Clearview National January 2019 - Issue 206 | Page 17

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GGF responds to Safeglaze closure
Following the announcement of Safeglaze going into administration, Kevin Buckley, Group
Chief Executive of the Glass and Glazing Federation, has issued the following statement:
» » IT IS ALWAYS UNFORTUNATE TO
witness the failure of any business within the
glass and glazing industry – and doubly so
when it is the closure of a large, high-profile
business such as Safeglaze.
Even though Safeglaze was neither a GGF
Member nor a FENSA registered company,
GGF still sympathises with the individuals
who may have been affected including;
employees who have lost their jobs, suppliers
who may have suffered financially, and
homeowners who have possibly been left
without any deposit protection or insurance-
backed guarantees.
Recent media coverage would indicate that
a number of current and future Safeglaze
customers are in a state of confusion and
are concerned as to where they stand with
regards to their guarantees, paid deposits and
incomplete installations. We understand that
Safeglaze was part of other trade organisations
and we hope their customers will be protected
and supported through this catastrophic
period.
As the leading trade association to the
glazing industry, the GGF appreciates that
economic uncertainty can affect businesses
both large and small. The GGF and its
commercial companies, often meet with
Members and clients to listen to their
concerns and to offer help where possible, to
ensure they continue to run their businesses
effectively.
It is important to mention our unrivalled
support to thousands of companies connected
to the GGF Group. The examples below
underline our commitment to consumer
facing companies.
• All GGF Member installers have been
trading for a minimum of three years –
there are no phoenix companies in the
GGF.
• All GGF Members and FENSA
registered companies have been vetted
and have premises, products and
employees fit for purpose.
• GGF consumer facing companies
comply with the GGF Consumer Code
of Practice, which is approved by the
Chartered Trading Standards Institute
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and has strict requirements regarding
the conduct of Member companies
ensuring they comply with all relevant
consumer legislation.
Homeowners using GGF Members
have free access to the GGF
Conciliation Service in the unlikely
event of a dispute with a GGF Member
company.
The Glazing Arbitration Scheme
(TGAS) is also in place to help GGF
Members and FENSA companies reach
resolutions with homeowners.
All GGF Members and FENSA
registered companies must offer their
customers a warranty insurance policy
(insurance backed guarantees) to protect
the homeowner in the event that the
installation company fails.
The GGF Members offer homeowners
free automatic deposit protection using
the GGF Deposit Indemnity Fund
which was set up in 1981 and is now
the industry’s best deposit protection
safeguarding deposits and instalments
of up to 50% of the contract value or
£12,500 (whichever is lesser).
All FENSA and GGF installers
are trained to MTC (Minimum
Technical Competency) level to ensure
installations are fitted to the standards
set in Building Regulations.
These are just some of the main benefits
offered by GGF Members and FENSA
companies that clearly demonstrate the value
of homeowner protection.
We advise all homeowners looking to have
glazing work carried out at their home, to
thoroughly check the credentials of any firm
they are looking to employ and to check
what (if any) trade bodies they are registered
with. We also recommend that homeowners
make sure they are using a recognised
Competent Person Scheme such as FENSA
and to obtain protection for both guarantees
and any deposits paid, to ensure they are
protected, should the worst happen.
In the meantime, in order to determine
the best avenue for recourse and raise any
concerns regarding the closure, we advise
Safeglaze customers to contact the relevant
associations/schemes to whom Safeglaze
were affiliated with and used to offer their
customers protection.
Kevin Buckley, GGF Group Chief Executive
www.ggf.org.uk
www.MyGlazing.com
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