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have worked for all the major double-glazing firms in England as a sales rep all are ruled by one motive “get the money”. On each sale you can earn 5%-15%(if I every earned 15% on a job I would not be able to sleep at night) of the payment you receive from a customer. If you sold finance on any job you can earn another 5% if you have sold the windows for less than your 5% rate on windows, which would still be about 20% more than the product is worth, then if you sell finance you can still earn your money.
I am out of double-glazing now and there is only 1 large company I would recommend from all the firms I worked for. Or use a small family firm in your area with 1 or 2 fitting teams.
Rules for buying double-glazing
1 Find out what is the best profile to use, all should be reinforced with ali or galvanised steel. Euro cell is about as good as you need
2 Make sure its internal beaded (glass is put in from the inside)
3 The locking system should be shoot bolts on all windows now and the doors have claw locks 2 is about right
4 All double glazing should last 20-30 years the glass units 15 years with or without a guarantee if fitted properly
5 A guarantee will only last as long as a firm is still in business so a guarantee is about use less, most small firms will come out if there is a problem with the frames handles or glass, because its their reputation on the line.
6 Double-glazing is all down to manufacture and fitting. Get this right and there should be no problems
7 There are no hidden areas within double-glazing. Plastic, Glass, Fitting and price that’s all you need to know get this right and you will have no problems.
8 Don’t be forced into buying windows, you do not need a rep in you house for 4 hours trying to get the money for their next holiday or car. They will try to tie you in to a 120month finance that’s 10 years and if you spend about £5000
This would include 2 bays 1 box window and a door with side panels and a panel of choice in the door, at the end of the 10 years you could end up paying £12000 back.
oh my god we just had a rep knock our door to see if we were interested in windows and doors we wasn't actually looking but thought we would have the quote and look into it in the next couple of months ther was a very fast service for someone to come and do the quote (tooo fast 20 mins later) anyway this bloke came round no id didn't even know what we had asked for the quote for, as soon as he walked into our house he was looking around a bit too much and didn't bring any paperwork or samples or anythin we was on edge straight away and were reluctant to show him round so i just asked him to quote on the porch he managed a quote of 2800 and that was without measurments or anythin magic or what we told him we wouldn't sign anythin but we would like him to leave the quote he told us that he would get it in the post but wouldn't leave us a copy and we probably wouldn't see the post copy either as we wouldn't sign his contract there and then if we wasn't prepared to make him some money he wouldn't do anythin for us. what sort of service is that t***er came to mindx.
we were that unsure that this bloke was actually working for safestle that we phoned the company and checked as we could not believe someone that unprofessional was actually linked with a company as well known as safestyle but all we got off head office was 'yeh there our reps but we dont have any control over the regional branches how pathetic of a company.
PLEASE I WOULD ADVISE NO-ONE TO LET A SAFESTYLE REP OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE COMPANY INTO YOUR HOMES THEY ARE WORSE THAN COWBOYS THEY ARE ARROGANT RUDE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN !!!!!!!!!
I just had a rep in for a quote, and then read this blog. Although only at the quote stage, the experience was terrible! We want to replace one bay window only, and as a rep knocked on the door made appointment. When the first rep turned up, my girlfriend hadn't yet got in from work - he told us that 'because we advertise on tv, both residents must be present'. What? So, next day a different one turned up. He seemed friendly enough but not at all chatty. He went through the patter, came up with a price of over £3k, then reduced this to £1,700. I told him we'd had a quote of £1,200 from a (well renowned) local firm to replace casings with wooden, working sash windows. He offered to call Paul, his 'manager' to get a better price but we'd have to accept there and then. We said no thanks, his patter disappeared and he left with barely a goodbye.
Spending money with Safestyle was the worst purchasing decision of my life. All goes well up until you realise they have been installed with very little or no care for quality. Windows leaked, locks on patio didn't work properly, marks on the inside of windows, massive drafts... you name it. Tried to get them to come and rectify it and they simply didn't want to know. And they still phone up and ask if i want windows now.
we thought this year we wood finish the house off by having all the windows and doors done so we decided to go with safestyle.very bad idea the new windows and doors are moor drafty and noisey than the ones that we had taken out.the front door does not shut right the patio doors are terrible the windows catch when you open and shut them .i dont think the advertisment on tv is for the same company and i bet the celebraties that advertise for them havent had their windows done???
I was one of four people to enrol on a course at Reading with a view to becoming one of their reps. We were promised £50-00 each at the end of the week when we reported for duty. Monday involved assembling our packs for working. We then shadowed someone for a couple of hours in the afternoon. No food provided or breaks. Shot up to Hayes at double speed. When we got back we were just left in reception. This was very nice of the "management". We were thoroughly fed up and went home after waiting around two hours or more.
If this is how they treat their potential employees then be warned, is this a company that you really wish to deal with.
The products look good. The training lasts a week. After the training comes nothing. Reading the forum the same seems so for the after sales service.
So for me it is a bad company. No money was paid to us as was promised despite recorded delivery letters being sent.
I would never go near this company ever again
First of all i would like to comment on the great installation and service in which i receieved from Safestlye, i had my windows fitted a while back and not only did i find the quote very reasonable i also recieved a service that was second to none.
All the frames were measured accurately and trimmed correctly on the inside and sealed correctly on the outside! Trickle vents and fire escape hinges were installed as agreed.
I also decided to change the french doors at that back (as i was having a conservatory planned at the time) and safestlye removed the order of the doors at little less than 2 weeks before they were installed. I can see where SOME of the people on this forum are coming from but even i have to say that that is great customer service!
The woman below me, whilst it may be very upsetting about the rep and safestlye's comments/actions, I cannot understand that if you knew you wouldn't be able to afford the frames, then why ever let them into your house in the first place. Safestyle is a big company and its obvious they were going to chase you right from the word go!
I dont mean to seem like i have no heart but i seriously disagree with the comment you made, after all its not their fault YOU let them into ur house knowing full well you couldnt afford the frames!!!!
Advice for next time - dont deal with a big company if you can't handle the hassle :D
Best of luck with the dogs operation ( hope it goes/went well)
Just had a call from a safestyle salesman. I told him we were not interested but he continued to go through his script. In the end I had to close the door and leave him on the doorstep as he just wouldn't stop talking.
A few minutes later he rang the bell again and when I opened the door I received a lot of abuse. All shouted very loudly. Four letter words, abusive gestures - the lot.
All in front of my teenage daughter.
Companies normally send their best people out to get new customers. If he is the best they have got I wouldn't give this firm any of my time or money.
Sorry about the length of this one, but if you want a true picture of Safestyle's shocking service, this really is worth reading...
I have found Safestyle's customer service (or lack thereof) to be absolutely shocking. Towards the end of last year, we were looking to do some home improvements, so when some guys were canvassing my neighbourhood asking people if they wanted a no obligation quote from Safestyle, I agreed and gave them my details so somebody could call me to make an appointment.
Later that evening, I got a phone call from someone at head office. I explained to her that I was interested but also that my dog was waiting for an operation so, financially, I could not commit to anything at that moment in time as I was not yet sure how much the peration would cost. She told me that, as it was coming up to Christmas, nothing could be done yet anyway and that the quote would be purely for illustration purposes. Reassured by this, I agreed for someone to come to my home that Saturday.
When the sales rep arrived at my home, I again explained the situation with the dog and how, because his operation could be expensive, I could not agree to anything until I knew what was happening with that. Again, he assured me that he was only there for a quote and would not expect me to agree to anything right away.
When they guy was done with the mesauring up, he gave us a quote which was sky high. He then gave me another price (about half of his first quote) which i could have the windows for if i were to sign up there and then. I again explained about my financial uncertainty in the light of my dog's impending operation. Of course, he took this as an opportunity to sell me the ridiculous finance deal. When me & my fiance still weren't taking the bait, he decided he had to go out to his car to 'make a personal phone call'. Had i known what would happen next, I would have locked him out of my house and not let him back in....
...When the rep came back in having made his imaginary phone call (my fiance was upstairs making his own phone call at the time and had a clear view of the rep sitting in his car and definitely not on the phone), he told me that he had been on the phone to his friend (at this point my fiance was still on the phone so was not in the room). His friend had apparently told him that, due to the illness my dog had, the vet would "probably put him down anyway", so I "won't need to worry about that anymore". Needless to say, I was a little bit lost for words! It didn't take long after that for me to decide I was DEFINITELY not interested in buying anything from him. When I pointed out to the rep that the girl on the phone had told me that this would me a 'no obligation' quote and that nothing could be done until after Christmas anyway, all the could say in response was, "You've got to appreciate that she has a job to do, getting me appointments".
Once the rep had left, I sent an e-mail to the customer service team complaining about this upsetting comment.
A couple of days later, I received a phone call from head office, asking how the visit went. I was a little shocked they should need to ask me that, given the e-mail I had sent, although when I asked, I was told that the e-mail had not been received (what - was it lost on the ether somewhere?!?!?!). I explained the whole upsetting situation to the guy on the phone. At no point did he apologise to me, but he did go on to say that the reason he had REALLY called was because they had received complaints previously about the rep who had been to my home and therefore wanted to check up on him (in that case, why even send him out to people's homes in the first place????) and what he would really like to do, to make it up to me, would be to send a manager out to do another quote. Obviously, I saw straight through that one, and told them in no uncertain terms that I did not want to buy windows from them. Imagine my surprise then, when shortly after Christmas I received a phone call from the same guy asking if I still wanted a manager to come out & do another quote for me. Again, I told him in no uncertain terms that I did not want anything further to do with Safestyle and that I would like to be left alone. He agreed that that would be the end of the matter.
However, a couple of weeks later I was working late when I received a phone call from my fiance telling me that there was a man from Safestyle at the from door and asking if I had forgotten that I had made an appointment!!!!!
At this point, i made a complaint to the company (by post tis time, not e-mail, and I made sure I sent it recorded delivery!!). I received a respose saying they were 'disappointed' to hear of the manner in which their reps have been acting and assuring me that they will make sure the IT department blocks the telephone lines from being able to call my number. This was about 6 months ago, and it all seemed to be sorted. But guess who I got a phone call from this afternoon............!!
The best advice I could offer anyone is this: DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH SAFESTYLE.
Having arranged an appointment to have my windows measured for a quotation I then received a phone call asking whether my partner would be available aswell. I advised not as he was at work and we required a quote only as ofcourse I am shopping around. They then decided that as they could either rearrange the appointment or cancel. I cancelled ofcourse. They just wanted to get us to sign something. Things havent changed where sales are concerned. I am still getting other quotes from people no problem.
Had one of these people round for a quote and he seemed like he was in a comedy sketch. I'm not offering you the list price, not the discounted price but..... etc. etc.
He did tell me straight up that the finance scheme was expensive. I am an accountant so he probably decided to save his breath.
He was the first quote and we wouldn't use them and then he was exceptionally rude. Started accusing us of being timewasters and implied we had done it to him before. If I had met him I wouldn't have called again.
warning to all, after having the 3 hour consultaton I came accross what would seem very misleading sales tatics, so to help others I've posted this guide to "not getting ripped off".
a) Don't take there finance, it's about as attractive as shooting yourself. The APR is above credit cards so that's got to be bad.
b) If you do take their finance option for whatever reason, do not accept the "10 year agreement" this is forced on you without you even knowning. Take a max 5yr or better still dont take it go through a bank.
c) You have the right to cancel, 14 days are standard terms.
There buy one get one three offer is simply a con.
d) You will be told that if you do take out the finance option that you cannot pay off the balance until 12 months has lapsed or you will incur high penalty charges. This is a lie, you can pay off the balance at any time without penalties. This tactic is used as the Sales person will not receive commission on the finance if the balance is paid up before 12 months has lapsed.
e) The sales reps are commission based so they will sell you your soul back if they could so be prepared to get the heavy sell. Dont give in remember these guys also get added commission on selling you that weird finance deal.
f) The product is as good as any window company, meaning you can pay £1000 or £3000 and you'll probably not tell the difference. Safestyle has no unique selling features, its just a big company with millions of hardcore sales people talking rubbish with the hope you'll give in and fall victim to GM Finance from hell.
Finally if in doubt say "I would like to get another quote before i sign your fantastic offer" then open the door and boot him out. If they contact you later by phone just say "Ive decided to give all my money to the devil, however he is looking for a good deal on some windows
After having a very pushy area manager call who was the most unprofessional person i have ever meet.I keep getting phone calls saying we are in the area. i have told them umpteen times to take me off there list i dont want your window
Free windows and doors! DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!!! We had a salesman call and talk about grinding you down, he was with us for about an hour and a half before getting shown the door. The quote we had was £7000 for 3 windows and a door but after he "had a word with the manager" dropped to £4500- WHAT A JOKE!! Safestyle then called us daily and even turned up on our doorstep hoping we'd change our minds..BULLY BOY TACTICS.
We rang a local company and got the lot plus coloured frames for £1850 and it was hassle free.
It's unbelievable that companies like Safestyle can still operate like this.
No doubt they make their money out of the weak and elderly.
ive recently had 3 windows from safestyle and had no problems at all other than not recieving my payslips and bank statments back,ive got to say they were gr8 from the start,the sales man was fine didnt out stay his welcome went through everything needed and the work was good all done in record time no mess workmen were polite and they got on,as the job is recent i cant comment on aftercare as yet but upto now they been gr8 on the phone and in my home all very polite thanx safestyle
If possible could you please replace my earlier comment with this rather long but very informative one. I don't think this includes anything that would produce a legal challenge of any sort.
This is a list of provable facts and the sales tactics used by Safestyle UK
Safestyle only sell two types of windows.
One is an internally beaded window referred to as the diamond range
and the other is an internally beaded tilt & turn window.
However a Safestyle sales presentation done the way the company instructs it to be done involves telling the prospective customer that there is an externally beaded window on offer referred to as the "best selling premium window".
You are shown an externally beaded sample window described as the best selling premium window.
Safestyle do not actually make or sell an externally beaded premium window.
The window referred to as the best selling premium window is in fact merely a sales gimic. The sample windows were specially made only for the presentations.
The prospective customer is told this externally beaded premium window is what all the offers are on.
The rep will admit a burglar could take the glass out from the outside with the externally beaded premium window. Unless glass locks are fitted at extra cost.
The cheap looking premium sample is described as made from Virgin grade 1 PVCu.
The suggestion is made by the representative that most other companies use a recycled PVCu called profile 75 that is 75% recycled plastic.
You are told profile 75 will discolour in a few years, and need painting with special PVCu paint.
Most companies in fact use PVCu that doesn't discolour and profile 75 doesn't exist.
The prospective customer is then shown a far better sample called the diamond window. This is internally beaded and is actually sold by Safestyle.
The prospective customer is told there are no discounts or offers on the diamond window.
The discounts actually do apply to the diamond window and also an internally beaded tilt and turn window produced by Safestyle. Those are the only two actually sold.
This is a method of not giving any of the advertised discount.
On a job with a list price of £10,000 Safestyle can charge the customer £10,000 instead of the advertised 55% off price of £4500 and make an extra £5,500 using his technique.
If you believe the reps story and ask to buy the externally beaded premium window.
You would get the internally beaded diamond window fitted when the fitters arrived as the externally beaded window is not sold by them.
The Safestyle contract also states “We may, without your permission, sell or transfer this contract or any money owing under it”.
If you requested Safestyle to call at your home to give you a quote.
When you pay the survey fee and sign the sales contract paperwork.
There is no cool off period.
The only exception is if you have accepted the finance package offered by Safestyle. The APR is 21%
Otherwise you will have no rights to cancel under the terms and conditions of the Safestyle agreement.
It is legal, the UK consumer laws currently allow this to be done.
Good news is the law is probably soon to be changed.
Even at 55% discount off the Safestyle list price Safestyle are still double the price of many companies.
A typical window from a local company should cost no more than £350 fitted including VAT. A door generally costs no more than £500 fitted including VAT.
Many representatives are uneasy with the company sales pitch and so what a customer is told can vary considerably.
Some reps will tell the truth if they feel like it.
Many will tell the prospective customer there is a discount on the diamond window and others will use the company sales pitch and say there are no offers on this window.
Some will say the diamond window is the rolls royce of windows.
If you have looked around you will know that the diamond window is very similar to the windows many cheaper companies fit.
There are better windows to be had elsewhere.
The reason the Safestyle window is nothing special is its made by Window Style (Sold Via Trade Style).
The factory that makes this product in Barnsley also supplies windows at trade prices to any company that will buy them.
The Safestyle UK list price is over £1,000 on most windows bigger than a toilet window. Therefore prices range from £450 upwards per window after discount. Some frames with the extras can exceed £2,000 list price, bow windows and bay windows have a list price often over £5,000.
Prices for a single door in the Safestyle brochure can exceed £2000 before discount.
The reason buy one get one free is advertised by Safestyle is if you pay £2,000 for one door you can have a free one.
That’s £1,000 each door, double the price of many others.
If you buy and don't receive 55 percent discount then the rep is paid super commission.
This means full commission plus 50 percent of what you overpaid after the VAT is taken off.
Because of the company commission structure it is in the representatives interest to not give the advertised discount.
The rep pays his own expenses and risks his time with no guarantee of a sale.
Reps don't earn as much if they actually sell the product at a competitive price.
This is because any more than 55 percent discount and the commission starts to drop considerably.
To be competitive with many local companies the price would need to be around 75 percent of the Safestyle list price.
At this discount the rep is only paid £25 for making the sale.
The rep earns nothing for doing a quote with no sale because its commission only.
The company policy won't let the same rep return on another occasion.
This is a method of putting pressure on the rep to get the sale on the day.
The company instructs the rep to stay in your house for at least three hours to do the presentation and close the sale properly.
However it is not uncommon for a rep to stay in a prospective customers property for six hours or more whilst constantly trying to get your business on the day.
No matter what offers you are made to sign up for windows on the day of the quote.
Don’t do it. It is wise to always get three quotes and never decide on the day.
Safestyle will always phone you within a couple of days after the quote and offer to do it at whatever lowest price was offered on the day .
Sometimes an even lower price will be offered on the phone by a telephone canvasser often posing as one of the managers.
The price will not be honoured if the rep sent out to collect the order decides he wants more money from you.
Don't be fooled by another telephone call from the elite canvassers at head office.
They will often also tell you that they are one of the managers.
Whatever price you tell the telephone canvasser you were offered on the day they will always say it sounds way too expensive.
If they can get another rep in your house they get paid £10 for making the appointment.
They will offer to send out a local manager to recheck the price and give you an extra discount for your trouble.
They will tell you there will be no pressure as the manager is on a basic.
In fact they simply send out another more experienced rep to try and persuade you.
Usually the first rep would have already made the best offer for your business.
The new rep will have to tell you that the earlier one wasn't overcharging after all.
Sometimes the second rep will say the earlier rep didn't ask you for enough.
The second rep is now in your house and obliged to try and sell you the windows as he has spent his time and money on coming to see you.
Now the sales pressure begins again.
Don't believe that photos on the internet, boards outside or fit gap installations will mean you are getting a good deal from Safestyle.
There are several levels of management, canvassers and sales people as well as the TV adverts and often huge profit margins built into any price Safestyle UK can offer.
Safestyle UK cannot do your windows at trade prices.
Tradestyle deal directly with the trade, Safestyle deal only with consumers.
Any offers to drop the price simply mean you were not already given the bottom price.There are many sales ploys used to try and get your business on the day.
Anyone can work at SafeStyle UK because no checks are made, for most jobs you don’t even need a CV.
This is because all the reps and canvassers are self employed and paid on commission only.
Because of this they can get away with telling you anything without the full responsibility going to Safestyle.
If you are tempted toward SafeStyle because of the advertised interest free or buy now pay later you will find they are not what they seem.
No reps carry paperwork for interest free or buy now pay later agreements.
You will be offered a promotional cheque to supposedly cover a period of interest or alternatively a cheque to cover the first few payments.
This promotional cheque actually comes from the 20 plus percent in commission Safestyle will receive from the loan company for signing you up to a ten years flexible repayment loan.
The loan rate is currently 21 percent APR.
Often you will find Safestyle dearer than anybody else in the market.
If for some reason you are still tempted to use Safestyle after reading this please read a few more of the comments by the others first.
Find out how customers get treated and what sort of workmanship you could get.
There are some pictures of work done by Safestyle and some stories on a site I just visited.
Take a look at www.shamble-style.co.uk and do some more research
maaan talk about heavy sales tactics, the sales guy came knocking and i'm always intrested in home improvment costs for properties. he started at several K and after some haggling came down to 2.5k, then tried his level best to get me to sign up, used blags like this is a one time offer, i can call my boss right to get started on the paperwork,a nd then actually called and started to place an order! i let him continue until he asked for my payment details, at whoch point i told i don't want to buy just yet, then he had confirmation that if i do buy the price will be 1.5k, i wish i had windows to replace at the time because 1.5k was a steal. alas i had to show him out. if you want to get a great price then go along for the ride until the end, but they are awfully forcefull in thier sales actics.
I needed a new porch door and agreed to a quote from safestyle. The initial quote was £2800. It took over an hour to convince the saleman that I wasn't signing anything as I wanted other quotes.
One company quoted £1300 for exactly the same door. When safestyle rang back, I mentioned this to them, and the guy said he would come out & measure up himself. He quoted £1350. I told him I would think about it as I was concerned that the original quote was £2800.
The next night, the area manager rang me and asked if I was having the door. I told him that I would be using the other company. He told me to f*** off and hung up!
About a month later, I started getting a call every other night asking if I wanted windows. After a couple of weeks, I mentioned to the caller that they had called me every two days for a fortnight. He replied 'I ain't bovvered' and hung up. At that point, I complained to head office.
I received a letter from head office stating that they have no control over regional offices! What is a head office for??
The calls stopped for about 6 months, but they have started up again now :(
We used Safestyle UK for a large order of windows and doors including 4 french doors. The windows and doors were OK but the fitting was terrible. And OH MY GOD! The aftersales service was the worst and the rudest. One day I called up to ask for some repairs to our new windows and doors and they told me to ring on the morning of the appointment and then they could call the engineer on his mobile and find out where on the list I was so that I didn't have to wait in all day. Well... on the day I phoned up and a very rude young girl said that she couldn't possibly ring the engineer. I told her what had been said to me and she said "too bad" and hung up. I tried ringing back but everyone kept putting me through to her again and she kept hanging up. I eventually rang my husband at work and he called her and then a few minutes later she rang me back and said that the engineer would be there in 2 hours then she swore at me and hung up. I rang back to complain about her but they just kept putting me back through to her and she kept hanging up. Then she rang me and said that if I tried to complain about her once more she would cancel the engineers appointment so I was to "p**iss off". I didn't call back again but over the next few weeks she kept calling me and saying the most vile things. It was really awful what she was doing. She sounded very young, probably only 16 years old. Eventually I wrote a letter of complaint and they wrote back and said that I was lying, that the girl had never done those things and that she had complained about me being rude to her. I have never been treated so badly before in all my life and would warn anyone to stay well away from Safestyle UK. They are just money grabbers and aren't interested in their products or their customers.
Please, have nothing to do with this bunch of abusive thugs! Read this and make your own mind up. My mother is a pensioner living alone. She wanted double glazing to replace her very old windows. Safestyle UK turned up purely by chance a few days later, and I met the salesman with my mum. She was very specific about what windows she wanted, including a 50/50 split for the bathroom. It was agreed that 7 large windows would be fitted for what we thought was a very good price. A surveyor attended while I was away on holiday and apparently barely spoke to my mum. The survey was not explained but he refered to the original form filled out by the salesman and asked her to sign the survey form. The fitters arrived as planned and were excellent. They worked hard and were very courteous to mum. I attended to make sure it was going ok. However two windows were completely wrong. The surveyor had replaced a frosted glass with clear and the 50/50 split was a normal large window with a small window at the top, which meant mum would have to stand on the bath to open it. Their suggestion was to put the small window at the bottom! We refered to the original sales form and were told to pay £100 off the original price, and they'd sort the problem. We thought this was a goodwill gesture for the fact they'd got the order so wrong. They told mum they'd be back a few days later, giving a specific time and date, and mum gave them a cheque for the work, less £100. They phoned at 5pm on the day they were due, to say their van had broken down!! but they'd be there the day after. On replacing the wrong glass in the kitchen and the wrong frame and glass in the bathroom, the fitter asked for the £100 balance. When mum questioned this and said she didn't understand why she she should pay, the regional manager Neil Bucknall told her if she didn't pay, they'd take the new window out and put back the old one. She phoned me in tears. I called Mr Bucknall and explained we thought there was nothing outstanding. He was rude and abusive and told me that unless mum paid the £100 they would take her to court and make sure she'd be given a bad credit rating. He wouldn't let me speak, was continually abusive and so foolishly I thought I'd try Head Office. There I spoke to Phil O'Malley. I was polite and explained what the problem was. He told me I was a fool, asked what planet I was on, and that I was trying to have him over.Apparently the £100 was 'held back' until they'd completed the work. He was obnoxious, rude, arrogant, aggresive and abusive, quite simply the worst customer services manager you could ever imagine. Both Bucknall and O'Malley were immediately on the offensive. O'Malley also threatened to take mum to Court, to put the original window back in, that we'd have no 10yr warranty and that there was no point writing to complain as he would deal with the letter himself. I asked for a compromise, at which he said he'd offer a complimentary cleaning kit!! I asked him to apologise to mum and I'd discuss it with her. I quickly got on the phone to mum, told her to await the apology and that I'd be inclined to refuse to pay, as the liklihood is this firm wouldn't be in business in 10 yrs anyway but that it was her decision. O'Malley phoned and apologised but demanded the money, at which mum told him she wasn't paying and that he'd have to take her to court! Go Mum!! We're now awaiting the abusive and threatening letters. Please do your research and make your own mind up. The management are rotton to the core, from the top down. Please take my advice, avoid this firm like the plague!!
I had 7 windows and French doors fitted by safestyle in Feb 2005. The first problem was on the fitting day - a ghost hinge on a window. In fairness an engineer arrived the next day to fix it. I had also noticed that there was a sticky mark on the inside of the door window unit so had to wait 2 weeks for the replacement to be fitted. A week after this was done the door dropped about 1/4 inch. Had to wait 5 WEEKS before they fixed it. When I pointed out the security element of this I was told not to be silly, if the door locked then what was the problem waiting 5 weeks, needless to say I slept soundly every night knowing that.... The fitter that fixed it was amazed at how the previous engineer had fitted the glass. The side of the door frame hasn't been filled properly and now has a massive gap. The 'customer service' agents are a joke. They speak to you like dirt and more or less tell you that you can like it or lump it. My advice - if you choose safestyle watch the fitters like a hawk and don't hand over a penny or sign anything until you are completely happy. My fitters spent the day making jokes and mimicking my families Irish accents and then got a cob on when the head office rang me to check everything was OK before the fitters left and I mentioned the broken hinge. Also got the hump when I said that I didn't want to sign off the job and pay the deposit until the hinge was fixed. One follow on engineer told me that the local depot deal with issues for the first month but after that you go on the national database and are left waiting for weeks to get problems sorted. Be very wary - the product seems fine but the old saying of you get what you pay for is true. Only go with Safestyle if you want to save a few grand (they were over 3500 pound cheaper that other quotes) and can cope with the hassle of getting things right in the first few months.
What can I say, full house, windows and doors. Product ok, fitting abismal. You name it they did'nt do it. Not paid them one penny after seven years. My advice?
Look anywhere but here.
To the guy who is having trouble with safestyle, they are affiliated with FENSA, please contact or apply in writting to Graham Hinet, he is the chairman of FENSA and although couldn't directly help with our COLDSEAL COMPLAINT he will get results for FENSA registered companies. I have his mobile number but cannot remember it off- hand. All I did to get a response was to write a letter to the chair of G.G.F, B.B.A,watchdog etc. and then it got passed on - you can find all there details on the respectivce websites, very easy - mark your letter with the words FIT FOR PURPOSE - i.e - you cannot use the goods or service you have paid for. Hope this helps
Safestyle attempted to install a back door into our home in June 04. After several complaints that the door had dropped and two return visits to rehang the door, Safestyle have now not bothered to turn up for the last three appointments (for which I had to book holiday from work). 6 months on I have a door that does not open or close (and has not for months), has a 1-inch gap between the frame and walls and the same again between the door and frame. Rain floods in and my heating floods out. Their customer services agent advised to me to plug the gaps with plastic bags...
All the plaster has been pulled off the walls and the carpets ruined. Safestyle have caused us nothing but stress and expense. If anyone can advise me of a good solicitor or consumer help group I would be extremely grateful, we are at our wits end and do not know where to turn next - Fensa and the GGF have ignored our complaints.
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Comments:
I am out of double-glazing now and there is only 1 large company I would recommend from all the firms I worked for. Or use a small family firm in your area with 1 or 2 fitting teams.
Rules for buying double-glazing
1 Find out what is the best profile to use, all should be reinforced with ali or galvanised steel. Euro cell is about as good as you need
2 Make sure its internal beaded (glass is put in from the inside)
3 The locking system should be shoot bolts on all windows now and the doors have claw locks 2 is about right
4 All double glazing should last 20-30 years the glass units 15 years with or without a guarantee if fitted properly
5 A guarantee will only last as long as a firm is still in business so a guarantee is about use less, most small firms will come out if there is a problem with the frames handles or glass, because its their reputation on the line.
6 Double-glazing is all down to manufacture and fitting. Get this right and there should be no problems
7 There are no hidden areas within double-glazing. Plastic, Glass, Fitting and price that’s all you need to know get this right and you will have no problems.
8 Don’t be forced into buying windows, you do not need a rep in you house for 4 hours trying to get the money for their next holiday or car. They will try to tie you in to a 120month finance that’s 10 years and if you spend about £5000
This would include 2 bays 1 box window and a door with side panels and a panel of choice in the door, at the end of the 10 years you could end up paying £12000 back.
The truth is out there! at 23rd Aug 2008, 11:13AM
we were that unsure that this bloke was actually working for safestle that we phoned the company and checked as we could not believe someone that unprofessional was actually linked with a company as well known as safestyle but all we got off head office was 'yeh there our reps but we dont have any control over the regional branches how pathetic of a company.
PLEASE I WOULD ADVISE NO-ONE TO LET A SAFESTYLE REP OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE COMPANY INTO YOUR HOMES THEY ARE WORSE THAN COWBOYS THEY ARE ARROGANT RUDE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN !!!!!!!!!
Spend your money on anyone but these people.
If this is how they treat their potential employees then be warned, is this a company that you really wish to deal with.
The products look good. The training lasts a week. After the training comes nothing. Reading the forum the same seems so for the after sales service.
So for me it is a bad company. No money was paid to us as was promised despite recorded delivery letters being sent.
I would never go near this company ever again
All the frames were measured accurately and trimmed correctly on the inside and sealed correctly on the outside! Trickle vents and fire escape hinges were installed as agreed.
I also decided to change the french doors at that back (as i was having a conservatory planned at the time) and safestlye removed the order of the doors at little less than 2 weeks before they were installed. I can see where SOME of the people on this forum are coming from but even i have to say that that is great customer service!
The woman below me, whilst it may be very upsetting about the rep and safestlye's comments/actions, I cannot understand that if you knew you wouldn't be able to afford the frames, then why ever let them into your house in the first place. Safestyle is a big company and its obvious they were going to chase you right from the word go!
I dont mean to seem like i have no heart but i seriously disagree with the comment you made, after all its not their fault YOU let them into ur house knowing full well you couldnt afford the frames!!!!
Advice for next time - dont deal with a big company if you can't handle the hassle :D
Best of luck with the dogs operation ( hope it goes/went well)
A few minutes later he rang the bell again and when I opened the door I received a lot of abuse. All shouted very loudly. Four letter words, abusive gestures - the lot.
All in front of my teenage daughter.
Companies normally send their best people out to get new customers. If he is the best they have got I wouldn't give this firm any of my time or money.
I have found Safestyle's customer service (or lack thereof) to be absolutely shocking. Towards the end of last year, we were looking to do some home improvements, so when some guys were canvassing my neighbourhood asking people if they wanted a no obligation quote from Safestyle, I agreed and gave them my details so somebody could call me to make an appointment.
Later that evening, I got a phone call from someone at head office. I explained to her that I was interested but also that my dog was waiting for an operation so, financially, I could not commit to anything at that moment in time as I was not yet sure how much the peration would cost. She told me that, as it was coming up to Christmas, nothing could be done yet anyway and that the quote would be purely for illustration purposes. Reassured by this, I agreed for someone to come to my home that Saturday.
When the sales rep arrived at my home, I again explained the situation with the dog and how, because his operation could be expensive, I could not agree to anything until I knew what was happening with that. Again, he assured me that he was only there for a quote and would not expect me to agree to anything right away.
When they guy was done with the mesauring up, he gave us a quote which was sky high. He then gave me another price (about half of his first quote) which i could have the windows for if i were to sign up there and then. I again explained about my financial uncertainty in the light of my dog's impending operation. Of course, he took this as an opportunity to sell me the ridiculous finance deal. When me & my fiance still weren't taking the bait, he decided he had to go out to his car to 'make a personal phone call'. Had i known what would happen next, I would have locked him out of my house and not let him back in....
...When the rep came back in having made his imaginary phone call (my fiance was upstairs making his own phone call at the time and had a clear view of the rep sitting in his car and definitely not on the phone), he told me that he had been on the phone to his friend (at this point my fiance was still on the phone so was not in the room). His friend had apparently told him that, due to the illness my dog had, the vet would "probably put him down anyway", so I "won't need to worry about that anymore". Needless to say, I was a little bit lost for words! It didn't take long after that for me to decide I was DEFINITELY not interested in buying anything from him. When I pointed out to the rep that the girl on the phone had told me that this would me a 'no obligation' quote and that nothing could be done until after Christmas anyway, all the could say in response was, "You've got to appreciate that she has a job to do, getting me appointments".
Once the rep had left, I sent an e-mail to the customer service team complaining about this upsetting comment.
A couple of days later, I received a phone call from head office, asking how the visit went. I was a little shocked they should need to ask me that, given the e-mail I had sent, although when I asked, I was told that the e-mail had not been received (what - was it lost on the ether somewhere?!?!?!). I explained the whole upsetting situation to the guy on the phone. At no point did he apologise to me, but he did go on to say that the reason he had REALLY called was because they had received complaints previously about the rep who had been to my home and therefore wanted to check up on him (in that case, why even send him out to people's homes in the first place????) and what he would really like to do, to make it up to me, would be to send a manager out to do another quote. Obviously, I saw straight through that one, and told them in no uncertain terms that I did not want to buy windows from them. Imagine my surprise then, when shortly after Christmas I received a phone call from the same guy asking if I still wanted a manager to come out & do another quote for me. Again, I told him in no uncertain terms that I did not want anything further to do with Safestyle and that I would like to be left alone. He agreed that that would be the end of the matter.
However, a couple of weeks later I was working late when I received a phone call from my fiance telling me that there was a man from Safestyle at the from door and asking if I had forgotten that I had made an appointment!!!!!
At this point, i made a complaint to the company (by post tis time, not e-mail, and I made sure I sent it recorded delivery!!). I received a respose saying they were 'disappointed' to hear of the manner in which their reps have been acting and assuring me that they will make sure the IT department blocks the telephone lines from being able to call my number. This was about 6 months ago, and it all seemed to be sorted. But guess who I got a phone call from this afternoon............!!
The best advice I could offer anyone is this: DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH SAFESTYLE.
He did tell me straight up that the finance scheme was expensive. I am an accountant so he probably decided to save his breath.
He was the first quote and we wouldn't use them and then he was exceptionally rude. Started accusing us of being timewasters and implied we had done it to him before. If I had met him I wouldn't have called again.
normallynotannoyed at 29th Mar 2007, 09:36PM
a) Don't take there finance, it's about as attractive as shooting yourself. The APR is above credit cards so that's got to be bad.
b) If you do take their finance option for whatever reason, do not accept the "10 year agreement" this is forced on you without you even knowning. Take a max 5yr or better still dont take it go through a bank.
c) You have the right to cancel, 14 days are standard terms.
There buy one get one three offer is simply a con.
d) You will be told that if you do take out the finance option that you cannot pay off the balance until 12 months has lapsed or you will incur high penalty charges. This is a lie, you can pay off the balance at any time without penalties. This tactic is used as the Sales person will not receive commission on the finance if the balance is paid up before 12 months has lapsed.
e) The sales reps are commission based so they will sell you your soul back if they could so be prepared to get the heavy sell. Dont give in remember these guys also get added commission on selling you that weird finance deal.
f) The product is as good as any window company, meaning you can pay £1000 or £3000 and you'll probably not tell the difference. Safestyle has no unique selling features, its just a big company with millions of hardcore sales people talking rubbish with the hope you'll give in and fall victim to GM Finance from hell.
Finally if in doubt say "I would like to get another quote before i sign your fantastic offer" then open the door and boot him out. If they contact you later by phone just say "Ive decided to give all my money to the devil, however he is looking for a good deal on some windows
We rang a local company and got the lot plus coloured frames for £1850 and it was hassle free.
It's unbelievable that companies like Safestyle can still operate like this.
No doubt they make their money out of the weak and elderly.
This is a list of provable facts and the sales tactics used by Safestyle UK
Safestyle only sell two types of windows.
One is an internally beaded window referred to as the diamond range
and the other is an internally beaded tilt & turn window.
However a Safestyle sales presentation done the way the company instructs it to be done involves telling the prospective customer that there is an externally beaded window on offer referred to as the "best selling premium window".
You are shown an externally beaded sample window described as the best selling premium window.
Safestyle do not actually make or sell an externally beaded premium window.
The window referred to as the best selling premium window is in fact merely a sales gimic. The sample windows were specially made only for the presentations.
The prospective customer is told this externally beaded premium window is what all the offers are on.
The rep will admit a burglar could take the glass out from the outside with the externally beaded premium window. Unless glass locks are fitted at extra cost.
The cheap looking premium sample is described as made from Virgin grade 1 PVCu.
The suggestion is made by the representative that most other companies use a recycled PVCu called profile 75 that is 75% recycled plastic.
You are told profile 75 will discolour in a few years, and need painting with special PVCu paint.
Most companies in fact use PVCu that doesn't discolour and profile 75 doesn't exist.
The prospective customer is then shown a far better sample called the diamond window. This is internally beaded and is actually sold by Safestyle.
The prospective customer is told there are no discounts or offers on the diamond window.
The discounts actually do apply to the diamond window and also an internally beaded tilt and turn window produced by Safestyle. Those are the only two actually sold.
This is a method of not giving any of the advertised discount.
On a job with a list price of £10,000 Safestyle can charge the customer £10,000 instead of the advertised 55% off price of £4500 and make an extra £5,500 using his technique.
If you believe the reps story and ask to buy the externally beaded premium window.
You would get the internally beaded diamond window fitted when the fitters arrived as the externally beaded window is not sold by them.
The Safestyle contract also states “We may, without your permission, sell or transfer this contract or any money owing under it”.
If you requested Safestyle to call at your home to give you a quote.
When you pay the survey fee and sign the sales contract paperwork.
There is no cool off period.
The only exception is if you have accepted the finance package offered by Safestyle. The APR is 21%
Otherwise you will have no rights to cancel under the terms and conditions of the Safestyle agreement.
It is legal, the UK consumer laws currently allow this to be done.
Good news is the law is probably soon to be changed.
Even at 55% discount off the Safestyle list price Safestyle are still double the price of many companies.
A typical window from a local company should cost no more than £350 fitted including VAT. A door generally costs no more than £500 fitted including VAT.
Many representatives are uneasy with the company sales pitch and so what a customer is told can vary considerably.
Some reps will tell the truth if they feel like it.
Many will tell the prospective customer there is a discount on the diamond window and others will use the company sales pitch and say there are no offers on this window.
Some will say the diamond window is the rolls royce of windows.
If you have looked around you will know that the diamond window is very similar to the windows many cheaper companies fit.
There are better windows to be had elsewhere.
The reason the Safestyle window is nothing special is its made by Window Style (Sold Via Trade Style).
The factory that makes this product in Barnsley also supplies windows at trade prices to any company that will buy them.
The Safestyle UK list price is over £1,000 on most windows bigger than a toilet window. Therefore prices range from £450 upwards per window after discount. Some frames with the extras can exceed £2,000 list price, bow windows and bay windows have a list price often over £5,000.
Prices for a single door in the Safestyle brochure can exceed £2000 before discount.
The reason buy one get one free is advertised by Safestyle is if you pay £2,000 for one door you can have a free one.
That’s £1,000 each door, double the price of many others.
If you buy and don't receive 55 percent discount then the rep is paid super commission.
This means full commission plus 50 percent of what you overpaid after the VAT is taken off.
Because of the company commission structure it is in the representatives interest to not give the advertised discount.
The rep pays his own expenses and risks his time with no guarantee of a sale.
Reps don't earn as much if they actually sell the product at a competitive price.
This is because any more than 55 percent discount and the commission starts to drop considerably.
To be competitive with many local companies the price would need to be around 75 percent of the Safestyle list price.
At this discount the rep is only paid £25 for making the sale.
The rep earns nothing for doing a quote with no sale because its commission only.
The company policy won't let the same rep return on another occasion.
This is a method of putting pressure on the rep to get the sale on the day.
The company instructs the rep to stay in your house for at least three hours to do the presentation and close the sale properly.
However it is not uncommon for a rep to stay in a prospective customers property for six hours or more whilst constantly trying to get your business on the day.
No matter what offers you are made to sign up for windows on the day of the quote.
Don’t do it. It is wise to always get three quotes and never decide on the day.
Safestyle will always phone you within a couple of days after the quote and offer to do it at whatever lowest price was offered on the day .
Sometimes an even lower price will be offered on the phone by a telephone canvasser often posing as one of the managers.
The price will not be honoured if the rep sent out to collect the order decides he wants more money from you.
Don't be fooled by another telephone call from the elite canvassers at head office.
They will often also tell you that they are one of the managers.
Whatever price you tell the telephone canvasser you were offered on the day they will always say it sounds way too expensive.
If they can get another rep in your house they get paid £10 for making the appointment.
They will offer to send out a local manager to recheck the price and give you an extra discount for your trouble.
They will tell you there will be no pressure as the manager is on a basic.
In fact they simply send out another more experienced rep to try and persuade you.
Usually the first rep would have already made the best offer for your business.
The new rep will have to tell you that the earlier one wasn't overcharging after all.
Sometimes the second rep will say the earlier rep didn't ask you for enough.
The second rep is now in your house and obliged to try and sell you the windows as he has spent his time and money on coming to see you.
Now the sales pressure begins again.
Don't believe that photos on the internet, boards outside or fit gap installations will mean you are getting a good deal from Safestyle.
There are several levels of management, canvassers and sales people as well as the TV adverts and often huge profit margins built into any price Safestyle UK can offer.
Safestyle UK cannot do your windows at trade prices.
Tradestyle deal directly with the trade, Safestyle deal only with consumers.
Any offers to drop the price simply mean you were not already given the bottom price.There are many sales ploys used to try and get your business on the day.
Anyone can work at SafeStyle UK because no checks are made, for most jobs you don’t even need a CV.
This is because all the reps and canvassers are self employed and paid on commission only.
Because of this they can get away with telling you anything without the full responsibility going to Safestyle.
If you are tempted toward SafeStyle because of the advertised interest free or buy now pay later you will find they are not what they seem.
No reps carry paperwork for interest free or buy now pay later agreements.
You will be offered a promotional cheque to supposedly cover a period of interest or alternatively a cheque to cover the first few payments.
This promotional cheque actually comes from the 20 plus percent in commission Safestyle will receive from the loan company for signing you up to a ten years flexible repayment loan.
The loan rate is currently 21 percent APR.
Often you will find Safestyle dearer than anybody else in the market.
If for some reason you are still tempted to use Safestyle after reading this please read a few more of the comments by the others first.
Find out how customers get treated and what sort of workmanship you could get.
There are some pictures of work done by Safestyle and some stories on a site I just visited.
Take a look at www.shamble-style.co.uk and do some more research
For the above facts I have documentary evidence.
One company quoted £1300 for exactly the same door. When safestyle rang back, I mentioned this to them, and the guy said he would come out & measure up himself. He quoted £1350. I told him I would think about it as I was concerned that the original quote was £2800.
The next night, the area manager rang me and asked if I was having the door. I told him that I would be using the other company. He told me to f*** off and hung up!
About a month later, I started getting a call every other night asking if I wanted windows. After a couple of weeks, I mentioned to the caller that they had called me every two days for a fortnight. He replied 'I ain't bovvered' and hung up. At that point, I complained to head office.
I received a letter from head office stating that they have no control over regional offices! What is a head office for??
The calls stopped for about 6 months, but they have started up again now :(
Look anywhere but here.
To the guy who is having trouble with safestyle, they are affiliated with FENSA, please contact or apply in writting to Graham Hinet, he is the chairman of FENSA and although couldn't directly help with our COLDSEAL COMPLAINT he will get results for FENSA registered companies. I have his mobile number but cannot remember it off- hand. All I did to get a response was to write a letter to the chair of G.G.F, B.B.A,watchdog etc. and then it got passed on - you can find all there details on the respectivce websites, very easy - mark your letter with the words FIT FOR PURPOSE - i.e - you cannot use the goods or service you have paid for. Hope this helps
ant at 8th Dec 2004, 01:04PM
All the plaster has been pulled off the walls and the carpets ruined. Safestyle have caused us nothing but stress and expense. If anyone can advise me of a good solicitor or consumer help group I would be extremely grateful, we are at our wits end and do not know where to turn next - Fensa and the GGF have ignored our complaints.
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