“You know the one, you buy one, you get one free!!”
Having used Safestyle some 6 years ago to have our large (11 ft x 8 ft front and 3 ft x 8 ft sides) square bay window and front and back doors replaced, and having had some problems with the door installation back then, we were unsure whether to use them again.
However, the 7 windows that we required were getting dangerous and were in danger of falling out so we got some quotes, and decided that the product had improved dramatically in the interim, we went ahead with the order, using their payment plan.
A sales man came round, he wasn’t as pushy as some we had seen, but was eager to seal the sale, showed us what was available (wood effect, white, gold trim, silver trim, different handles, different frostings etc) and had a sample, which showed the “new” locks etc. Boy has the product changed in the past 6 years, much more chic, much more secure, and a reasonable
price (which I am unable to divulge, due to a discount we were given) but needless to say, a significant reduction on the “list price” of over £8,000
The paperwork completed, and a £60 survey fee/deposit handed over, the survey was booked, and completed as arranged. Then we waited, and waited, and waited. Telephone calls to them assured us that the finance had been approved and an installation date should be with us by the end of the week.
A couple of days later and the phone call came, however it was the finance department telling us that the new monthly payments would be £20 more than agreed. We told them that we couldn’t afford the extra and would have to cancel the agreement. They managed to sort out a new offer at the monthly payments they had agreed.
A date for installation was given 15th July 2004, our eldest sons 10th birthday, but no problem - he didn’t want a party. The 13th July came, along with a phone call asking if they could fit the windows the next day. No problem the sooner the better. By this time one of the openers on the bedroom windows had fallen out as I had tried to open it!! “The fitters will be with you between 8 and 10 am” we were told.
The next day dawned cloudy and damp - typical, the past few days had been sunny and warm, but never mind. The areas around the windows had been cleared of all important stuff.
The team of 2 fitters arrived promptly, at around 8.20 am, but couldn’t see the number and didn’t recognise the house from the black and white photo’s they had been given and they drove off again, only to come back a couple of minutes later, and realise they were in the right street.
The fitters were wonderful, polite and hard working, not even stopping for the plentiful cups of coffee we supplied, just drinking on the go. The pulled the old windows out, which took a lot longer than expected as they were almost built into the walls, and in the process unearthed an original sash window frame that had, at some point, had a double glazed unit fitted into it. Weights and all were “carefully” discarded into the back yard, which was beginning to look like a landfill site.
The new frames were put in place, and then fixed to the walls with extremely long screws, which looked like they could do some harm. Filled the gaps with expanding foam, and neatly trimmed them with more uPVC.
Any damage, which was minimal, was made good and the rubbish (old windows, glass, wood, even an old blind) was loaded onto the van, before we were shown around our “new home” and shown how the locks on the windows worked. The workmen then left, by now it was around 6.30 pm. All in all they stopped for just 15 minutes in the 10 hours that they were here, and apologised that it had taken so long.
It has now been 6 weeks or so since the fitting, and the windows are wonderful. There were 7 in all, 5 with openers, 2 in the front bedroom, 1 in the back bedroom, 1 in the kitchen and 1 in the bathroom, and 2 fixed, 1 in the dining room and 1 in the bathroom. 4 of the windows have vents, which allow air in without causing drafts, and without letting in too much noise, they are in the dining room, bathroom, and one in each bedroom.
The windows look amazing, and the noise from outside is much less than before, the ability to lock the windows is an added benefit, especially with three children, and all the windows can be locked partially open, to allow ventilation if it is too windy to have them fully open, lets face it, “Blackpool” and “Windy” goes together like “A horse” and “Carriage”.
I conclusion, I am glad that the problems we had with the doors all those years ago didn’t put us off using Safestyle again. Although it took from 14th March 2004 to 14th July 2004 to get the product fitted, that included problems with getting the credit, due to problems with credit in the past, and unless you have had credit problems in the past, you won’t have the wait we did. They actually aim to fit all orders within a month, and the fitting date we were originally given was 15th April 2004.
******** UPDATE 10/09/2004 ******** Hubby called the Customer services, on 5/9/04, to book an appointment to get one of our "original" Safestyle windows looked at. They came today (10/9/04), and not only looked at it, but fixed it too!! Hubby mentioned that the bay looks like it has warped slightly and the engineer is writing a report, and will send someone else to see if it needs replacing.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Thanks for this review it has set my mind at rest as I am having safestyle windows fitted next week. Will let everone know how it goes
hollywoodmum 05.03.2008 15:25
I've had my windows and door for 5 years now, every year the front and back door stick, the customer services are really unhelpful and it takes 3 weeks for them to send someone out
Testarossa 02.10.2004 23:27
I read another review on Safestyle the other day praising them. I wouldn't have trusted them after all the bad press these sorts of companies get. Good review. Sam xxx
Sep 2nd, 2004
(Sep 10th, 2004)
very helpful by (80%):
helpful by (18%):
somewhat helpful by (3%):
