The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is about to consult industry on the impact contained in the Consumer Rights Directive (CRD) expected shortly.
One of the key points is expected to be an increase in the cooling off period for contracts signed in the home, from the current 7 day period to 14 days.
Clearly consumers have to be protected and if 7 days is too short for them to cancel then consideration must be given to extend this period, but many customers are unlikely to be happy that they have to wait two weeks before a company can get on with their order.
This would create unnecessary delays for them and slow the process for good honourable double glazing companies who follow the law. Even today we see offers of “windows fitted in 7 days” whilst it is possible, the company is clearly in breach of consumer law!
Will we see more cancellations because of the increase, will it affect prices or simply steer more consumers towards the black ecconomy, paying no VAT, not registering the installations and bypassing consumer law, giving everyone else in the industry a bad reputation.
What do you think?
Do you need added protection (more than 7 days)?
Is this yet more bureaucracy to challenge the industry in difficult times?
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