Help - if you've recently had any work done (double glazing) what is considered "reasonable" regarding timespan?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I've posted in Chat but it's now on Page 5 with only me bumping , so I've given up there.
Posted on Legal but that isn't garnering much in the way of answers:

So:

bit of background:

Some double glazing work is planned at my DParents. They have paid a 10% deposit but as the work is 'made to order' was subject to a 7 Day not a 14 Day Cool Off Period so they are unable to cancel without losing 80% of the Total cost or with potential legal intervention.

My DDad is going ahead with the work (I think for a quiet life he doesn't really see the bigger picture that I can)

The reviews online for this company are poor -very poor. Alot of reviewers pointing out that they seem to target the elderly customer.

I have no way of knowing what was said but I am concerned that he has signed up with no other quotes, is having work done that isn't needed and from the reviews , what the quality will be like.

He has a copy (very faint) of the contract and a rough idea of when it will be done (not a date , just X weeks)

So: my questions to all you H&P posters :

1: how long is too long to give a date? If they say 4 weeks and it turns out to be 6 weeks then ok. If they say 4 weeks and it turns out to be 8 weeks/12 weeks/16 weeks..... where is the cut off point to say "No that is not acceptable"?

2: when do they pay the balance? Does someone come and check before they pay? If there's problem (not fitting right/damage/ wrong item) how long is reasonable to replace or repair?

3: They will have a 10 Year guarentee (which is standard) but how long after the 10 Yrs can they expect a repair or replacement

I know from searching if there's any problems the contract is with the Supplier not the Fitter.
Also bring up "Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982" but is there anything more recent that I can read through?

I have no information about the contract as I'm a 3rd Party, they (the Company) won't divulge. My DDad has a copy that is barely readable.
But after reading the reviews , I am preparing myself if anything occurs. I will also involve Trading Standards and Solicitor if there's the merest hint of trouble.
I'm not actively looking for aggro but I'm not going to sit back if it does occur.
I will be visiting them (as will my SIL) so we can see first hand but I don't think we can be there for the actual work.

TIA if you've made it this far.

Anyone?

Sorry youve had so little response. There are quite a lot of "what ifs" in your question.... it may not end up being the bad job you think (assuming it ever gets done) But yes, I would be concerned at the size of deposit. I would get onto the local Trading Standards first thing on Monday.

I don't think anyone can answer this without reviewing the contract. If your Dad can't read the copy he has he needs to ask for a clear copy along with the terms, etc.

Is it worth talking to Trading Standards for advice?

It was an 8-10 weeks wait for us, as frames had to be custom made. They said 6-8'weeks but turned out a bit later.

70 - I have no idea of the answer to this but I wanted to commiserate with you because coping with elderly parents is so difficult. If you feel that your parents have been coerced into signing something that they aren't competent to do then I would write to the company copying in everyone from your MP onwards and complain. Although it is entirely possible this will be ok. Is there a specific reason that you are concerned?

We had double glazing a few years ago - the work was done in one day. I don't think we had to wait over a month from initial contact to work complete. There were a few snags but we had no problems getting from back to fix either.

Is it a well known firm/ good reputation? Do you know anyone else that have used them?

My dps had double glazing done on their fin shed that cost them 2500, The window company were totally unreasonable , we had no way of stopping it and they even tried to get them to have more done. To say I was livid is an understatement but there was nothing I could do. However they did do the job well enough, in the end it was the same story as you , they would have to pay anyway so there was no point in stopping the work . So sorry 70 I know how hard it is looking out for the elderly parents and working and looking after the family you have my condolences good luck!

On your question about the guarantee - if it's a 10 year guarantee, then anything that goes wrong within that period will be covered - after 10 years, nothing. Make sure you get the FENSA certificate from the company when they finish as you will need that if they ever sell the house.

I was involved in a very similar situation last year. I was able to get out of the contract due to the company not providing me with the correct credit information (I had signed up for a loan at the same time for the work). My contract was very small and feint too, but worth going through it to check for any loop holes. My company was referencing out of date consumer acts and an out of date cancellation policy. Your only way out is to find something like that and then go to trading standards. You can go via the sales coercion route too. Don't mention the bad online reviews. Make it all about miss selling and void contract due to errors in the paperwork. CAB have great online resources to show the proper process for sales in the home. Once you have all your info contact trading standards. If the company is bad, they will probably be known to them too and happy work with you.
It's very stressful. I've been there, and once I knew I had trading standards support I felt more confident in dealing with the company. They still threatened my with small claims but trading standards wrote them a great letter telling them not to contact me again and to go via them!

If you need any help just ask. I will find the current legislation they should be referencing but need to charge my phone first and find my old e mails.

I think it's the consumer act 2015 that has replaced the sale of goods act...

Our new windows were about 8 weeks from the quote and fitted in 3 days flat. That was the date originally given though, there was no extra delay. We paid £1k deposit and the balance when they were finished and we were 100% happy.

The company has to quote the correct cancellation legislation to make the contract legs. If they are quoting previous legislation then the whole contract is null and void.

Legs = legal

Also, to answer your question, after the sales person has done the initial measuring in order to quote, a surveyor comes round to do the actual measuring up and check access etc. Has that happened? Try to put that off of possible as after that the windows will be produced.

DP is a window fitter and usually less than two months between customers ordering and having them fitted. Rarely do windows on a normal sized house take longer than two days to fit. Balance is paid on completion of works. When windows are being fitted I would suggest you or someone else you trust is there to make sure your parents don't pay until work is completely finished/satisfied.