West Designs', doesn't say limited.

withabix

Web address Registered on: 14-Apr-2013

Salz

Domain Name was only registered on 14th April this year also. Would certainly not part with any money before the work is done!

bubblegumcola

None of the links work on the website when you click to see a conservatory, windows, etc. Personally the alarms bells are ringing for me because nothing on the website works, it just looks like a holding page. Just did a google search and normally with an established company you find a few links or reviews but can't find anything about this company.
I wouldn't be handing over any money until I knew they were a genuine company. Definitely do more research, ask friends for recommendations. Why not phone trading standards and ask if they have ever heard of them?
It just looks really dodgy to me. Do NOT hand over anything til you have satisfied yourself this is a real company!

gb12345

Salz wrote: »

Domain Name was only registered on 14th April this year also. Would certainly not part with any money before the work is done!

Add to that the fact that the registrant has incorrectly opted out of having his details shown by pretending to be non-trading (I've reported them to Nominet, so the details will soon be there for everyone to see).