Trying to buy new windows, but companies won't let me

ACG

Strange... I went to a local firm, told them what I wanted. They gave me a price and came to fit.

Never asked if I had a partner, who lived in the house, whether I owned the house or anything else. Pretty reputable local firm too, its not a 1 man band who nobody has heard of.

SailorSam

When i worked for Everest we were told that we always had to see both the husband and wife together, Otherwise that was the excuse for not signing up on the night ........... I have to check with my husband / wife.
But sometimes you did see people on their own.

teddysmum

I have , in the past, told companies who want to deal with my husband, that I would be personally paying, so if they need to deal with him , there will be no transaction and every time they backed down.


I find the insinuation, that the 'little woman' can't cope, insulting.

ukcarper

When I wanted to change my front door I measured the door and rang the local window companies and asked for a rough price. Some insisted on coming out before they would give me a price others gave me a rough price but said they would have to measure to confirm price. I choose one of the latter and they came out measured the door and confirmed the price they said they would send a quote which they did and I had door fitted. A much better experience than I had with a national supplier.

Errata

Are these blokes arriving in a Hansom Cab by any chance?

EmmyLou30

It's exactly for the reason others have said, they're dodgy companies that don't want you not to sign up on the day. I had two local firms come quote for our 4 bed detached house and I dealt with them entirely on my own, they never met my husband. Got a perfectly good deal that way. On the otherhand my brother used SafeStyle, got ripped off and almost killed to boot.

They failed to replace an essential vent in the back door panel for their '70's boiler's ventilation. Luckily all they got was a bad headache for weeks on end as the bedroom was a distance from the kitchen boiler and it eventually choked itself up with soot and stopped working before it killed them with carbon monoxide leaking into the house. They also had to have them back numerous times to make good the mess around the windows the trainees had obviously fitted.

Mallotum_X

Dont go with a window company, find a local builder and get them to do the work. Ask friends/neighbours for recommendations, it will be a much simpler and probably much cheaper job doing it that way.

You will still get guarantees and more likely to get a better job with a local builder who will want to maintain their reputation.

pinkshoes

Definitely get a local person to do them!

The ONLY reason we went with Safestyle for a front door was the local guy was booked up for months! Safestyle reluctantly matched his price.

To be fair, Safestyle did a great job, but their salesman who initially called was very pushy, and had written down we needed lots of new windows and doors, even though we made it clear it was just a front door we wanted.

kinger101

penguine wrote: »

This doesn't really answer your question, but I wouldn't buy new windows from companies that come knocking at your door. If they have the money to employ staff to go around door to door they're probably going to charge too much for the windows.

Not just that......good tradespeople usually manage to get a steady stream of business from recommendations. The very fact they know on your door is not a good sign.

Errata

kinger101 wrote: »

Not just that......good tradespeople usually manage to get a steady stream of business from recommendations. The very fact they know on your door is not a good sign.

It's a good sign they're desparate.