“Having told the salesman before he came that we only wanted a quote and would not be placing an order that day, it took us nearly 3 hours to get rid of him, during which time his quote was reduced by nearly two thirds! He finally left very disgruntled and without an order!
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and having had Zenith Staybright windows installed 29 years ago and being very happy with both them and the installation we decided to let Zenith install my new windows. We did the read the many negative reviews on numerous review sites, but thought people who just liked to complain wrote them. How wrong we were!
This is our tale of woe. On the 19th October 2016 two teams of fitters from Job Worth Doing, (apparently they are sub-contracted by Zenith to do the installations) arrived at about 10.20am to start removing our old windows and fitting new ones. Bulls in a china shop would best describe how they approached or should wesay “attacked” the work, with broken soffit boards and damaged masonry around the surrounds as they got the old frames out.
Then, having replaced, but not finished off, 7 of the 11 windows, they all packed up and left again soon after 3pm!
On the following day only one pair of fitters returned at about 9.20am. They had to fit the 4 remaining windows, one of them a very big lounge window, as well as finishing off the poorly and partly completed windows left by the other team.
Fortunately it was the slightly more responsible of the two teams who returned, and they worked until well after dark to try to finish the job. They eventually left well after 8pm, having worked by the light of my security light and still having to leave a lot of final finishing to be done.
After 4 weeks, and many calls to Zenith Customer Services and Jobs Worth Doing, plus emails, a fitter finally arrived!
The replacement front window was too big for one fitter, so he hadn’t even brought it with him. He did fit a replacement back bedroom window only to discover that also had a mark on it, so yet another needed! He said he would also need to order new internal beading for some of the other windows as well as wider trim to support sagging soffit boards.
Now after a further 2 weeks we still have the front bedroom window with a large crack from top to bottom, and both back bedroom and bathroom windows with unsightly scratches and marks on them as well as a lot of external finishing to do with regard to completing sealant.
We have phoned yet again to complain, but at the time of writing this, 7 weeks after the original installation, we are still waiting to hear from both Zenith and Job Worth Doing as to when (tempted to say if), the problems are to be sorted out.
Ironically, the large Zenith advertising board is right underneath the cracked and partly completed windows. We are happy to leave it there as a warning to any potential customers!
We leave you to decide whether Zenith windows are for you or not!”
“My mum ordered the installation of two…
My mum ordered the installation of two sliding patio doors which would involve the removal of some brickwork, the fitting of an RSJ/lintel to support the roof and the removal of a single plug socket.
A price of £5000 was agreed. A surveyor came and highlighted no issues. A time frame of three weeks was agreed.
Around two weeks later Zenith decides that the electrical work, removing a one plug socket meant the price had to rise by £1600 - WOW!! These guys must pay therir sparkies serious money...
Then they start demanding more money to install a lintel.
All of this was very clear to Sarah, the saleswoman who hung around like a stale fart for three hours, when she made the quote. It was also very clear for the surveyor to see. Why the delay in changing the quote? And why make a quote you don't honour when it is a perfectly simply job?
My mum has decided to cancel the order, as Zenith is refusing to honour its side of the contract. Zenith, the straightforward honest company that it is, refuse to refund the £400 deposit.
Just as soon as we can track down an actual company name and address these crooks WILL be receiving a summons to the small claims court.
STAY WELL CLEAR. THIS IS ONE VERY VERY SHADY COMPANY
6 June 2019 Update....
Order number and details sent. However, unlike the public response on Trustpilot, the wording in the personal message does not mention a refund of the money owed by Zenith for its failure to honour its contract. It merely says they will "have a look into this".
Following the BBC Watchdog/Rogue Traders coverage of this company's underhand practices, I am not optimistic. If the money is not returned in seven days we will take matters further.
UPDATE JUNE 7
Today a letter has appeared from a company called Shawbrook asking for confirmation of a £5000 loan (total repayable over £10,000) which Zenith applied for in my mother's name. I really can't stress enough how crooked this company is. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYONE EVEN CONSIDER USING THEM.
Never mind the small claims court, this could well end up in a criminal court for credit fraud. The police are being informed.”
“Joke of a company, finally managed to speak to the manager of the Portsmouth store. His store has refused to communicate with me in future due to my reviews. How childish and unprofessional. Joke joke joke don’t use these jokers.”
“AVOID THIS COMPANY. Very bad experience. NEVER PAY UPFRONT. Avoid At all costs this company. The review I am writing is based on my personal experience after I paid 349£ and got nothing. ALL started when I looked through an advert which was saying that I can get my windows replaced if they are 10 years old through government funding.
NEXT DAY i received a call saying that if I qualify I can get my windows replaced and in the evening a "salesman" rang on my door. He arrived at 7.30 in the evening, with a small window sample which he claimed are best in the UK. He looked at my windows, and for 7 small upvc window ( one was tiny 500mm×900mm) he claimed they can install for around 14000£, but because he can do me a discount it would cost me around 9000£. I said is too expensive and do not want any windows. Then the guy phoned his manager who said that they can do it for aroud 6000. Again I said is too expensive and I need to think a couple of days. It was 23.30 and the salesman was still in my house, and he would not leave, saying that they need my signature in order for him to be paid. He then said that I have 7 days to cancel and i would not be charged anyting. I SIGNED HIS PAPER ONLY TO SEE HIM OUT OF MY HOUSE AS IT WAS 24.00 ALREADY. He called his manager and said is all sorted (at 24.00!). Next day I am calling to cancel only to be told that I was charged 349£ administration fee and is non refundable. They will not refund me. I couldn't believe it. Now I am seeking legal advice to get my money back, as this is unacceptable.
Please avoid this company, but mainly, do not pay anything to them.”
“These clowns made my house collapse after assuring me through a 'technical survey report' that everything was ok. My partner has now died because of breathing difficulties related to the asbestos that these idiots disturbed without even telling us.”
“I am in the middle of a very stressful garden room/conservatory installation.
The Salesman first visited us on 24 April 2018.
We were told installation would take about 10-14 days and would be completed beginning to mid July.
The Surveyor came 3 May.
By 16 July we hadn’t heard anything and so we started to chase them up.
They finally said they would start on 23 July.
23 July they didn’t come due to staff problems.
They started the digging out on 24/25th July.
26th July they didn’t come due to staffing problems.
Then they worked 26/27th July and came back and finished the basic walls and windows by 31 July..
The team did not know when anyone would come and do roof and rest of making watertight.
They did not know when skip would be collected as this is carried out by a different department, which meant we had to park our car on the road, which costs us money as we need to have parking permits to do that.
Skip men came unannounced one morning on the off chance we were in…which we happened to be.
I chased them up again and was told earliest they could come and do the roof was 13th August.
13/14/15th August they came and did roof and making good the walls.
Electrical team came on 15th August and did 1st fix.
No-one seemed to know when plastering and 2nd fix would happen.
The next day it rained and a leak in roof became apparent.
We phoned them again.
They said they could not send anyone to fix leak until 24th August. Which means I am left with a conservatory with a temporary floor which causes dust to circulate throughout the whole house. I am having to dust and hoover every day to keep it down. I cannot get the floor done until the plastering of the walls is done.
When I mentioned this they said they were not aware of any plastering to be done !! This, even though it is clearly listed on the plans and it is pretty obvious that a briese block wall is going to have to be plastered.
When I pointed that out the response from the lady on the installation team was that they were a windows company not a building company and could not be expected to know that plastering needed to be done.
As no plastering team had been booked the first date they could send someone out to do plastering would be 6/7th September.
They surely should have known that plastering would need to be done.
They need a checklist of work to be done.
Why send builders to start work before all roof and glass ready???
They further say that the 2nd fix electrics cannot be carried out until 19th September.
In the meantime the cement floor is causing lots of dirt and dust throughout house. 8 weeks of shambles and chaos.
The problem seems to be that the Installation Centre who book appointments don’t have all the information from site they need.
There is no overall Project Manager who has been on site to coordinate all the different teams.
Each team only knows their schedule and have no idea on overall project.
I have complained to the salesman who came and he said he would look into to it but that was 5 days ago and he hasn't been back to me.
I cannot find any way of complaining to the company and pointing out the problems to anyone who cares.
Maybe the only way they will take notice of me is if I withhold part of the payment to compensate me for all the stress and extra work.
I am not sure how to do that but I am looking into it.
I have had Zenith do window installations, a porch, a garage door....this is our 5th contract with them. They were fine on windows but the conservatory seems to be too much for them. Their infrastructure cannot seem to cope with it.”
“I think commission must be made for the sales reps through the finance plans which have a hefty interest rate of 19%apr!!!! However, go through finance and you get your windows for more than 50% less. We were advised that a composite front door retailed at £5000. I just cannot believe this pricing and the pressure to take out a finance agreement which believe it or not can last for 10years. 10 years at 19%, well that’s an awful lot of wasted money. It’s a shame that they’ve gone down this shady selling route as their products are good. Will definitely not be using them nor recommend anyone else does unless of course, you’ve won the lottery”
“Pressurised selling techniques and have now waited 5 weeks so far for refund of admin fee which is ‘being processed’.. Avoid at all costs would be my advice.”
“Very aggressive sales tactics and no response from customer services who say the matter is with their legal department who are not customer facing. They also would not give a timeframe for responding - so I assume they won't! Underlines everything people say about double-glazing companies. Avoid at all costs.”
“Absolutely disgusted with the way we have been treated. No end of complaints have been sent - no-one wants to take any responsibility...no-one will ring back even though they promise to...still want their thousands for a half job done. September 2017 we originally signed for our improvements. April 2019 still not fully complete! Wouldn't trust them to erect a tent. Wouldn't recommend to my worst enemy. Furthermore, work that has been done by so-called installation team has been condemned by building inspector.”
“Big disappointment. It's a bunch of very good sellers that will likely rip you off your money. Terrible value for money and profoundly unprofessional. They'd promise to do a number of things to make your house better and they will eventually stick to the minimum. They wouldn't even bother replying to the follow up complaints. The just disappear. Stay away from them.”
“A 3 hr interigation of why we wouldnt want to buy from Zenith if the price was right !!!!
We had to guess how much it would cost to replace guttering and sofix on a 4 bed detached
We guessed at £6k and was told no chance !!!
Quote came in at £13k after refusing and another call to a manager the price came down to £6k Suprise Suprise !!!
Sales rep was told from the start “all we need is a Quote” and we will not sign and purchase anything today...... high pressure selling at its best and no card or name left or even the quote !!!! Not even a contact to follow up our quote if we wished to follow up our quote. Which we certainly will NOT be.......”
“Do not use this cowboy company. I first rang to book an appointment and was told it would be end of April. They rand me late to tell me it would be in 4 days time. On the day of the appointment they made up some excuse about security and needed to tell me the name of who was turning up. Given the odds of a stranger wanting to give me quote on a door at exactly the same time on the same day, is absolute rubbish. I rearranged for a later time that day and still no one turned up. Don’t waste your time!”
“Unreal ! We were Quoted almost £12k for a garage door and front door. Which quickly reduced to £7k if we take up ‘today’s special deal’ Upon further discussion over price we were offered the same deal for £4500. Incredible how the price can suddenly drop so dramatically within 30 minutes. The sales chap was pleasant but you guys are rip off merchants !”
“Zenith have still not returned my 79yr old, medically infirm mother-in-law’s money, taken from her by inappropriate high pressure sales techniques, this after 4 months of chasing them!!”
