Double glazing company won't talk to wife unless husband is present?

[PrettyPickle]

Just been at my friends house and there was a knock at the door. It was a young lad canvassing for work for a double glazing firm. My mate is interested in having a couple of windows replaced and would be interested in a quote. The young lad asked when her husband would be home and she explained he worked away from home and she dealt with all stuff like this.

He explained that the husband had to be present. She asked why as the house is in her name only and has no mortgage and she would be paying for the windows in cash (not finance) from her money, not her husbands. She explained it was her 2nd marriage and he rented his home out. Well my mind was boggling about why she should have to share this info.

The young lad said he understood but his guidance was that the husband had to be present to allow it to progress. She asked why her husband, why not the three adult kids who also lived in the home and actually had a bigger stake in it as its their inheritance. He seemed perplexed but said that is how it works. My mate thanked him and said that she understood he had to follow the rules so thanks but no thanks.

Apparently this has happened before and whilst she would discuss it with her husband as part of their daily life, she didn't need him to be present, it was her decision, not his.

10 minutes later he returned saying he had explained to the office and they said it would be OK as it was all her property, so they agreed to ring at 4pm. My friend said if they brought up the subject of her husband needing to be present she would not be happy.

4pm came, someone rang and they said her husband had to be present. She explained the earlier conversation and that her husband had no say in the house (they have this legally tied up as they both have kids from a previous marriage) but he was adamant that they could not attend without her husband being present.

Now we both would get this to a certain extent if he was an owner of the property or was contributing to the home improvements but he is not.

Vote:

YANBU for refusing to have her husband present
YABU for her not understanding her husband needed to be present

I feel like I’ve been transported back to the 70s. I would have told the guy to leave with that sexist nonsense.

Dunraven Windows South Wales tried that tactic with me. He couldn't be less bothered when I said it's my house and my money. I called him a misogynistic dinosaur and to get out of my house (I had no husband as I am divorced). I followed up with an email pointing out not all women have husbands and their practices were wrong and the fuckers kept on contacting me. I had to threaten them as it was harassment and if they did not remove my details off their database I would take it further.

I worked for a window company in my teens.
This is age old and basically they want everyone who might have a say in the windows to be there so they can get them to sign there and then.
Even if the partner has no financial interest in the house they might veto the windows, or they might get to the end of the pitch and the person says they want their partner to look at the window choices before they sign.
They are after all adults in one room so they can pressure you right then, say the discount can only be applied at that point and if you don't sign now then the price will go up. So they want to remove any excuses such as, I want my partner or husband to check the design, or we need to discuss it because of whatever reason you might have for not signing right then
I wouldnt have let them in or rebooked and apointment with them.
Working for a double glazing company was hands down the worst job full of the most unscrupulous arseholes that I have ever known

Totally weird.
I ordered our windows and my husband was neither there nor mentioned when they came to measure, likewise my new front door.
Bizarre.

I had this with Anglian Windows
find a recommended local company

I can’t believe you gave a random stranger so much information.
Husband away
House in your name
No mortgage
Cash payment
Your 2nd marriage.

Why did he presume that this was a heterosexual relationship? Could have been a two woman household. Or a single person household.

Despite women being more at risk of harm, I do wonder how many young male 'sales people' are comfortable visiting a single women in her home these days?

Its probably already been said multiple times but I would NEVER give any business to someone who cold calls door to door. It's asking for trouble.

Any half decent glazing company won't need to knock on doors to get business.

Very true

I was thinking the same - breach of the Equality Act in the provision of services

I’m widowed and usually ask if they would like to dig him up or should I! 😂

It's a strong arming sales tactic. Any company that tried it would get chucked directly out of my house.

Had this, but 20 years ago. Firstly said are you joking and when it became apparent that the sales person wasn't I said that he should leave and that I would be requiring a quote I had several more calls, one quite abusive when I said no business would come from this.

"won't leave" how do they manage that one?

This happened in reverse to us where a company wouldn’t talk to DH without me being present. As pp said, it’s to do with sales tactics for an overpriced shitty product

my windows are Anglian. Never had any kind of problem or nonsense. Our order was complex and the salesman needed to turn up several times to get decisions and give prices, he just dealt with whichever of us was there at the time.

I had the same when I had someone to quote me for the gutters/soffits. I said he would have a Very long wait as he had moved out several years ago !!!

Same.

I will refuse to deal with anyone who adopted this stance
As I’m single and DP has his own home I would always be the only decision maker

I had exactly this with a window company. Told them to get fucked. I was paying for them, but even if I wasn’t I won’t give business to a company who implies that I need the permission of my husband to spend money that is mine. I had the same thing with a builder who came to quote for an extension and who would only speak to my husband. I was asking questions and he directed all the answers at my husband, who wasn’t paying for the work.

Have they had watertight Wills done since they got married? If not, the houses will automatically go to the surviving spouse, not the children. It doesn't matter if the house is in her name, if she's married to him, and hasn't had a Will drawn up specifically ensuring the children get the house and not her husband, he will get it.

@godmum56 they delay, use high pressure tactics, refuse to go...they target elderly couples often, rely on politeness and are on high commission so will do anything to get a sale. Honestly, the bloke that turned up at my door was relentless. He returned 5 times, he only stopped because my ex got very angry and told him to f off and got quite physical towards him. They're snakes! Loads of stories out there. Any of the ones that are outside supermarkets are the types that will send round pushy salespeople.

It's all part of their hard sell technique to get you to sign on the day. Very old trick.

Hang up on them and go and find a reputable window company instead of a bunch of cowboys & con artists.

Would 100% never speak to them again and be sure to leave reviews warning other women of this bizarre, misogynistic bullshit.

Sod their requirements. If they ask if you have a husband or partner, ask if you cannot buy double glazing unless you have one.

Or just tell them your incredibly wise manly man in your life always delegates getting several quotes to you because he is so busy and important. He then weighs them up at his leisure before making his informed decision.

And then ask if their product is as outdated as their sexism.

Yes, it is a hard sales technique. The expectation is that they will be able to make the man feel less than unless he is prepared to commit to spending £'000s of pounds immediately, without giving it some thought for a couple of days.