FAILURE TO HONOUR 10 YEAR GUARANTEE
Back in 2016 the Dorking Window Company supplied doors and windows for an extension at our house. The double-glazed sealed units were guaranteed for ten years; I have a physical copy of the guarantee. On 2 March 2023 one of the two glass panes in a sealed unit spontaneously disintegrated - there was no impact, and presumably the glass fractured because of some internal stress within an evidently faulty unit. I wrote to the company to register a claim under the ten year guarantee, but was told that they do "not cover glass breakages and never have in 20 years of trading". Given that two panes of glass constitute an integral part of each double-glazed sealed unit, and that my guarantee makes no mention of glass being excluded from the warranty, I think this amounts to a breach of contract.
Subsequent telephone calls to, and email exchanges with, the company degenerated into increasingly acerbic responses from the lady concerned (a member of the family which owns the firm, I think). On one occasion she said she was very busy and had no time to discuss the matter further; she then put the phone abruptly down on me. When I pursued the matter by email I received a reply to the effect that "if you are threatening to slander me or Dorking Window Company.." (I was not) ".. we will be seeking legal advice". At this point, given the increasing ridiculous responses (I have retained copies of all the correspondence), I wrote back to terminate the exchange. It appears that their guarantee is not worth the paper it is written on.
I have raised the matter with the Financial Ombudsman (who say that they cannot deal with non-financial complaints) and with the Double Glazing & Conservatory Quality Assurance Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS, who say they have no jurisdiction over non-members). Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the Dorking Window Company is not a member. DGCOS advised me to contact the Citizen's Advice Bureau, which I did: they have now referred the matter to the Trading Standards organisation.
In the meantime we have used another company to replace the failed unit. An accolade here to Shaws Glass of Horsham, who completed the job promptly, politely and efficiently for £214.64. Excellent service, which is something Dorking Windows should have provided.
There are clear lessons here for the Dorking Window Company:
- review the quality of your after-sales service
- up your game in terms of customer service and
email/telephone etiquette
- honour your guarantees without quibble
- consider joining your professional trade body,
DGCOS, to promote better trading standards
In the circumstances, our advice to potential customers of Dorking Window Company, would be "avoid them like the plague".
2 marzo 2023
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