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.”
