FENSA (the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme) was established by the window and double glazing industry to help protect homeowners from rogue companies. It checks that window companies in England and Wales meet certain standards and guidelines, guaranteeing a quality product that will last for many years.
This is very useful for people who want new windows but do not know how to check for quality. According to FENSA, using a registered company can help you to save time and money; for example, you will not have to register your doors and windows with your local authority yourself.
How to ensure a double-glazing company Is trustworthy
One of the easiest ways to check that a double-glazing company is trustworthy is to see whether it is registered with FENSA. FENSA has issued over nine million door and window homeowner certificates and is recognised as the leader in the double-glazing industry.
Companies do not necessary need to be approved by FENSA to be popular and effective, of course, as they may already have a large customer base through word of mouth. If you are looking for double glazing in Dublin, for example, check out companies such as http://keanewindows.ie/. Some companies that are not FENSA approved have been in operation for many years and have excellent reviews.
The main concern is new companies that claim to be FENSA approved when they are actually inexperienced and are likely to do a poor job; in fact, it is a criminal offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and Trade Marks Act 1994 to fraudulently claim to be registered. This is because it will influence customers to use their business and it is likely that they will be unhappy with the results due to false advertising.
Companies that have been prosecuted for false advertising
Let’s look at two examples of companies that have been prosecuted in 2016 for falsely advertising as a FENSA-registered business. In March 2016, Highgrove Widows was prosecuted for eight counts of fraud with regard to its services. The director was sentenced to two years’ custodial sentence, suspended for two years. In January, Summit Roofguard Ltd was prosecuted for 64 criminal offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The directors were sentenced to jail terms of two and a half years each.