The Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme ( DGCOS ) starts 2022 on a mission to demonstrate and grow understanding of how the consumer protection organisation offers fenestration businesses a critical point of difference with the launch of its Installer Journey Benefits . The offering includes an inclusive summary of all the ways DGCOS can help installers on their installer journey and clearly states DGCOS ’ s intentions to help installers , protect consumers and continue to raise industry standards .

Faisal Hussain , Chief Executive of DGCOS explains more : “ Our mission for 2022 is to grow understanding of how DGCOS can benefit the entire installer journey and demonstrate to forward-thinking installers how working with us can give them a critical point of difference and real , true business support . Many will be familiar with the DGCOS brand and our consumer protection allegiance . Some installers may know us as

the ‘ George Clarke scheme ’ while other installers rely on our practical support day in day out as a DGCOS member .

“ DGCOS has an established position , having strong partnerships forged with financial bodies , insurance houses and Competent Person Schemes ( CPS ), and we ’ ve been working hard to ensure we can add value at every single point of an installer ’ s journey . We have summarised this in our Installer Journey Benefits which details the wide range of benefits of working with us , from setting up and registering a new business , marketing and digital support , sales advice and POS , installation , customer service and satisfaction , to annual reviews to see how together we can keep on improving . We can be the sounding-board , the friend and the strategic and practical partner to forward-thinking installers .

“ There are in fact more than 30 benefits and to give a flavour of some of the practical ways in which we ’ re currently helping our installers : we ’ re paying for

the CPS notification fees saving members approximately £ 1.65 per notification ; introducing them to finance brokers / lenders to gain access to consumer finance ; offering 24 / 7 access to our online portal for installers to register their installations ; providing access to an independent Ombudsman to prevent issues from snowballing in time and cost . We ’ re especially proud that our DGCOS marketing collateral has been awarded the Plain English Crystal Mark which is a seal of approval demonstrating that our collateral is clear and can help consumers understand exactly what they ’ re getting when they buy from a DG- COS member .

“ As DGCOS is all about transparency , it ’ s worth saying upfront that DGCOS is not for everyone , and indeed we have a strict vetting process to join . We probably are ideal partners for about 10 % of installation businesses working day in day out in the double glazing sector .”

www . dgcos . org . uk

RISA now carries out assessments of replacement windows and doors under Section 75 of the UK consumer protection law .

Section 75 is part of the Consumer Credit Act that protects purchases made on a credit card or via a loan , so consumers can get their money back if there is a problem . In a nutshell it means that , for purchases between £ 100 and £ 30,000 bought with credit , the lender is as responsible as the supplier – so the consumer isn ’ t left with a debt for a purchase they don ’ t receive or that wasn ’ t up to scratch .

Section 75 claims can also be made even if the consumer hasn ’ t paid the full amount using a credit facility or credit card . If just a deposit has been paid using a credit card they still have full protection under Section 75 for the full amount and not limited to the amount they paid .

In the case of domestic window and door replacements , if a consumer is unhappy with their installation and cannot settle the dispute with their installer your credit provider can be held responsible .

RISA ’ s independence ensures that any Section 75 assessments undertaken are

carried out impartially and without a conflict of interest , as RISA does not profit in any way from any subsequent remedial work required on the installation being inspected . This independence also benefits installation companies with complaints from rogue customers trying to receive a pay-out for issues not of their making or that don ’ t exist at all .

A RISA section 75 assessment looks at the specifics of the complaint , building regulation compliance and the quality of the installation . The report concludes with RISA ’ s recommendations for any action to be taken .

“ For consumers who ’ ve bought replacement windows and doors on a credit card or with a loan from a finance company , Section 75 offers another level of legal protection and peace of mind ,” said Dave Mecham , Director of Inspection & Assessment .

“ RISA is committed to continual quality improvement in the fenestration industry , so opening up our accredited inspection services to finance and credit providers in this way makes perfect sense . Essentially , we ’ ll be asking did the customer get what they ordered , and if not , how can it be rectified ? And as RISA is independent from the process and any remedial work that may be identified , we offer lenders an impartial assessment of a dispute that they might not get from the other parties involved .”

www . risaltd . co . uk