re: Window Fitters Guarantees

[Mobythevillan]

Greetings all....

A question about the granting of certificates (ie FENSA) for window/door installation work carried out on ones property.

Can anyone please explain who is responsible for the issuing of a FENSA certificate for work that has been carried out? Is it the responsibility of the installer or FENSA themselves? Also, how long should one have to wait for this to come through?

Simon

[boxtops]

Have a look here, it says the cert is issued after the installation. http://www.fensa.co.uk/ I think ours came through about a week after the installation was complete, but it was a few years ago, I could be mistaken in the timescale.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Its issued via Fensa....within 21 days after completion.

[buildersmate]

FENSA certification warrants that the quality of the installation and the materials assures minimum insulation levels that will at least satisfy Building Control standards.
It also facilitates availability of an insurance-based warranty against failing materials or workmanship - but note I said 'availability'. The contractor has to pay the one-off premium for this insurance-backed warranty to Fensa - and it is not automatic that you bought this element and hence got a 5 or 10 year guarantee.

[Dodger666]

As Buildersmate says it's requirement of FENSA members to offer a guarantee. FENSA itself doesn't offer the guarantee.

We had double glazing fitted in 2005 by a trader found in the HomePro website. The website stated a 10 year insurance backed guarantee on workmanship & materials even if the trader "ceased trading". They do not define "ceased trading" in their website.

Recently we noticed one of the door glass panels was misting up slightly. I contact HomePro only to be told the trader had "ceased trading" but not according to the terms of the guarantee "small print". The small print defines "ceased trading" as:-

"Means ceasing to trade due to the appointment of a liquidator or Receiver or Administrator of the winding up of the business due to Bankruptcy or in the event of the death of a sole trader, where that sole traders estate is insolvent."

Unfortunately you don't get this "small print" until after the work is done and you've paid your money. If the trader you used stops trading, but continues to trade under another name in the same line of work not under the HomePro banner, your guarantee is worthless.

When your guarantee eventually arrives check the small print.

[Mobythevillan]

Thanks all. In January 2012, we used a window fitter who advertised locally, and stated in his quote and paperwork he was FENSA, Trust Mark, Fairtrades etc. covered. Before we decided to use him, we checked the FENSA website for approved fitters. He was on the FENSA website at that time, and the work (replacement front door/window frame) was carried out. We became concerned after an incident and decided to check with the relevant bodies, only to be told he was either no longer a member or never had been a member of those organisations, even though he was on FENSA's list of approved companies. Apparently, he had failed to renew his FENSA membership this year, but their website showed his company was a member at the time the work was completed, when he was actually not and was only removed a few days ago. So, having taken all the precautions to check for an approved fitter, it looks now that we have NO 10-year insurance-backed guarantee or certificate issued by FENSA, as promised in his quote. When we raised the matter with FENSA, the only advice we were given was to contact our local Building Control department, which we have.

Surely, the minute a company fails to renew, they should be automatically removed from their list of members? It would certainly have prevented us from falling into this situation.

So, take heed people, and investigate a little further before assuming these websites are right up to date and your potential installer is as 'approved' as he claims. Believe me, these organisations aren't exactly jumping to assist us. In fact, FENSA have left us to sort this out ourselves!

Bloody annoyed,

Simon

[Dodger666]

I'm sure there are quite a lot of annoyed people Simon, not just you and me. This sharp practice must be rife in the double glazing trade.

[Mobythevillan]

Indeed Dodger....

It's about time these organisations were reminded that without us, the customers, the fitters wouldn't have a job. It is imperative, therefore, that such organisations like FENSA keep their records up to date and if not, we should have recourse against them.

Simon