Brian Kennedy's Weatherseal company - Office of Fair Trading condemns its selling practices

by **Tony Bennett** 09.05.14 7:54

The Mirror

Double glazing firm Weatherseal Home Improvements [owned by Brian Kennedy, Head of the McCann Team's Private Investigators, the man who appointed Kevin Halligen to 'look for Madeleine'] agrees to change its sale practices: A double glazing firm linked to dodgy sales practices, who'd have thought it?

Nationwide outfit Weatherseal Home Improvements found itself the subject of an investigation by watchdogs after customers complained about lengthy high pressure sales pitches and reps who didn’t explain terms and conditions. The Office of Fair Trading also had concerns about how the reps were being trained to comply with consumer law, and about the way complaints were handled. Now Weatherseal has agreed to change its practices, promising to make follow-up calls to customers to confirm that they understand what the deal involves. The firm, which co-operated with the OFT probe, will also ensure that customers are given details of cancellation rights.

The company is owned by HI Sales Limited, whose chairman is tycoon Brian Kennedy, owner of the Sales Sharks rugby union team.

In 2007 I told how his notorious double glazing outfit St Helens Glass went bust owing £5.5million. OFT director Nisha Arora said: “Energy efficiency products such as double glazing can offer major benefits to consumers through lower energy bills and warmer homes, but it is important that people are able to make informed purchases with confidence.”

Get in touch: Penman Investigates, Daily Mirror, One Canada Square, London E14 5AP or email [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Feb 06, 2014
Opinion - by AndrewPenman

Mirror consumer champion Andrew Penman says

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Tycoon: Sale Sharks chairman Brian Kennedy

[acknowledgement to tasprin, who found this article]

by Mirage 09.05.14 8:06

.It sounds as if folk needed shielding from more than the weather!

by **Tony Bennett** 09.05.14 8:11

Mirage wrote:It sounds as if folk needed shielding from more than the weather!

A man with a track record for unfair business practices becomes head of the world-wide McCann Team private investigation to find Madeleine. Hmmm...

++++++++++++++++++++++

OFT report here:

Press releases 2014 -

Weatherseal agrees to improve business practices

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

07/14 31 January 2014

Following an OFT investigation, national double glazing company Weatherseal Home Improvements Limited (Weatherseal) has agreed to make changes to its business practices when selling energy efficiency and home improvement products.

The investigation stemmed from a wider OFT consumer protection review of the energy efficiency sector, following which the OFT is working with local Trading Standards Services and other partners to drive better practices by companies.

The OFT raised concerns with Weatherseal about the conduct of some of its self-employed sales agents when selling to people in their home. For instance, some consumers complained that they felt pressured to make a purchase and that the terms of credit used to purchase products were not always clearly explained. The OFT also had concerns about the training provided to sales agents to ensure that they complied with consumer law and about the handling of customer complaints and enquiries.

Weatherseal cooperated fully with the OFT's investigation. Whilst the company said that it had already made changes to how it conducted its business and that it believed its practices complied with the law, following consultation it has given assurances about its future conduct, in particular that it will:

improve the training given to its agents concerning sales techniques and regulatory compliance
ensure that customers are clearly informed of the terms of any credit agreement they enter into
provide customers with accurate information about their cancellation rights
make a follow-up call to each customer who has placed an order to confirm that they have been left with copies of documents, understand what they are agreeing to, and that they still wish to proceed
ensure that complaints and enquiries are dealt with in a timely, reasonable and professional manner.

The OFT has also received similar assurances from Window Care Limited, a company that provides training, compliance and customer service functions on behalf of Weatherseal.

The OFT was assisted in its investigation by a number of Trading Standards Services including Trading Standards Scotland and Cheshire West and Chester Trading Standards Service.

Nisha Arora, Senior Director of the OFT's Services, Infrastructure and Public Markets Group, said:

'We welcome the changes made by Weatherseal and Window Care to address our concerns. Energy efficiency products such as double glazing can offer major benefits to consumers through lower energy bills and warmer homes, but it is important that people are able to make informed purchases with confidence. Businesses need to make sure anyone acting on their behalf or in their name, including self-employed sales agents or contractors, are properly trained and comply with the law.

'This action is part of a wider drive by the OFT and its partners to raise standards across the energy efficiency sector so that instances of poor sales practices do not undermine consumer confidence and the growth of this sector.'

NOTES

Weatherseal Home Improvements Limited advertises itself as 'one of the UK's leading home improvement companies'. It sells a range of energy efficiency and home improvement products including double glazed windows, doors and conservatories.
See the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] for this investigation, including copies of the assurances given by Weatherseal Home Improvements Limited and Window Care Limited.
The assurances were voluntarily given by each party following consultation under Part 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002, without any admission of any breach of consumer protection law. The assurances provided relate to alleged breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer's Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008.
The OFT's investigation forms part of a wider programme of work into the domestic Energy Efficiency sector, announced in its 2012/13 Annual Plan. This included a [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] of the sector published in January 2013, which found instances of poor practice towards consumers such as the use of high pressure sales techniques, unclear information about paperwork and cancellation rights, and poor quality installations. This led to the OFT: sending [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to over 50 of the leading installers of double glazing, insulation and solar panels, asking them to ensure that they were providing consistently good standards to consumers; publishing [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] for businesses in the sector; and [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] purchasing energy efficiency products. The OFT has been working with fellow enforcers, regulators, government, industry and consumer groups to promote a consistent level of good business practice.
The OFT currently has 16 [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] open.
In April 2014, the Competition and Markets Authority (the CMA) will become the UK's lead competition and consumer body. The CMA will bring together the existing competition and certain consumer protection functions of the Office of Fair Trading and the responsibilities of the Competition Commission, as amended by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. The CMA, which is a non-Ministerial government department, was established on 1 October 2013 but will not be taking on responsibility for cases or other work until 1 April. See the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] for more information.

by **Tony Bennett** 09.05.14 8:17

A highly dissatisfied Weatherseal customer - 14 March 2012:

QUOTE

We had a salesman come to the house to give us a quote. After 2 hours and lots of tea we agreed a price. We gave a small deposit but heard nothing about the job for 3 months. After hours of calling to find out when the job was to be done, they said that they had underquoted us after the survey had been carried out and this was in the terms and conditions. The same sales man came out again to give us a new price. We agreed and gave them a larger deposit. 3 nonths of phone calls, false promises and rude customer service from Dawn Maddocks in Stockport we were told that the job had been cancelled. We are livid, the company director Tony Rileym the director Steve Dixon and Stockport Branch Manager Paul Fearon were not prepared to take our calls. DO NOT TOUCH THIS COMPANY WITH A BARGE POLE!!!!!!

UNQUOTE

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And another Weatherseal customer gets an answer:

Weatherseal the window company came to my home yesterday

Resolved Question:

Wetherseal the window company came to my home yesterday at their request to give me a quote on replacing windows and a front door. Their rep. indicated that I could get a good discount by becoming part of their Feature Home promotion which meant I had to agree to an immediate survey, immediate installation, marketing photos and display advert board. With a down payment of £200 and £4200 after 18 months I signed up to the deal. This morning after serious thought I realised that I had made a foolish mistake as it was placing an unwanted burden on my financial situation. I rang their head office and asked to cancel the agreement and they said that would be okay, however I received a call later today from their commercial manager who very rudely stated I could not cancel as I had agreed to the promotion price and if I protested they would take me to court and demand I pay the full retail price of £7436. Can you please advise what my rights are in this situation. David Kamen

Submitted: 4 years ago.
Category: UK Law

Expert: Senior Partner replied 4 years ago.

You are entitled to cancel under the consumer protection legislation which provides that you have a cancellation right if you sing a contract at home. they are obliged to give you notice of this right as well.

You should send a letter preferably by recorded delivery saying that you exercise your right under The Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008 to cancel the contract and require full refund. If you paid by credit card send a copy also to the credit card company.

You must do this within 7 days if they have notified you of your cancellation right but it does not matter if the notice has not been received as long as it is posted

Senior Partner, Solicitor
Category: UK Law
Satisfied Customers: 13222
Experience: 30 years experience in business law and related topics such as employment law
Senior Partner and 5 other UK Law Specialists are ready to help you

by plebgate 09.05.14 9:43

Thanks for OP (Tasprin and TB).

I would like to know why a huge fine was not imposed on this firm?

Don't use twitter, but if this has been posted and comments made, would be good to hear them.

I note the commercial manager threatened to take a customer to court if they cancelled the order. What a shame the customer didn't tell them to do just that and counter sue them. I am sure they would have won.

Bully boy tactics, but some people will stand up to them and thanks to internet YET AGAIN, bullying has been exposed.

We have seen Tony and others bullied but they can't shut everyone up these days. WHEN WILL THEY LEARN?

PAH and DOUBLE PAH.

by **Tony Bennett** 09.05.14 10:28

plebgate wrote:Thanks for OP (Tasprin and TB).

I would like to know why a huge fine was not imposed on this firm?

Don't use twitter, but if this has been posted and comments made, would be good to hear them.

I note the commercial manager threatened to take a customer to court if they cancelled the order. What a shame the customer didn't tell them to do just that and counter sue them. I am sure they would have won.

Bully boy tactics, but some people will stand up to them and thanks to internet YET AGAIN, bullying has been exposed.

We have seen Tony and others bullied but they can't shut everyone up these days. WHEN WILL THEY LEARN?

PAH and DOUBLE PAH.

Didn't an article by Mark Hollingsworth in August 2009 mention that Brian Kennedy's men intimidated witnesses into silence?

by plebgate 09.05.14 12:30

Tony I am posting a link to Hollingsworth article:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The article says that witnesses were interviewed so strongly, they refused to speak to police afterwards (along those lines).

Long read but very interesting for those who haven't read it before.

Also very interesting at the bottom of the article is the link Paulo Reis provides for his answer to a letter he received from Bindmann's solicitors.

Can't remember reading that before but the info. re. DA notices issued by the British is very interesting (to me anyway).

Brian Kennedy's Weatherseal company - Office of Fair Trading condemns its selling practices

Brian Kennedy's Weatherseal company - Office of Fair Trading condemns its selling practices

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: Brian Kennedy's Weatherseal company - Office of Fair Trading condemns its selling practices

Re: Brian Kennedy's Weatherseal company - Office of Fair Trading condemns its selling practices

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: Brian Kennedy's Weatherseal company - Office of Fair Trading condemns its selling practices

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: Brian Kennedy's Weatherseal company - Office of Fair Trading condemns its selling practices

Re: Brian Kennedy's Weatherseal company - Office of Fair Trading condemns its selling practices

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: Brian Kennedy's Weatherseal company - Office of Fair Trading condemns its selling practices

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